Football

WVU adds Tennessee nose tackle transfer Darel Middleton

MORGANTOWN -- The WVU football team knew it needed to address the defensive line through the transfer portal, and head coach Neal Brown made a splash this week, receiving a commitment from Tennessee transfer Darel Middleton.

A big body at 6-foot-7 and 305 pounds, Middleton provides depth at nose tackle the Mountaineers sorely needed. He has one year of eligibility remaining after spending the last two seasons with the Volunteers.

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Middleton played in 22 games at Tennessee, starting 12, after he began his career at East Mississippi Community College. He finished the last two seasons with 43 tackles, 3 1/2 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Middleton will likely earn playing time behind Akheem Mesidor, who moved from defensive tackle to nose tackle this off-season to replace the departed Darius Stills. Middleton is the fourth defensive transfer to join the Mountaineers this offseason -- linebacker Lance Dixon from Penn State, linebacker Deshawn Stevens from Maine, and cornerback Charles Woods from Illinois State.

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