MORGANTOWN — The punches keep coming to the WVU secondary as former 4-star recruit — the top defensive prospect in the 2020 recruiting class — David Vincent-Okoli is no longer with the team.
Vincent-Okoli is the third defensive back to leave the team since the end of the season, and the second in less than a week. Cornerback Dreshun Miller transferred to Auburn in February, while Tykee Smith announced last Wednesday he was entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae also left the Mountaineers to join Georgia, eventually replaced by ShaDon Brown.
With Miller’s departure, the cornerback position was already thin and lacked depth, but now with Vincent-Okoli’s departure, there is a severe need to add players, either through the portal or late high school pickups, with the remaining scholarships.
Fortunately, Nicktroy Fortune, who sits at the top of the depth chart, is back for his junior year. He’s played in 21 games the last two seasons, starting 12, including all 10 in 2020. He helped the Mountaineers finish as the No. 1 team nationally in pass defense, tallying two pass breakups and an interception.
Filling the void left by Miller, who started nine games last season, was already tough, but was made more difficult with Vincent-Okoli out of the picture.
The two favorites to take that spot are senior Jackie Matthews and Daryl Porter Jr., which defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley said both are making strides through the early part of spring camp.
“We knew before anyone even left that those two guys were going to have to step up and be contributors,” Lesley said. “They’ve both made tremendous strides just in the first couple days of practice.”
Lesley also said Matthews may have a slight leg up as a senior, going through the junior college ranks before arriving at WVU. In 2019 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he was a Junior College All-American and helped the team cap an undefeated season with a national championship.
Last season in limited action, Matthews played in eight games and finished with three tackles.
Porter Jr., son of eight-year NFL veteran Daryl Porter Sr., played in six games as a true freshman last year and is coming into 2021 as a sophomore.
“That competition is going to be fierce,” Lesley said. “They both had great off-seasons, are both stronger and both’s bodies are a little more ready to go than where they were last year.
“Both those guys are doing a great job.”
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