Apr. 11—MORGANTOWN — You can’t win any games in the spring. No matter what happens over the next two weeks, West Virginia will open the 2024 season with a 0-0 record.
Spring is all about getting better and that is what the Mountaineers have been focused on the past three weeks.
On Wednesday, WVU head coach Neal Brown went through who he believes are the Mountaineers’ most improved players through the team’s eight spring practices so far. Included on the list were offensive lineman Nick Malone, backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol, defensive linemen Sean Martin and Edward Vesterinen and a host of players who haven’t seen the field yet but are pushing for playing time.
Offense On the offensive line, Malone, a Morgantown native, is stepping into a full-time starting role after serving as the unit’s top backup last season.
“I think Malone is a guy that, through the middle part of the spring, I’ve really been pleased with the step he’s taken, ” Brown said. “He’s played the least amount of all those guys.”
Also along the line, Brown made note of backup center Landen Livingston.
“(Starting center Brandon) Yates is out for a couple of days—nothing serious—so Landen Livingston is getting a bunch of reps at center, ” Brown said. “I’ve been pleased with him. He’s a guy that, if he’s not the most improved player on offense, he’s in the discussion.”
Livingston, a redshirt sophomore, has not played yet for WVU but is the frontrunner to be the team’s backup center this season.
“He’s a very coachable kid and he’s playing with really good technique, ” offensive line coach Matt Moore said. “Strength has always been where he needs to catch up and he’s starting to catch up with that.”
Also on offense, Brown brought up Marchiol, the team’s backup quarterback. A redshirt sophomore, Marchiol made his first and only career start last season…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/notebook-marchiol-vesterinen-martin-among-023300078.html
Author : The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
Publish date : 2024-04-12 02:33:00
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