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Jul. 26—MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s defensive line was a position group defined by its consistency last season, not its star power.
The Mountaineers led the Big 12 with 33 sacks, but no one player ever had five and no returning defensive lineman had more than three.
But WVU defensive line coach Andrew Jackson isn’t pushing for any player to have a big breakout this season. He’s continuing to preach what worked so well in 2023, consistency and depth.
It all starts with senior defensive end Sean Martin. Expected to be the best player in WVU’s defensive front, Martin, a Bluefield product, played hurt most of last season, only registering five tackles for loss and one sack. As with the rest of the line, Jackson isn’t pushing for a Martin breakout, just more solid play.
“Just be a pro, be consistent, ” Jackson said is his message to Martin. “The consistency piece has shown up since January and I think he’s in the best mental space I’ve seen him in since I’ve been here.”
Opposite Martin on the line will be WVU’s model of consistency in senior Edward Vesterinen. Nicknamed “Streay Eddy “, Vesterinen, a native of Finland, registered 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in his first season as a starter last year. He plays boundary defensive tackle.
In the middle, there is a battle for the starting spot between redshirt junior Hammond Russell IV and redshirt senior Fatorma Mulbah.
Russell hasn’t seen the field much during his time as a Mountaineer, logging just 10 career tackles, all last season, but Jackson feels like 2024 can be his coming out party.
“Off the field, he’s taking care of himself much better, ” Jackson said. “He’s going to class, doing the right things, eating the right things and he’s in great shape. Now the physicality and the athleticism are showing up.”
Mulbah transferred to WVU from Penn State before last…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wvu-football-position-preview-consistency-023500749.html
Author : The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
Publish date : 2024-07-27 02:35:00
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