MORGANTOWN — There might not be a more top-heavy position on West Virginia’s roster entering 2023 than inside linebacker.
Leading tackler Lee Kpogba returns to lead the group, but all that sits behind him on the depth chart are young and talented players who have yet to be tested by the rigors of a Big 12 schedule.
“For Trey Lathan, Josiah Trotter, Ben Cutter, Jairo (Faverus), this spring is huge for them because of getting live reps,” head coach Neal Brown said. “I really think that is a position where we’re going to show a lot of improvement. I’m really excited about that group, there’s some youth in there but there’s talent.”
Kpogba led WVU with 92 total tackles last season, his first in Morgantown after transferring from East Mississippi Community College. He also racked up 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss and Brown thinks he could the the most-improved player on the team when fall comes around.
“I think Lee Kpogba, from where he was last spring to where he is this spring, he’s made the most improvement,” Brown said. “I think he’s got a chance to be an all-league-type player.”
The top option behind Kpogba for 2023 would have been Trotter, but the incoming freshman suffered a leg injury in spring practice that will keep him out for the entire 2023 season. That leaves fellow true freshman Cutter, redshirt-freshman Lathan and redshirt-sophomore Faverus as the next men up.
“You’d like to have experienced talent but if you had to choose, you’re taking talent over experience and I think we have real talent in that room,” Brown said.
“The guys we’ve recruited there we have poured a ton of time and effort,” defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley added. “Those guys, we feel, are really, really good players…Those guys are going to be depended upon in 2023.”
The Mountaineers use two inside linebackers, a mike and a will. Kpogba will play the mike with everyone else battling for the starting will spot.
“I think all of those guys have done a good job of pushing each other and competing,” linebackers coach Jeff Koonz said. “I am repping so many guys, they’re making those reps count and they’re not stressing about it. They’re trying o have fun playing the game fast but they understand there’s accountability that there’s competition going on and there’s nothing inherited.”
Also in the mix are junior Tirek Austin-Cave and a couple of local products in Morgantown High’s Caden Biser and University High’s Donald Brandel.
Duties at the linebacker/safety hybrid spear position will be mainly split between three players, Lance Dixon, Raleigh Collins III and Hershey McLaurin. All three started games last season with Dixon leading the way with five.
Lesley said the three will be able to rotate in and out of the position to fill whatever the team needs there on a given week.
“(The spear is) in space all the time so whether you’re playing zone, playing man, whether you’re matching your coverage or you’re not, there’s lots of different ways you can play that guy,” Lesley said. “The number one thing you look for there is what’s the skillset.”
McLaurin is the traditional defensive back among the group, making two starts at free safety last season.
“We’ll use guys like Lance Dixon and Raileigh Collins, who are guys that can create issues in windows, long, fast guys who can get their hands on people. We’ll use a little bit more of a traditional cover nickel safety there sometimes who is more of a cover guy. That’s a position we can really mix and match and play in between a linebacker and a safety.”
Projected Depth Chart
Mike
Lee Kpogba, Sr.
Josiah Trotter, Fr. (injured)
Tirek Austin-Cave, Jr.
Caden Biser, R-So.
Austin Welch, R-Fr.
Tyler Cain, Fr.
Will
Jairo Faverus, R-So.
Trey Lathan, R-Fr.
Ben Cutter, Fr.
Donald Brandel, R-Fr.
Kamden Shallis, Fr.
Spear
Lance Dixon, R-Jr.
Hershey McLaurin, Jr.
Raleigh Collins III, R-Fr.
The Dominion Post will be previewing WVU football by position in the lead-up to the 2023 season. Previews of offensive positions will be published on Saturdays and defensive position previews on Sundays throughout the summer.
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