Millard, Buie done with football at WVU

Indeed, spring practice is upon us, beginning this Sunday and coach Dana Holgorsen took the morning to update where his 2015 team stands. He held the media meeting in the old team room, its last session as the new million dollar team room with seats large enough to be comfortable for future Quinton Spains opens next week.

It started with personnel moves, significant ones.

The team’s only really experienced quarterback, Paul Millard, has decided not to continue his football career at West Virginia, as has one-time leading rusher Andrew Buie.

Earlier it had been announced that running back Dustin Garrison also was going to transfer, narrowing the running back field to Rushel Shell, Wendell Smallwood and former 4-star recruit Dante Thomas-Williams, a redshirt last year, necessitating Holgorsen to make Elijah Wellman, who had been an H-back, into a running back.

“As long as you stay healthy you’re in great shape, but that’s a very physical position,” Holgorsen said.

“We’ll make it work,” added running backs JaJuan Seider. “You’ve got four guys there, so you just knock on wood that everybody stays healthy.”

Holgorsen was looking for ways to open up scholarship room on his roster, but says he did not push any of the players out.

“Paul Millard came in and told me that his career at West Virginia is over. He will get his degree this summer. Whether he moves on to play football is something he is unsure of at this point in time. He is going to graduate and see what his future holds,” Holgorsen said.

“Andrew Buie is not on the team,” Holgorsen added. “I see him all the time working academically in the back. He’s on schedule to get his degree this summer. He hasn’t told me what he’s doing at this point in time.”

This is hardly stunning. Buie went home to Jacksonville, Fla., and missed the fall semester in 2013 after leading WVU in rushing the previous season.

Two other players seem to be off the team, too. Cornerback Keishawn Richardson, who is on track to graduate this summer, is not currently on the roster and Holgorsen said he is unsure of Richardson’s future.

And Garrett Hope, who was a tight end, has joined the baseball team and will pursue that through the rest of his collegiate career.

Offensively, there was a key position change, with tackle Adam Pankey moving to offensive guard.

“It’s easier to move from outside to inside,” offensive line coach Ron Crook said. “The issues you have are that you have a bigger guy aligned on you as opposed to those speed guys. It is just a difference in a guy rushing wide around the edge than a guy lining up and running right over top of you.

“It’s just a matter of learning to play with that leverage again, and learning to strike from that inside position. In addition, to playing every play in a three-point stance, even though 75 percent of them are in a two-point stance.”

Defensively, top tackler Nick Kwiatkoski moves from the Mike linebacker spot to the Sam spot that was occupied by senior Wes Tonkery last year, allowing Jared Barber to move into the starting Mike spot.

“Nick was our defensive MVP for the season. He was very productive,” defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said. “Jared Barber is a linebacker and a three-year starter (who missed last season due to surgery). We do not want to put two of our best guys in the same sport.

“Nick has played outside and is more versatile. He runs a little better, and all of the above. We moved him over to Sam, and we are going to let him start right there and see how it goes.”

The defense also goes into the spring without cornerback Daryl Worley and safety Jarrod Harper, who are both out with shoulder surgery. They are expected back for fall practice.

Right now Skyler Howard, as the only experienced quarterback, is No. 1 on the depth chart but Holgorsen, who will serve this year as quarterback coach, says he’s excited about William Crest, back from a redshirt freshman year and a couple of recruits.

“Crest looks great physically. I told him he better quit lifting or he will be a linebacker. He looks great. As far as how they process things, how the ball comes out of their hand, I don’t know. Because we haven’t been able to do that yet,” Holgorsen said.

“David Sills may be the most athletic one we have,” Holgorsen continues. “You can see that with the different drills he’s running. We know William is an incredibly athletic guy. Skyler is a fierce competitor. Chris Chugunov is a little less athletic but has absorbed the offense quicker. You can tell from asking him questions that that dude is pretty bright. Until I can put a ball in their hands and watch the drills and see them execute, I don’t know.”

As for the coaching staff, Holgorsen has not yet executed the hire he has, but is leaning toward using it for a special teams coach.

Holgorsen will get help with the quarterbacks from graduate assistant Michael Burchett, whom he calls a “bright young coach.”

“We’ve also got Dan Gerberry who was at Youngstown State last year. He will be coaching the tight ends. He played in the NFL for a couple of years. He’s got tons of upside and will be great,” Holgorsen added.

Defensively Bruce Tall, who returns to the Mountaineer staff, will guide the defensive line with help from Damon Cogdell. Gibson will handle the linebackers, Brian Mitchell the corners and Joe DeForest the safeties.

As it was last year, Holgorsen will take a couple of his Saturday spring practices on the road, holding an open practice in Shepherdstown on April 4 and one at the Greenbrier on April 18, while having a practice open to the public at Mountaineer Field on April 11.