MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s defensive line was a position group defined by its consistency last season, not its star power.
The Mountaineers led the Big 12 with 33 sacks, but no one player ever had five and no returning defensive lineman had more than three.
But WVU defensive line coach Andrew Jackson isn’t pushing for any player to have a big breakout this season. He’s continuing to preach what worked so well in 2023, consistency and depth.
It all starts with senior defensive end Sean Martin. Expected to be the best player in WVU’s defensive front, Martin, a Bluefield product, played hurt most of last season, only registering five tackles for loss and one sack. As with the rest of the line, Jackson isn’t pushing for a Martin breakout, just more solid play.
“Just be a pro, be consistent,” Jackson said is his message to Martin. “The consistency piece has shown up since January and I think he’s in the best mental space I’ve seen him in since I’ve been here.”
Opposite Martin on the line will be WVU’s model of consistency in senior Edward Vesterinen. Nicknamed “Streay Eddy”, Vesterinen, a native of Finland, registered 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in his first season as a starter last year. He plays boundary defensive tackle.
In the middle, there is a battle for the starting spot between redshirt junior Hammond Russell IV and redshirt senior Fatorma Mulbah.
Russell hasn’t seen the field much during his time as a Mountaineer, logging just 10 career tackles, all last season, but Jackson feels like 2024 can be his coming out party.
“Off the field, he’s taking care of himself much better,” Jackson said. “He’s going to class, doing the right things, eating the right things and he’s in great shape. Now the physicality and the athleticism are showing up.”
Mulbah transferred to WVU from Penn State before last season and eased his way into the defensive line rotation, earning more and more playing time as the season went on. He finished with three tackles for loss and a half-sack last season.
Both tipping the scales at over 300 pounds, Russell and Mulbah are looking to fill the gap at nose tackle left by the transfer of Mike Lockhart this offseason.
Jackson values versatility at the backup defensive line spots meaning rotation pieces T.J. Jackson and Asani Redwood could play anywhere along the line when needed.
T.J. Jackson, a senior, transferred from Troy this summer. He had 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2023.
“T.J. Jackson’s been a great addition to us,” Coach Jackson said. “He’s an old guy that’s going to bolster the end position and he’s got some real good position versatility.”
Redwood, a redshirt sophomore, came on late last season but missed all of spring practice with an injury. He is expected to be ready to go for fall camp.
“Judging by the way he played in the bowl game and the plays he made at the end of the season, you’d like to keep fanning that fire,” Jackson said. “I fully expect him to bounce back and catch up in the summer.”
One player who won’t be helping the Mountaineers this fall is Corey McIntyre. Coaches talked about the redshirt freshman earning a prominent role in the defensive line rotation this season, but a spring injury will keep him out most, if not all, of the season.
Other depth players are redshirt freshman Zachariah Keith, redshirt sophomore Derek Berlitz and true freshmen Makai Byerson (Richmond, Va.), Elijah Kinsler (Oradell, N.J.) and Nate Gabriel (Auburndale, Fla.).
Projected Depth Chart
Defensive Tackle
Edward Vesterinen, Sr
T.J. Jackson, Sr (Troy)
Corey McIntyre Jr., R-Fr
Elijah Kinsler, Fr
Nose Tackle
Fatorma Mulbah, R-Sr
Hammond Russell IV, R-Jr
Nate Gabriel, Fr
Defensive End
Sean Martin, Sr
Asani Redwood, R-So
Zachariah Keith, R-Fr
Makai Byerson, Fr
Derek Berlitz, R-So
