West Virginia began fall camp on Wednesday, just one month away from the start of this year’s college football season. Following practice on Thursday, defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley spoke about the defense and how things have been shaping up for them.
Lesley started by talking about returning players such as Lee Kpogba, Aubrey Burks and Sean Martin that have shown improvements after going through what Lesley called an “adjustment period.”
“With Lee Kpogba, and you guys have heard me say this with junior college transfers, whether they’re three for two or two for two, there’s just always an adjustment period there,” Lesley said. “You hope it’s quicker sometimes than it is, but their first season, usually as a starter, they miss a lot. Lee did well, but there was some learning curve on some things and I think that he’s getting through that. He’s a guy who’s playing faster and seeing things faster. The next one is Aubrey Burks, really kind of the same thing, not as a transfer but as a young player, that a lot is put on his plate early in his career. He did the best he could, was better as the season went on, and has obviously through spring and summer been one of the bright spots. Sean Martin is another one. Again, young player starts to trust his strength, trust his body and what it can do.”
Lesley was asked about the comments that have been made nationally surrounding the size of West Virginia’s defense, as well as being picked to finish last in the Big 12, responding with, “I don’t even think about it. None of those people that vote or write are at our practice, our workouts or our OTAs.”
Lesley said another player who has made some tremendous improvements on defense is cornerback Jordan Jackson.
“I’ll tell you a young corner that is athletic and made a play yesterday that was more of a really smart situational play, that nobody has thought a lot about, and that’s mainly because he played running back in high school and that’s Jordan Jackson. He’s done some good things so far, is a naturally fast guy, has a good body on him, good length. I think he will find a role somewhere from defense to special teams this fall.
