This afternoon running backs coach Larry Porter discussed how he is handling his new job at West Virginia.
Coming into a new school with all new players can be challenging. Luckily for Porter, he has Jaheim White who has stuck with the program through the coaching change.
Although he is recovering from injury, White’s experience here in Morgantown can be very helpful for Porter.
“You know obviously he’s nursing an injury and pretty close to being ready to roll and my whole approach to Jaheim is everything that we have to achieve and do is in front of us. Last year is exactly what it was, it was last year and I think he’s super excited about that mentality, that mindset just trying to build on the things that he accomplished last year,” Porter said when asked about White.
As just about everyone is learning Rich Rodriguez’s new system, it can be hard to always be on the same page. Porter was asked about how his running backs are handling the new system.
“You know, obviously still learning and growing just like I am. With Jaheim I think we got a group that is buying into coach’s system because that’s where it all starts,” Porter said.
Every coach has different values and different ways to go about their coaching. During his press conference, Porter was asked what he values as a coach.
“It starts with protecting right, being able to protect the football, being able to protect the quarterback. I think that’s an essential piece,” Porter went on to say, “The other piece is just the point of attack production. Just being able to get more than what the play gives you.”
Having coached at the high school and college level, Porter has had the opportunity to impact many young men. He went on to discuss how he wants to impact his player on and off the field.
“Well, the first one I would hope is that I developed them and taught them how to have a hard edge. That’s what we’re trying to get accomplished here. And again, I think that mindset applies to life because you’re going to have adversity,” Porter went on to say, “The second thing is that I taught them how to love. And that’s one thing that’s near and dear to my heart, because you can coach these young men as much as you want to, as hard as you want to, but until they know that you truly care about them, sometimes it’s hard for them to buy in.”
Porter coming from North Carolina to replace former running backs coach Chad Scott was a crucial hire for West Virginia.
Porter looks forward as the Mountaineers continue spring practice while they prepare for their spring game on Saturday, April 5.
