West Virginia’s defense is still a work in progress heading into fall camp, but the picture is starting to come into focus.
Rich Rodriguez did not hand out a preseason depth chart in the media guide, and that fits his style. He’s not in the business of tipping his hand early, especially with a full month of camp still ahead and the opener against Coastal Carolina set for September 5th. Still, after projecting the offense on Monday, the defensive two-deep is where the real intrigue lives.
Up front, West Virginia could have its best pairing anywhere on the roster with Derrick Durham-Campbell and Wiley. Durham-Campbell brings the kind of presence that stands out immediately, while Wiley’s 6-foot-7 frame and ability to stay low and bend give him real upside.
At tackle, Henson looks ready to be a steady force after what he did at Hutch CC last season: 45 stops, 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two pass breakups. He should be able to handle a heavy workload right away. The bigger question is McIntyre, who needs to take a real step forward after injuries slowed his early career and last year’s transition to a new defense.
Gabriel is another name pointing toward a big season. The coaching staff has been raving about him all offseason, and he appears to be in the best shape he has been in since arriving on campus. Jaylen Thomas, who comes from the JUCO ranks, should also factor in against the run.
On the edge, Holloman is the kind of player quarterbacks feel even when the sack numbers don’t fully tell the story. He had just 2.0 sacks last season, but he also produced 48 pressures, 40 hurries and seven QB hits at Western Kentucky. Oregon transfer Tobi Haastrup and JUCO addition Jeremiah Johnson are also in the mix with David Afogho.
At linebacker, the staff needs Ben Cutter to become the player it believes he can be. The toughness is there, but his pass coverage awareness has to improve.
If that doesn’t happen quickly, Florida Atlantic transfer Tyler Stolsky could earn more snaps. The bigger concern is the overall shape of the room, where inexperience makes Malachi Hood a critical piece.
Ashton Woods is coming off an injury, and Jason Hall Jr. is part of the backup mix. Hood’s role matters because West Virginia needs a strong year from him after he was solid against the run at Illinois, even if pass coverage was an issue.
The secondary has a few clearer answers and a few spots that still need sorting out. Geimere Latimer is the kind of player who can change the tone of a defense, and he may not be getting enough credit because of how poorly Wisconsin’s system fit him last season.
The expectation is that he’ll be one of the best defensive backs in the league by the end of the year. Maliek Hawkins, the younger brother of WVU quarterback Mike Hawkins, is viewed as the future at the position.
At corner, Chams Diagne is the obvious No. 1.
His length and ball skills make him the clear-cut top option. The other side is less settled.
Nick Taylor is projected there after moving down from safety, but a rotation feels likely early in the season. If the staff keeps searching for answers, Latimer or Hawkins could also get work at corner.
At safety, Kamari Wilson is projected to start after logging plenty of reps at both spots in previous stops at Florida, Arizona State and Memphis. He’s expected to move around some, especially if the staff wants to get freshman Sieg on the field.
Powdrell’s spring performance was strong enough to push him into a different role, and with Latimer locked in at nickel/sam, the move made sense. It also helps that Maliek Hawkins has shown he’s ready for a role.
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