MORGANTOWN — There is no mistaking the top of WVU’s wide receiver depth chart involving Bryce Ford-Wheaton, Sam James and Kaden Prather.
The trio combined to catch nearly 100 passes for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago, and big things are expected in the passing game under new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell.
What’s behind those three is a concern entering fall camp with depth concerns following the departure of wide receiver Winston Wright to Florida State.
But don’t tell head coach Neal Brown there is a worry about what he has at wideout. Even during the spring, he lauded what was there, though unproven, and that’s continued into fall camp with the addition of a couple more bodies.
When Wright left after last season, there were only four scholarship receivers on the roster — Ford-Wheaton, James, Prather and 5-foot-10, 187-pound Reese Smith.
Smith, a third-year player from Brown’s hometown of Danville, Ky., is one first-year wide receivers coach Tony Washington expects to take a big leap forward.
“Reese is having a phenomenal camp. He’s one of those guys who have stacked up days repeatedly,” Washington said. “He’s consistently been one of the highest-rated on GPS in terms of speed. He is definitely going to be one of the guys who gets in on early action.”
Preston Fox, a former walk-on from Morgantown, earned a scholarship after the spring game, where he caught five passes for 117 yards. Known to “catch everything thrown his way,” Washington said Fox can play anywhere at any time.
“Preston Fox is really just a plug-and-play guy,” he said. “Any time somebody goes down, he’s able to go in. He’s one of the few guys who knows all four spots. I trust him to go in there and back up all four positions. He has a great pair of hands, he never drops the ball. He’s come a long way as a route-runner — he’s always been a good route-runner but now he’s even better.
“I definitely see him as a guy who can get in there and do some things at several different positions.”
True freshman Jarel Williams participated in spring camp, and while Washington said Williams is continuing to improve, he needs to do a better job at being physical.
“But he’s learning and understanding, doing a really good job.”
One reason Brown wasn’t concerned in the spring was he knew two junior college transfers were on the way to help, with the hope they could help immediately — Cortez Braham and Jeremiah Aaron.
Braham arrived in May, and according to Brown, is a little bit ahead of Aaron, who came in July, with understanding the offense. Washington said, though, getting acclimated with Power Five football is still something both are trying to overcome.
“Cortez (6-2, 198) has great hands, some of the best in the room,” Washington said. “He’s a fairly good route-runner and has some savvy. Going from JUCO to this level, there’s obviously some things he’s got to work on, but he’s been really teachable. He’s picking up on everything, tries not to make mistakes twice and asks a lot of questions.”
Aaron’s build (5-10, 186) is similar to a running back and Washington believes his skill set is unique with the ability to play inside and outside. Right now, Aaron’s biggest hurdle is learning the playbook so those skills can be utilized.
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