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WVU football’s Week 1 depth chart released for Virginia Tech

By Matthew Peaslee

MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 01: The West Virginia Mountaineers celebrate after the Kansas State Wildcats missed a 33 yard field goal during the game on October 1, 2016 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 01: The West Virginia Mountaineers celebrate after the Kansas State Wildcats missed a 33 yard field goal during the game on October 1, 2016 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Defense

Up front, Dana Holgorsen and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson have released a lineup that mirrors the Saturday Blitz post. Defensive end will be Adam Shuler, who was featured in a Hail WV post over the weekend, Xavier Pegues and Reese Donahue.

We want to talk about a young line, these guys are young and green. Getting this playing time will help their development. Seeing starting time against a powerful opening opponent like Virginia Tech will set the tone for the rest of the season.

Related Story: Owen Schmitt speaks in new WVU football video

Xavier Preston and Al-Rasheed Benton make up two-thirds of a strong linebacking corps, but the third is a potential missing link in a solid unit. David Long is likely out for a few weeks. At WILL linebacker, he may miss all of the out of conference games. In his place will be in-state product Dylan Tonkery.

Tonkery’s brother, Wes, started for the WVU football team a few years ago, so the bloodline remains strong in the Mountaineers’ program.

In the secondary, Saturday Blitz said Kyzir White, Dravon Askew-Henry, who is back after missing last season, and Toyous Avery will start at safety.

At cornerback, there may be a pair of surprises. Junior college transfer Hakeem Bailey, who was featured in a Hail WV post over the weekend, gets the starting nod over senior Elijah Battle.

A pair of seniors, Mike Daniels Jr. and Corey Winfield battled for the final remaining starting cornerback position, but Daniels got the nod over Winfield. Saturday Blitz projected Winfield as the starter.

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