Draft Scout West Virginia Player News, College Football: West Virginia

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: West Virginia

Previous 15 Notes

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10/24/21 - Leddie Brown, Sr/2022, West Virginia + More +

Leddie Brown ran for three touchdowns, and West Virginia overcame Derius Davis' 100-yard return for a score on the opening kickoff in a 29-17 victory over TCU on Saturday night. Brown's 1-yard plunge put the Mountaineers (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) ahead for good in the second quarter and helped them avoid matching their worst start in Big 12 play since joining the league nine years ago. Max Duggan threw two interceptions - equaling his total from the first six games - as the Horned Frogs (3-4, 1-3) lost for the fourth time in five games. Three of the losses have been at home. TCU also lost a fumble to end any hopes of a late rally. Two weeks after getting blown out at Baylor, West Virginia was behind right away in a second consecutive game in Texas after Davis took off from the goal line, veered left around the TCU 35 and outran Sean Mahone down the left sideline.

The Mountaineers, who coach Neal Brown said got a boost mentally from the week off, had an answer. Jarret Doege, who threw for 257 yards, connected with Sean Ryan on a 44-yarder to set up the first of three field goals from Casey Legg. Brown's first TD, a 5-yarder, gave West Virginia its first lead at 10-7 in the final seconds of the first quarter. Brown had 111 yards on 24 carries as the Mountaineers finished with 229 yards on the ground after coming in last in the Big 12 at 111 per game. Backup quarterback Garrett Greene had a 67-yard run to set up Legg's second field goal. Duggan's interceptions led to West Virginia's first nine points after halftime when the Horned Frogs trailed 20-17 at the break. TCU was shut out in the second half. - West Virginia/AP College Football

Sr/2022

RB Leddie Brown, West Virginia
News Source: West Virginia/AP College Football
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09/18/21 - Leddie Brown, Sr/2022, West Virginia + More +

Jarret Doege threw two touchdown passes, Leddie Brown rushed for 106 yards and a score and West Virginia survived No. 15 Virginia Tech's furious rally from a 20-point deficit to beat the Hokies 27-21 on Saturday. The Mountaineers (2-1) built a 27-7-point lead midway through the third quarter but saw that mostly evaporate behind Virginia Tech's Braxton Burmeister. Burmeister threw for two scores, including a 29-yard TD toss to Jalen Holston with 3:10 left. Virginia Tech got the ball back with 2:11 remaining on Jermaine Waller's interception of Doege at the West Virginia 17, but Burmeister threw incomplete on fourth-and-goal from the 3 and West Virginia ran out the clock.

It was one of three Virginia Tech drives that stalled inside the West Virginia 10, with the Hokies coming away with no points. Burmeister finished 18 of 30 for 207 yards. Virginia Tech (2-1) had allowed only three touchdowns in its first two games but gave up two quick scores to the Mountaineers, who couldn't keep up the momentum after halftime. West Virginia doesn't have a reputation for fast drives but jumped ahead 14-0 less than 6 minutes into the game. Brown, who had five touchdowns entering the game but had been limited to 104 rushing yards, went 80 yards up the middle for a score on West Virginia's second play from scrimmage. - West Virginia/AP College Football

Sr/2022

RB Leddie Brown, West Virginia
News Source: West Virginia/AP College Football
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08/26/21 - Alonzo Addae, rSr/2022, West Virginia + More +

Alonzo Addae is a man who isn't afraid to move and experience different things. He grew up in Canada in the Toronto suburb of Pickering, where he attended St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School. In 2015, he shifted south of the border, enrolling at The Peddie School, which is a highly-regarded prep school in New Jersey. His first-team all-Mid-Atlantic Prep League performance for the Falcons that season earned him a scholarship offer from New Hampshire, and he spent the next three years at the FCS program in Durham. He redshirted the first year and then played in 24 games over the next two. Wanting to test himself at the FBS level, he looked to move again after the 2018 season. He placed a call to his cousin, Jahmile Addae, who was WVU's cornerbacks coach at the time, and that conversation got Alonzo packing again, this time with Morgantown as his destination.

He arrived in the summer of 2019, but at that time most transfers had to sit out from game action due to NCAA rules. Thus Addae had to be content with strictly practice work in his first year with the Mountaineers. "I definitely wanted to be out there. As a competitor, it hurt sitting on the sidelines while others were on the field," admitted the 5-foot-10, 290-pound safety of missing the 2019 season. "But at the same time, I tried to use that year to better my skills. They put me in the developmental program, so I had a lot of time to concentrate on lifting and running and getting my body ready. Then I was able to go up against the starting offense in practice since I was a member of the scout team. I tried to make the most of the opportunity, attacking every day with the idea of getting better." - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2022

FS Alonzo Addae, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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08/08/21 - Doug Nester, rSr/2024, West Virginia + More +

The Mountaineers got a chance to size up offensive lineman Doug Nester, a transfer from Virginia Tech, during spring practice following his enrollment at WVU last January. Over the summer, West Virginia added four more transfers from other four-year colleges - linebacker Lance Dixon from Penn State, defensive lineman Darel Middleton from Tennessee, linebacker Deshawn Stevens from Maine and cornerback Charles Woods from Illinois State.

All five of those transfers are expected to play important roles for the Mountaineers in 2021. Nester got a chance to prove his ability in the spring and appears likely to have won a starting job at right guard. Each of the other four transfers also figures to be a key cog for WVU this season, if not as a starter at least as a heavily used backup. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2024

OT Doug Nester, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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07/30/21 - Dante Stills, rJr/2023, West Virginia + More +

A pair of in-state defensive standouts received preseason accolades on Tuesday afternoon. West Virginia defensive tackle Dante Stills and Marshall defensive tackle Jamare Edwards were named to the Bronko Nagurski Award watch list, as released by the Football Writers Association of America. Stills was also one of 80 preseason nominees named to the Outland Trophy watch list.

The Nagurski Award is given annually by the Football Writers Association of America to the nation's top interior defensive lineman. The preseason watch list features 90 players. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. Committee members select the winner, based on the three finalists. Stills is no stranger to preseason accolades, returning as one of the Big 12's top defenders for the 2021 season. In 2020, the Fairmont native finished with 35 tackles, including a team-best 10.5 tackles for loss. He added two sacks, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. - Charleston Gazette

rJr/2023

DT Dante Stills, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette
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07/26/21 - Lee Kpogba, Sr/2024, West Virginia + More +

Babers said he would have information "soon" that addresses the status of Lee Kpogba, the linebacker who was suspended in February. Kpogba had surfaced down in Mississippi last month at a time the SU players were on campus for summer conditioning work, casting doubt he'll return to the team. "If you read the tea leaves, you kind of know," Babers said. Kpogba's contributions have mostly come on special teams and as a reserve linebacker the past two seasons. In 22 career games, he made 44 tackles, including two for loss and a sack. - The Post-Standard

Sr/2024

ILB Lee Kpogba, West Virginia
News Source: The Post-Standard
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07/25/21 - Leddie Brown, Sr/2022, West Virginia + More +

West Virginia University football senior running back Leddie Brown was named Wednesday to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which is presented to the top college running back in the nation, as selected by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. Heading into the 2021 season, Brown was named to the All-Big 12 preseason second team by Athlon Sports, Lindy's and Phil Steele's Magazine. Brown, a 2020 All-Big 12 first-team selection, hit the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the first time in his career last year, finishing with 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns. He was second in the Big 12 and No. 14 nationally in total rushing yards and No. 27 in rushing yards per game. Brown also was ranked No. 6 in the Big 12 in total points scored (66) and No. 26 nationally in total touchdowns. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

Sr/2022

RB Leddie Brown, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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07/21/21 - Leddie Brown, Sr/2022, West Virginia + More +

West Virginia also had two players named to the Maxwell Award watch list on Monday morning. WVU quarterback Jarret Doege was named to the list after leading the Mountaineers to a 6-4 record. WVU running back Leddie Brown also garnered mention on the list after rushing for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Brown's top rushing performance came against Kansas when he rushed for 195 yards on just 18 carries, an average of nearly 11 yards per carry. Brown had five games over 100 yards for the Mountaineers on the season. Those players represented three of 80 players selected for the Maxwell Award's Preseason Watch List on Monday. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

Sr/2022

RB Leddie Brown, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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07/17/21 - Dante Stills, rJr/2023, West Virginia + More +

West Virginia defensive lineman Dante Stills is forever fighting mistaken perceptions, not to mention identify. In 2021, even after being part of a squad that led the nation in pass defense a year prior, he still hears questions from some media members about the supposed defensive shortcomings of the Big 12. "I tell people that all the time," he said of the fact that teams in the Big 12 have good defenses, albeit ones that are often overshadowed by some spectacular offensive play. "There may be times when you see the offense put up 50 points, but the defense can still be really good. I think the defensive side of the ball has some dogs, but they're going up against tempo and fast pace. Every team has good offensive linemen for sure. The offenses are so explosive, that takes away from some of (the attention) the defenses should get. Our defense last year was top five in the country, but I don't think we got the notoriety we deserved. I feel like we should have been in the conversation more." - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rJr/2023

DT Dante Stills, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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07/10/21 - Michael Hayes II, rSr/2025, West Virginia + More +

In addition to returning 11 starters on offense and nine on defense, Georgia State welcomes back both of its starting kickers, including sophomore punter Michael Hayes. Hayes earned the starting nod as a redshirt freshman in 2020 and performed well, averaging 40.4 yards on 50 punts, with a net of 39.6 yards per kick, including one touchback in 10 games. When starting placekicker Noel Ruiz was unavailable for last season's game at South Alabama, Hayes showed his versatility by handling the placekicking and kickoffs in addition to his punting duties.

He was perfect on five placements, nailing four extra points and a 23-yard field goal that gave the Panthers a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter, helping GSU to a 31-14 victory. That was also one of his best punting games as he netted 44.2 yards on four punts, including a season-long 58-yard boot that was downed at the 3-yard line. After his solid debut season, Hayes already ranks fourth in GSU history in career punts and punting yards and fifth with in punting average. Hayes also serves as the holder for Ruiz, the first-team All-Sun Belt Conference placekicker who led the league with 1.44 field goals per game, making 13-of-16 field goals and 33-of-35 extra points. - Georgia State Football

rSr/2025

K Michael Hayes II, West Virginia
News Source: Georgia State Football
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07/09/21 - Dante Stills, rJr/2023, West Virginia + More +

West Virginia senior defensive lineman Dante Stills was honored with a preseason All-Big 12 Conference spot on Wednesday as voted on by media. Stills was the only Mountaineer to make the 30-player squad. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound senior led West Virginia with 10.5 tackles for loss last season and also recorded 35 tackles and a pair of sacks. He was named an All-Big 12 honorable mention player in 2020. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rJr/2023

DT Dante Stills, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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07/02/21 - Deshawn Stevens, rSr/2022, West Virginia + More +

West Virginia has again gone the transfer route to bolster its linebacker position for the 2021 season. WVU coach Neal Brown had made no secret of his desire to get more immediate help for the spot this year, which was left a bit thin at the conclusion of the 2020 campaign. Even with the addition of Penn State linebacker Lance Dixon earlier this spring, the Mountaineers remained in seach of additional help and received it yesterday in the form of graduate transfer Deshawn Stevens.

A native of Toronto, Stevens (6-2, 255 lbs.) is a graduate of the University of Maine, where he played for the Black Bears from 2017-20. After redshirting in his initial season of 2016, in which he was the squad's scout team defensive player of the year, he played in 10 games in 2017, starting three, while recording 50 tackles. He had a breakout year in 2018 with 120 tackles (17 for loss) and nine sacks while earning sophomore All-America first-team honors and a spot on the all-conference second team in 14 starts. He also had two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, two pass breakups and an interception. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2022

ILB Deshawn Stevens, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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05/18/21 - Scottie Young, rSr/2022, West Virginia + More +

Scottie Young's role in the 2021 Mountaineer defense has changed from a nice piece to the puzzle to key driving force in the overall machine. A three-year starter at the University of Arizona, Young transferred to West Virginia in May of 2020 with the thought that after sitting out the upcoming season, he would provide some badly-needed depth to a secondary that was facing significant graduation losses. But you know what they say about the best-laid plans? Those plans laid in the spring of 2020 have seen plenty of twists and turns ever since. Initially, it was expected that two of West Virginia's starting safeties, Sean Mahone and Alonzo Addae, both of whom were fifth-year seniors last season, would each need to be replaced.

But then the NCAA declared that because of the uncertainties in dealing with COVID-19, the '20 season would not count against a student-athlete's eligibility clock. Mahone and Addae each decided to take advantage of the extra year and are returning to WVU this season for their sixth year in the college ranks. At that point, Young was viewed as someone to provide depth in the safety rotation, but then came another twist when the Mountaineers' starting spear safety Tykee Smith announced he was leaving via a transfer to Georgia. Suddenly Young's role greatly expanded, and he spent this past spring working with the first-team defense at the spear, which is a hybrid position that requires the coverage skills of a cornerback and the tackling ability of a linebacker. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2022

SS Scottie Young, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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05/08/21 - Alonzo Addae, rSr/2022, West Virginia + More +

Add another Mountaineer to a draft list, but don't wave goodbye to him just yet. West Virginia safety Alonzo Addae was drafted by the Ottawa RedBlacks of the Canadian Football League with the fourth pick in the second round (13th overall) on Tuesday night, but that doesn't mean he is departing for a pro career just yet. The CFL, which has pushed its normal spring start date back to Aug. 5, did not play last year, and thus expects a crush of new players this year in terms of last year's draftees, free agents and this year's selections.

With that as background, and also due to the extra year of eligibility all NCAA players received due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Addae, along with other U.S. college players selected, will retain their eligibility and be able to play in NCAA competition this season, while their CFL selecting teams will retain their future pro rights. While Addae could elect to begin his professional career this year, most signs point to him returning to WVU for the 2021 season, as he announced he would following the Mountaineers' Liberty Bowl win over Army in December. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2022

FS Alonzo Addae, West Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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05/08/21 - Scottie Young, rSr/2022, West Virginia + More +

With the annual Gold-Blue Game putting a cap on WVU spring practice a couple of weeks ago, football is again put on pause until workouts resume later in the summer and hit full gear with the start of the season looming on Sept. 4. Mountaineer fans are undoubtedly on edge, anxiously awaiting that day. But likely none of them are more geared up for the start of the season than one of the team's players. That would be senior transfer (for the second straight year) Scottie Young, who finished off his first spring in Morgantown after last year's spring practices were largely wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Young came over from Arizona as a graduate transfer prior to last season along with linebacker Tony Fields, who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the NFL draft over the weekend. Fields' 2020 season obviously went well, but Young's never got off the ground as he fought eligibility issues until finally making his first start in a 24-21 Liberty Bowl win over Army. To Young's credit, he was able to keep things in perspective while looking on from the sidelines last season, but he's ready to make up for lost time this year. "I had an opportunity to watch guys like Tony, I spent my whole career with him, I watched him excel and have fun out there, it brought a smile to my face every Saturday to see my teammates having fun," Young said after the Gold-Blue game. "When they have fun, I have fun. I played three straight years and then I had to sit out, that was definitely fuel to the fire. I still got some more fuel, so I'm just ready to get this season going." - Charleston Gazette-Mail

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