Wednesday marked the beginning of fall camp for West Virginia, just one month away from their week one kickoff under the lights against Penn State. Following today’s practice, offensive coordinator Chad Scott took the time to speak with the media.
Scott started off speaking about the running back room, saying how everyone has their own style.
“Even in the running back spot right now, it’s a deep group and they all have unique running styles,” said Scott. “We need to see who can do what and who can do what consistently as well.”
Scott then spoke about the young running backs, specifically true freshman DJ Oliver.
“I tell him [Oliver] and CJ Donaldson, when defensive guys can see the four and the twenty, which is what DJ Oliver is wearing, they have to make business decisions. They are some big guys and with their momentum going forward, I tell them you are an efficient runner naturally, four yards, just run north, vertical mentality. DJ has looked really good thus far, it’s phenomenal because when he first got here they weren’t sure, at least his teammates, what position he played. They know what he is now though, he can run the football.”
Scott was then asked about how Tony Mathis leaving would shake up the running back split, saying he did not want to talk about that but described Mathis as a “phenomenal leader in the room.”
“I don’t really want to speak on him. He was a great player for us and he graduated and whatnot. He was an older guy in the room, he was a leader in the room, did a phenomenal job, phenomenal work ethic, but you know we got a talented group. Every year I tell those guys we are trying to go out there and recruit a guy to replace them. The unique thing I love about our group is we have a great group, a competitive group. We got a guy who goes out and makes some play that the other guys didn’t so they want to go make that same play and I’m pretty sure you guys have seen it on film and in the games they’re the biggest cheerleader. They all root for each other.”
