There was a significant development Saturday in the competition to back up West Virginia tailback Noel Devine. Freshman Terence Kerns displayed his blend of size and speed over 11 carries in the summer's first scrimmage at Mountaineer Field.
The 6-foot-1, 239-pound Kerns finished with 68 yards rushing, including a 41-yard run in which he rumbled through the line of scrimmage and then raced past defenders along the sideline, and a 9-yard touchdown run that saw him bounce outside and then power toward the end zone.
"He looked good,"
linebacker J.T. Thomas said. "He's built like a man. I think he's going to bring another threat to our offense - our already powerful offense - and be a nice change of pace for Noel Devine."
Kerns didn't start the day as the No. 2 running back. That spot went instead to junior college transfer Zach Hulce, who earned it with a solid week of practice. Hulce lost a fumble on the second-team offense's first play.
"That was the end of the day for him,"
said Coach Bill Stewart, who was so frustrated by the lack of progress from Hulce and Kerns he moved slot receiver Jock Sanders to backup tailback in Friday's practice.
Hulce ran the stadium steps as a punishment and didn't play the rest of the day. Sanders took some of the leftover snaps, but Kerns capitalized.
His only blemish came on a bobbled swing pass from Jarrett Brown, but Brown threw behind Kerns after linebacker John Holmes disrupted the play. Brandon Hogan recovered the fumble from his cornerback position.
Kerns' confidence quickly grew after the long run that got WVU away from its goal line.
"He's a real big body,"
defensive end Zac Cooper said. "Given that we have some small running backs with a whole lot of speed, a power back makes our offense a little more dynamic."
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FOR WHAT it's worth, the first first-team offenses consisted of Patrick White at quarterback, Devine at tailback, Alric Arnett and Tito Gonzales at wide receiver, Sanders and Dorrell Jalloh at slot receiver, Don Barclay at left tackle, Greg Isdaner at left guard, Mike Dent at center, Jake Figner at right guard and Selvish Capers at right tackle.
When WVU used a tight end, it was freshman Tyler Urban, who continued to impress in the absence of Will Johnson.
Johnson remained out with a bad right ankle, but Stewart was hopeful he could return to practice today.
Urban, a 6-4, 240-pounder from North Huntington, Pa., caught a 42-yard pass from White early in the scrimmage. He used a corner route to slip through the defense and ran another 15 yards after the catch before punctuating the play by banging into cornerback Ellis Lankster on the sideline.
"I don't remember the last tight end who caught a pass here,"
receiver D.J. Thomas said.
The initial second-team offense had Brown at quarterback, Hulce at tailback, Matt Timmerman at left tackle, John Bradshaw at left guard, Gino Gradkowski at center, Josh Jenkins at right guard, Jon Walko at right tackle, Ryan Nehlen and Ezra Tilaye at wide receiver and Mark Rodgers and Thomas at slot receiver. Ryan Clark played Urban's H-back/fullback/tight end spot.
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THE DEFENSES allowed just three touchdowns -- touchdown runs by White and Kerns and a touchdown pass from Brad Starks to Ryan Nehlen. The first-team defense allow just one score. It began with Cooper at defensive end, Chris Neild at nose guard, Scooter Berry at defensive tackle, Mortty Ivy at strong side linebacker, Pat Lazear at middle linebacker, Thomas at weak side linebacker, Lankster and Kent Richardson at cornerback, Eain Smith at free safety, Boogie Allen at spur safety and Quinton Andrews at bandit safety.
The second team had Larry Ford at defensive end, Doug Slavonic at nose guard, Josh Taylor at defensive tackle, Holmes at strong side linebacker, Anthony Leonard at middle linebacker, Ovid Goulbourne at weak side linebacker, Hogan and Keith Tandy at cornerback, Anthony Wood at free safety, Nate Sowers at spur safety and Sidney Glover at bandit safety.
Coaches tried various combinations in every unit, in particular on the defensive line, where about a dozen different players played. Most saw time at different positions.
"The way coach (Bill) Kirelawich teaches the defensive line, everyone can play any position,"
Cooper said. "We're still waiting for Pat Liebig to get cleared by the NCAA, but he can play all three positions. Neild can play nose and tackle, Scooter can play end and tackle. Julian Miller can play end and tackle. Doug Slavonic can play end and tackle. Me and Larry Ford are working strictly at end, but if the offense motions the tight end to our side, that's the same thing as playing tackle."
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LEFT TACKLE Ryan Stanchek practiced Saturday morning, but watched the scrimmage, as was previously planned. Freshman receiver J.D. Woods hurt his shoulder and sat out. Cornerback Guesly Dervil dislocated a finger Saturday morning and did not scrimmage. His left arm was in a sling and Stewart said he'll practice today, thought with a wrap protecting his hand.
Receiver Wes Lyons was out again. Stewart said he had his left knee scoped last week and could be out another week. Lyons' older brother, Devon, wasn't out on the field. Devon transferred to WVU from Ohio State after winning a hardship waiver from the NCAA.
"Wes was getting treatment,"
Stewart said. "I don't know where Devon was."
Brown threw just one pass and didn't play after he left the field holding his right hamstring. It was wrapped in ice as he hobbled off the field at the end of the scrimmage. Stewart said it was a "twinge" and Brown wanted to and could have returned to the scrimmage.
"His legs are tired,"
Stewart said. "It's not anything bad. He had one this summer with his other leg. He's tired. He needs a little more fluid. That's all."
