MORGANTOWN — At the end of last season, WVU knew it had big shoes to fill up the middle of the front seven with the losses of nose tackle Darius Stills and Mike linebacker Tony Fields.
But with nine other starters expected to be back from a defense that finished No. 1 in the nation in pass defense and No. 4 in total defense, expectations were sky-high for 2021.
However, the dominoes started to fall, and they just kept falling. Co-defensive coordinator Jahmile Addae left for Georgia, then a couple key pieces soon followed. Cornerback Dreshun Miller transferred to Auburn after starting in nine games in 2020, and the biggest blow was Tykee Smith, who left for Georgia after an All-American campaign as a sophomore.
After spring practice, defensive end Jeffery Pooler also decided to leave, entering the portal and transferring to Northwestern to finish out his college career, after starting the last two seasons.
What was once a promising unit now lost most of its star power and had a lot of holes to hill.
Through three games this season, though, the Mountaineers (2-1) defense is playing above expectations, and put its stamp on last Saturday’s 27-21 win over Virginia Tech at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Safeties Alonzo Addae and Sean Mahone used their extra year of eligibility because of COVID-19 to stabilize the secondary, while the linebackers and defensive line have used a “next-man-up” mentality to replace what was lost from a year ago.
After a shaky start against Maryland in Week 1, the defense has settled into a groove under defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley, who was given the reins after Addae’s exit.
Overall, at the national level, the Mountaineers are No. 39 in total defense (306.3 yards per game), 35th against the run (101.7), 60th against the pass (205) and 31st in scoring (17 points per game). None of those jump out, especially when compared to last year, but WVU is not breaking when it matters most.
When an opponent is inside the WVU 20-yard line — the red zone — they have only gotten points on 4-of-11 attempts, including just two touchdowns, through three games. The 36% red-zone scoring percentage by opponents is No. 1 in the nation by a wide margin. Next is South Alabama at 44%.
It was on full display against the Hokies, with VT finishing just 1-of-4 in the red zone.
At the end of the first half, the Mountaineers held after a long kickoff return and forced a 25-yard field goal, which was missed by kicker John Parker Romo.
Then, as the Hokies tried to make a comeback late, WVU linebacker Jared Bartlett got a 4th-down strip sack at the 6-yard line to give the ball back to the Mountaineers’ offense.
And finally, in the biggest moment of the game, WVU kept the Hokies out of the end zone on four tries from its own 4-yard line, ahead just 27-21. A VT touchdown likely would have clinched the win for the Hokies.
“In the red zone, we did some really good things,” head coach Neal Brown said.
Virginia Tech ran 11 plays inside the WVU 10-yard line and could only muster six yards.
“Playing our gaps, trusting the formations and trusting our scheme,” Bartlett said on why WVU has been so successful deep in their own territory. “Playing fast and playing physical — that’s how we got things done.”
Bartlett named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Bartlett had a season-high five tackles, including a game-high and career-high three sacks in the win over Virginia Tech. He also forced and recovered a fumble, and had a quarterback hurry. The three sacks were the most by a WVU player since Darius Stills at Baylor in October 2019. Bartlett’s five tackles tied his career-high set against Kansas State in 2020. His tackles for loss (3) and sacks (3) set career-highs. The six sacks by WVU in the game also marked a season-high and were the most since registering six against Baylor in 2020.
Texas Tech kickoff time, network announced
The Big 12 announced WVU’s Oct. 2 conference home game against Texas Tech will be televised on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m.
Mountaineer legend and College Football Hall-of-Famer Darryl Talley will have his No. 90 number retired during an on-field presentation. The Homecoming match-up will also be the Stripe the Stadium game.
Fans sitting in even-numbered sections (Sec. 102, 104, 202, 204, etc.), Touchdown Terrace, and WVU students seated in the upper-level student sections are encouraged to wear gold to the game.
Fans sitting in odd-numbered sections (Sec. 101, 103, 201, 203, etc.) and WVU students seated in the lower-level student sections are encouraged to wear blue to the game.
The Red Raiders have won two straight against WVU, including 38-17 in 2019 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
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