MORGANTOWN — A school record in the first game of the year for WVU’s Winston Wright didn’t seem to scare Long Island enough to avoid getting the ball in his hands.
Just a week after Wright finished with 217 kickoff return yards against Maryland, the Sharks decided to send the opening kick right toward Wright, who promptly followed his blocks perfectly right up the middle, made the kicker miss, and took the ball 90 yards for a touchdown.
It was the only return Wright had in the game, because the Sharks were left off the scoreboard in WVU’s 66-0 shutout win.
“We went over some things in practice about how they might not kick it to me , but I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I liked that they kicked it to me,” Wright said with a grin.
With Wright’s incredible start to the year on special teams — 51.2 yards per attempt — the opportunities may become fewer and fewer with opponents kicking it away from him, but head coach Neal Brown recognizes the threat Wright brings each time he’s back there.
“He has been a difference-maker for us,” Brown said.
“The thing he’s done in the kickoff return game is that he has not stopped his feet. If you look at the great returners, they never stop their feet and he hasn’t stopped his feet. Every move he’s made has been forward. I know it felt good for him to finally take it to the house.”
It’s the second kickoff return Wright’s taken all the way; the first was in 2019 at Baylor. He’s now in select company — only four other players have taken multiple kickoffs back for touchdowns: Tavon Austin (4), Shawn Terry (4), Nate Terry (3), and Mario Alford (2).
Austin holds the single-season record for most kickoff return yards at 938, set in 2011. He returned two of his four career touchdowns that season against Marshall and South Florida.
Through just two games, Wright is already about 1/3 of the way to Austin’s mark, and while Wright’s blazing speed is certainly a factor, he credits the scheme set up by special teams coach Jeff Koonz, as well as running backs coach Chad Scott, for the big openings he’s had this season.
“We do a lot of drills in practice that are one cut and go, and I’ve met a lot with coach Scott to work on these things,” Wright said. “I understand the scheme way more than I did last year.”
Oklahoma game set for primetime
The Big 12 announced WVU’s Sept. 25 road game at Oklahoma will be televised on ABC at 7:30 p.m. Last season’s game against the Sooners was canceled twice because of COVID-19 problems within both programs.
OU currently sits at 2-0 and No. 3 in the AP Top 25.
WVU’s home game this Saturday against Virginia Tech is set for noon. It will also hold its 30th annual Sports Hall of Fame induction prior to the game. Induction ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility. The public is invited to attend and the event is free of charge.
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