WVU linebacker position should be fun watch in 2021

Those that used to read my columns in the Charleston Gazette-Mail or Morgantown Dominion Post know I liked to present a package of nuggets from time to time.

That’s because I liked digging for hidden treasures that exposed those golden nuggets.

So today I went back to the transcript of WVU football coach Neal Brown’s appearance at the Big 12 media days.

Admittedly, I don’t follow the team as closely now that I’m at Wheelhouse Creative marketing. Yet a few items of interest jumped out.

First is that Brown said Akeem Mesidor, a freshman All-America selection last season, has been moved inside along the defensive line.

That’s significant. With potential All-American Dante Stills at tackle and Mesidor at nose, WVU should present a formidable defensive front – especially if redshirt junior Taijh Alston can overcome his knee injury of last season at end.

I’ve also wondered about the Mountaineer linebacker position. Gone is Tony Fields to the Cleveland Browns, who took him in the fifth round of the most recent NFL draft.

That’s a big hole to fill.

“Josh Chandler is going to step into the role Tony Fields did just a great job at last year at the Mike (middle) linebacker position,” Brown said. “We have some moving pieces at that position. I think fall camp is going to determine how we go into the season feeling about that, the linebacker position.”

Later, Brown called Fields last season’s “eraser.” He then almost casually dropped in this comment:

“Josh Chandler was the MVP of the [AutoZone Liberty] bowl game. Then we have Lance Dixon, who transferred in. Exree Loe has played a lot of football for us. Then we have Deshawn Stevens, who just transferred in from Maine. So, we have guys that have played football at a high level. We just have to get them reps within our system.”

Brown might have understated his linebacker transfers.

First, understand WVU also has a three-year starter at Arizona in Scottie Young who will now be playing the Mountaineers’ spear position. That’s big for the Mountaineers considering secondary losses to the transfer portal.

But let’s look at the linebackers of which Brown spoke.

Dixon transferred to Morgantown from Penn State, where he made nine appearances as a redshirt freshman last season with one start.

Yet dig deeper. Coming out of high school in Michigan, Dixon was the All-USA Michigan Player of the Year per USA Today. He was rated a five-star prospect by 247Sports and a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals. He had offers from all the upper-tier schools.

And when he decided to leave Happy Valley? Michigan State was recruiting him hard. Ditto TCU. Yet WVU won the battle.

And you may shrug your shoulders when you see Stevens transferred to WVU from Maine.

But get this: He was an All-Colonial Athletic Association pick; he was a sophomore All-American; he spent five seasons playing at Maine; and he was picked in the first round of the most recent Canadian Football League draft.

You read correctly. The Toronto, Ontario, native was taken by the Ottawa Redblacks with the sixth overall pick yet decided to choose WVU. He’ll join buddy Alonzo Addae, who transferred to Morgantown from the University of New Hampshire. Also, Mesidor is from Ontario.

Of course, credentials don’t always translate to production, but it’s a spark, at least, that could turn into something hot.

Will be fun watching.

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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.