Finding spring practice nuggets about WVU’s defensive line

With my duties at Wheelhouse Creative LLC marketing, it’s difficult to keep up with the nuances of my alma mater, West Virginia University, and its football team like I used to as a sport columnist and beat writer.
I used to love finding the nuggets for readers, like which players are moving up and down the depth chart. I tried to think about it like panning for gold, sifting through the noise for those nuggets.
So, I downloaded the press conference of Mountaineer defensive line coach Andrew Jackson on Tuesday. It was enjoyable. If you haven’t heard Jackson since he moved from Old Dominion a few years back, I highly recommend it. The man has, I think, three master’s degrees. (“I’m probably overqualified to be a coach,” he laughed at one point.) Great speaker.
He was asked about the Mountaineer defensive line overall.
“[End] Sean Martin is having a great camp,” Jackson said. “He’s bouncing back from a personal issue in his life. [Nose tackle and former Penn State player] Fatorma Mulbah is turning himself into a player. Very excited about him…. Steady [tackle] Eddie [Vesterinen] is doing great.
“Then we have some younger pieces that are catching up. Hammond Russell is having a great camp. Corey McIntyre Jr. is having a great camp. So, we’re building. And T.J. Jackson has been a great addition. Old guy that’s going to bolster the position. He has some versatility.”
There’s a lot to pluck from that. Martin, the Bluefield native, is not only overcoming an issue, but blossoming after making 27 tackles last season.
“He’s being a pro,” Jackson said. “Being consistent. It’s great to watch him and [offensive tackle] Wyatt [Milum] battle every day, that chess match. It’s been a blessing for Coach [Matt] Moore and me to walk down the hallway and see Wyatt and Sean watching tape together, discussing football. I think if I passed out right now, he’d be able to take over the coaching. The consistency piece has shown up since January. He’s in the best mental space.”
Behind him might be that “old guy” in T.J. Jackson, the transfer from Troy. He’s small for the position, listed at 6-1, 282, but made 11 starts for Troy in an 11-win season. Expect him to play multiple positions at WVU.
“He’s got tremendous athleticism,” said Coach Jackson. “He’s an older guy too so he’s crafty, knows the game. Some of the movements we’ve made in the past we can do stuff like that with him. He’s going to be a terror for us.”
Redshirt senior Mulbah, I believe, is going to be a key at 6-4, 306 at the nose tackle position. And then you had to catch the coach’s comment about Hammond Russell, a redshirt junior once named to the 2020 MaxPreps Ohio All-State First Team.
“Off the field, he’s taking care of himself much better,” Jackson said of Russell. “He’s going to class, doing the right things, eating the right things. He’s in great shape. He’s in a great mental space. Now the physicality and athleticism is showing up. He’s just growing every day. He’s like a sponge. If I had to grade him today, he’s having the best camp in our room.”
That’s called a golden nugget: “He’s having the best camp in our room.”
Of course, it’s always fun to mention senior tackle Vesterinen, 6-3, 285, of – all together now — Helsinki, Finland, who had 28 tackles last season.
“As a technician, he’s grown so much,” said Jackson. “He looks like he’s been playing football for 10, 12 years. He’s actually teaching the young guys. He’s come full circle. He’s comfortable in his own skin.”
Behind him is expected to be sophomore Asani Redwood, but he’s been out. Which takes us to redshirt freshman Corey McIntyre, Jr. Yes, the son of Corey McIntyre who played for WVU from 1998-2001 before an 11-year NFL career.
“Athletically, [McIntyre Jr.] has the best feet in my room,” said Jackson. “It’s catching up for him. He wasn’t able to early enroll last year. He came in the summer. Strength and conditioning has been the biggest piece. Cardiovascular-wise he’s gotten in shape. You can’t not get stronger in our program’s weight room. They do a phenomenal job. Now he’s growing mentally. The game is slowing down. Everything is clicking for him right now.”
Of the group, Jackson said they are “trending in the right direction.” And he pointed to some very good reasons.
“Going against [former standout center] Zach Frazier all those years and some of the guys like Doug Nester, Wyatt Milum, all those guys spurred competition. Then we’ve pointed out examples of good defensive line play and how physicality can overcome a lot of things. The guys have really truly embraced it. Not appearing to be soft.”
Jackson said watching Frazier, a projected high NFL draft pick, not only helped on the field, but off.
“No. 1 Zach is a technician,” Jackson said. “On and off the field he does things the right way. Then you take it all the way through to how he took himself off the field the last game when he hurt himself. That passion, all that stuff is there. You don’t have to talk about it. You just put it on the laser. You’d better have your stuff ready, or this guy is going to put you in the dirt.”
Overall, Jackson seems pleased.
“We’re physical,” he said of the WVU defensive line. “I’ve had very talented groups here. This is the most physical.”
+ + +
Mitch Vingle covered sports in West Virginia for 38 years. Follow Mitch on Twitter at @MitchVingle and be sure to check out the rest of Wheelhouse Creative’s website for your marketing and advertising needs. If interested, call us at 304-905-6005.