MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –Nick Malone was always one of the biggest players on the field or the court while at Morgantown High. He was a state champion for the MHS basketball team as a center and anchored the offensive line for the Mohigans football squad.
Now in his third year with the WVU football team as a preferred walk-on, Malone is continuing to grow physically — head coach Neal Brown said Saturday that Malone is now over 300 pounds after coming into the program just over 270 prior to the 2019 season.
With his body evolving, Malone is fitting the mold of a Division-I, Power 5 offensive lineman, and his hard work is beginning to pay off.
During Saturday’s scrimmage at Milan Puskar Stadium, Malone was repping with the second-team offense, and his versatility is helping him climb the depth chart.
“Nick Malone, I’m really pleased with his progress,” Brown said. “He’s got his weight up and he’s much stronger. He can play every position up front outside of center, and he may be able to do that, we just haven’t worked him there. He knows left guard, left tackle, right guard and right tackle. His communication has really been a benefit with that second group.
“I’m very pleased with his progress.”
Another MHS alum and preferred walk-on, Preston Fox, who redshirted last season, was working with the third-team offense at wide receiver.
Scrimmage highlights
During the first part of Saturday’s scrimmage open to media, the Mountaineers offense had a better showing than it did last week.
- In the 1v1 opening drive, defensive end Taijh Alston was able to get in the backfield to stop running back Leddie Brown. Brown had limited contact and plays were blown dead before he was hit.
- Quarterback Jarret Doege hit a deep pass down the left sideline to wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who made an excellent catch over cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. The play put the Mountaineers into the red zone, but the defense held, forcing a short field goal make by Tyler Sumpter.
- On the next drive in 2v2, quarterback Garrett Greene, the only quarterback sporting a white contact jersey, showed his dynamic abilities. He continued to make plays with his legs, including a 30-plus yard run up the middle, bobbing and weaving before being pushed out of bounds.
- The drive was capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Greene to Sam James in the left corner of the end zone. Neal Brown said after Greene finished the scrimmage with three touchdown tosses.
- Jalen Thornton had a solid outing along the defensive line, getting a sack of Greene as well as disrupting several plays in the backfield.
- On the fourth drive, back to 1v1, Doege had a play fake to Leddie Brown and rolled right out of the pocket, and while Brown was in pass protection, was knocked on his back by Akheem Mesidor, who exploded through the line.
The Mountaineers will cap spring practice during the spring game, scheduled for 1 p.m. next Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium. Like last season, attendance will operate at about 25% — 15,000 fans — and tickets are first come, first serve at $10, benefiting WVU Medicine Children’s.
The game will be aired on ESPN+.
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