Ben Cutter got thrown into the starting lineup midseason last season after a season-ending injury to linebacker Trey Lathan.
Now, he is working to become a more well-rounded linebacker in his sophomore season, following up on an up and down freshman campaign.
“I think one of the best things that I’ve been improving on is pass game,” Cutter said. “I missed some tackles last year because I take an angle and my hips would be turned out and the running backs hips are still squared to me, and he cuts back and it just don’t look good on film.”
In high school, Cutter wasn’t asked to do a whole lot of pass coverage as a linebacker. Now, he is trying to do a better job of understanding route concepts and what’s happening in the passing game.
Cutter has put on a little more weight this year and he believes that he is a stronger guy as well.
“I think I’m a lot stronger now too and understand better techniques of using my hands. When a 315 lb. guy’s running at you, you got to know what you’re doing. You can’t place your hands wherever and expect to hold your gap leverage or be able to snag off of them.”
The linebacker room as a whole is deeper than what it was a season ago, and now guys are out there competing for snaps.
“We have eight guys right now, seven cause [Jairo Faverus] is hurt, but seven guys that are hungry to play, know the playbook, know what they’re doing and come out every day ready to go. The competition, it makes all of us better too, you feel it’s like somebody’s chasing you every day and you got to perform your best.
Inside linebackers coach Jeff Koonz also spoke about Cutter and how he has improved during spring practice.
“Ben is definitely one of those guys that I told you is quicker, he’s more explosive, he’s faster,” Koonz said. “Ben’s a guy that’s taken his coverage to another level this spring. He’s decreased missed tackles, which was a point of emphasis for him.”
West Virginia is wrapping up spring practices this week and the spring game is set for Saturday at noon at Milan Puskar Stadium.
