MORGANTOWN — Alonzo Addae wanted just one shot at the big stage.
After playing three years at New Hampshire, he jumped at an opportunity to play at a Power 5 program when WVU, then coached by his cousin Jahmile, offered him to play for the Mountaineers.
At the time, Addae had just one year of eligibility left, so he thought it would be one-and-done, but through a hard situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, his college career isn’t done yet.
The NCAA granted all players an extra year of eligibility after the uncertainty of the 2020 season, and Addae, coming off an excellent debut at WVU last year, decided to make one more go with the Mountaineers.
“When I first started a while ago, my eyes were young, just my first time doing something,” he said. “Now, going into my last collegiate season, it’s kind of like … not breathtaking, but just I try to cherish every moment because I know this will be the last time I’m doing it.”
Addae’s final season begins Saturday when WVU takes on Maryland at 3:30 p.m. at Maryland Stadium, and Addae, along with the rest of the Mountaineers’ secondary, will have their hands full against a deep Terps receiving corps and quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.
Other than the right cornerback spot — sophomore Daryl Porter Jr. will get his first career start — the WVU secondary is loaded with experience. Sean Mahone took advantage of the extra year like Addae, with 42 starts under his belt. Nicktroy Fortune had 12 career starts and played in 21 games at cornerback the last two years. Scottie Young only played in one game last year for the Mountaineers, but played in 32 games at Arizona from 2017-19.
Maryland’s receivers may be equally as experienced, and even in a shortened 2020 season — the Terps played just five games — as Brian Cobbs, Dontay Demus, Jeshaun Jones, and Rakim Jarrett combined for 986 yards, 65 catches and eight touchdowns.
Tagovailoa had 1,011 yards and seven touchdown tosses, but was also interception-prone, throwing seven picks to the opponent.
Addae knows the challenge that awaits, but feels the WVU defense is ready after working against the Mountaineers’ offense for the last four weeks.
“Our offense is very multi-faceted. We have a lot of different players that can strike at any time,” Addae said. “Whether that be in the backfield with Leddie (Brown), whether that be in the slot with Winston (Wright), whether that is outside with Bryce (Ford-Wheaton), there’s different pieces that can all score at any different time. You just have to be on your P’s and Q’s and bring your A-game every time in practice.”
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