MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Safety Alonzo Addae’s versatility was on full display for the last year while on the WVU scout team. One of his assistant coaches, who also happens to be his cousin, Jahmile Addae said Alonzo consistently replicated the best player on an opponent during game prep.
Going through the grind of a scout team, especially as a senior, is not easy. Addae transferred to West Virginia after spending three seasons at New Hampshire, but wanted a taste of Power 5 college football. However, with a redshirt season still in the bag, he sat out the 2019 season and didn’t see game action.
“It was definitely difficult, but at the same time, I trusted in the process and I was put in the situation where the coaches were continuously growing my skills,” Addae said. “It was hard, but [last Saturday], I kind of just let my emotions run. I was speechless to go out there and suit it up in a Mountaineers uniform, and I’m thankful.”
Addae moved from cornerback to safety this offseason and got the starting nod at free safety, filling the void left when Kerry Martin Jr. decided to opt out over COVID-19 concerns.
It didn’t take Addae long to feel acclimated in his first game action in nearly two years against Eastern Kentucky. He was second on the team in tackles with seven, and had an interception that wound up being No. 4 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays on Sunday morning.
Addae jumped from near midfield toward the home sideline as a pass from EKU quarterback Parker McKinney was in the air, dove and made the grab before going out-of-bounds.
“I knew I had the pick,” Addae said. “It was really just trusting my keys and what my coaches have taught me. It was a lot of see ball, play ball, get ball, and thankfully, my teammates had a great rush on the quarterback. They made him throw it and I went and got it.”
The interception wasn’t Addae’s only highlight. An EKU kickoff return for a touchdown was called back after offsetting penalties, and on the Colonels’ next attempt, Addae ran free down the field and drilled the returner at the EKU 12-yard line in a momentum-building play.
But, one of the biggest reasons Addae transferred to WVU from New Hampshire was the big-time college football experience, and the announced attendance of 976 at Milan Puskar Stadium doesn’t exactly fit the bill. There was no roar from the crowd that would happen under normal circumstances after both plays Addae made, but regardless, it was more about the opportunity than the atmosphere.
“Honestly, it was no different for me because of the love for the game,” he said. “I think that’s one thing me and my teammates all share is a true passion for football. Obviously, it does suck not to have the environment and atmosphere with all the fans here, but regardless, we’re still suiting up and representing West Virginia as a state and we want to do that proudly.”
Close but no cigar
Without the Pac-12 and Big Ten — for now — playing football this season, West Virginia’s 56-10 win over Eastern Kentucky impressed AP poll voters enough to give the Mountaineers 81 points, sitting just outside the top 25 at No. 27.
In the AP preseason poll, WVU did not receive any votes, but with many upsets during the first two weeks of the season, as well as general sloppy play from many Power 5 programs, the Mountaineers taking care of business put them in position to possibly reach the top 25 next week, despite a bye, if other top 25 teams go down.
WVU will face No. 11 Oklahoma State on Sept. 26 in Stillwater, and the Cowboys will play their first game Tulsa this weekend after the game was postponed from last Saturday due to COVID-19 concerns at Tulsa.
The Mountaineers’ next home game will be Oct. 3 against Baylor, which is just ahead of WVU in the AP poll at No. 26.
Baylor’s game against Louisiana Tech last weekend was also postponed following positive COVID-19 tests within the Louisiana Tech program after players were dispersed due to Hurricane Laura in late August. The Bears, though, were able to schedule an impromptu matchup with Houston and coach Dana Holgorsen for this Saturday.
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