J.B Lageman News

To the 17 West Virginia players that call the Mountain State home as well as the 13 instate standouts that are listed on the Thundering Herd's opening day roster, Saturday's final edition of the Friends of Coal Bowl is more than just the first game of the year for the state's two NCAA D-I football programs.

It was Aug. 3 and defensive lineman Will Clarke had only practiced once with his West Virginia teammates in preseason camp.

Dana Holgorsen said the Mountaineers will start trimming down the playing roster for the upcoming football season in the coming week, saying the players will have the first week of school to prove they belong on the field.

West Virginia defensive line coach Erik Slaughter is beginning the process of "double-training" his players to man multiple positions along the defensive front, but no matter what spot they slot into, they have to master the fundamentals of line play.

Knowing that most of the West Virginia University football coaching staff has some sort of familiarity with the Big 12 Conference should help as the Mountaineers implement their new defensive scheme.