New and old dogs alike will learn new tricks for WVU Football’s defensive secondary will look to prove this fall.
West Virginia’s defensive backs, previously led by new Pittsburgh Steeler Beanie Bishop Jr., will seek to establish a new identity in 2024. The new look includes a squad of five new transfers but also several familiar faces leading the charge.
Perhaps the biggest change for West Virginia’s secondary this season is how it will be coached. With the departure of safeties coach Dontae Wright, head coach Neal Brown took the opportunity to unite the entire secondary under just one coach, co-defensive coordinator ShaDon Brown.
The decision, in theory, cleans up any unnecessary confusion in communication. In the past, ShaDon Brown and Wright checked in with each other about the terminology they use with their players. Now there is one consistent language under Brown.
“I love having one voice in the room,” Brown said. “Now, as a whole secondary, when there’s a question or there’s an issue, they’re coming straight to the source… Whether its a safety, nickel, or spear, the information is funneled from one place.”
Coaching a full secondary is a familiar task for Brown, who did just that at the University of Colorado in 2017 and 2018. His experienced background and streamlined communicative approach should allow high-level production from the secondary, as should the experience of its personnel.
West Virginia brings nine upperclassmen to its secondary this season. This includes redshirt senior safety Anthony Wilson, who was second on the team last season in tackles with 80. He also recorded four pass break-ups and an interception.
New to the secondary are transfers Dontez Fagan from Charlotte, Garnett Hollis and Jaheem Joseph from Northwestern, Ayden Garnes from Duquesne, and TJ Crandall from Colorado State. Despite being new to West Virginia, the new recruits bring plenty of experience to the table as well.
Hollis Jr. and Joseph easily have the most experience with power five competition, and both have done well against it. Last season, Hollis Jr. totaled 49 tackles, defended three passes, and grabbed an interception. Joseph, in a break-out season in terms of playing time, tallied 24 tackles and three interceptions.
Joining the upperclassmen is Fagan, who enters Division I after five years bouncing around Division II and JUCO. At Charlotte last season, Fagan had 21 tackles, including 16 solo tackles, defended four passes, and grabbed an interception.
Crandall in Garnes bring a bit more youth to the secondary, as Crandall enters his sophomore season after 10 games at Colorado State. He totaled 19 tackles, defended two passes, and grabbed an interception.
Garnes shined at Duquesne this season as a sophomore, with 50 tackles, including 20 solo tackles, 10 passes defended, two interceptions, and a touchdown.
As a whole, West Virginia’s deep secondary comes in with both experience and room for growth. Under ShaDon Brown’s new unified approach, the defensive backs should contribute greatly to winning despite what they lost in Beanie Bishop Jr.
Photo by Wesley Shoemaker, Blue Gold Sports
