West Virginia football is only entering Week 2 of the season, but they've already been bitten by the injury bug. And there are a couple spots in particular where head coach Rich Rodriguez is looking for talent to step up and inherit a role.
Last week, starting defensive lineman Darius Wiley went down with an absolutely brutal injury that Rodriguez later revealedwill keep him out for the rest of the season. The Mountaineers also are currently missing third-string running back Christopher Talley, whotweaked his hamstringduring pre-game warm-ups against Coastal Carolina. Now, Rodriguez is seeking replacements to fill those spots on the depth chart.
Rich Rodriguez looking for depth at running back, defensive line for the West Virginia Mountaineers
Wiley started at defensive tackle for the Mountaineers in the Chanticleers, but was carted off the field in an air as with a severe lower body injury to start the fourth quarter which also resulted in all of his ligaments in that leg being torn.
With a starter out of action, there is no doubt that lineup will shift a bit, and that someone will step up. Rodriguez name-dropped JUCO product Jeremiah Johnson and Oregon transfer Tobi Haastrup, who saw 15 snaps and three snaps against Coastal, respectively, as potential players who will see more reps as a result. Zac Alley also threw the names Emerson Joy, Wilnerson Telemaque, and Brandon Caesar into the mix – Joy played five snaps on Saturday, while the other two saw no action.
Rodriguez also mentioned that he wants some more depth at running back. Cam Cook handled 30 carries on Saturday, while freshman Amari Latimer took just six carries. That number will likely increase for the latter as the season goes on, but Rodriguez has expressed the need multiple times to have a third running back in the equation.
Rodriguez claims that was supposed to be Talley, but now, the freshman is week-to-week with his hamstring injury. He admitted the injury threw a wrench into his plans, and now expects JUCO product Martavious Boswell and freshman Lawrence Autry to step up and compete for reps as the third back this week.
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