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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Scouting West Virginia: WRs & TEs
December 19, 2007 | Football
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Scouting West Virginia | OL | DL | RB & FB | LB | WR & TE | DB | QB | SP | Coaches & Intangibles |
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Scouting: Wide Receivers & Tight Ends |
Most of what West Virginia does offensively revolves around the running game, but the receiving corps cannot be overlooked due to their big play potential. The Mountaineers regularly line up with three wide receivers and it is not uncommon for WVU to go four- or even five-wide. While this is primarily done to spread the field and prevent opposing defenses from stacking eight or nine guys in the box to stop the run, quarterback Patrick White is not afraid to take a shot down the field.
White is a better thrower than people give him credit for, and when the Mountaineers choose to put the ball in the air he completes 68 percent of his passes and ranks 14th in the nation in passing efficiency.
Inclined to go for the home run at just about any time, White's primary downfield target is Darius Reynaud. The team's leading receiver with 59 catches for 691 yards, Reynaud has the potential to take it to the house each time he touches the ball. The senior playmaker has accounted for 11 of the team's 14 TD catches this year, ranking second in school history for touchdown receptions in a single season. An explosive kick returner as well, Reynaud has averaged over 26 yards per kickoff return during his career, good for second-best in school history.
Dorrell Jalloh and Tito Gonzales are West Virginia's other starting wideouts and rank third and fourth respectively in receiving yards.
Not surprisingly, the Mountaineers also like to utilize their running backs in the passing game as another way to get the ball in the hands of Steve Slaton. He is the team's second leading receiver and, along with true freshman Jock Sanders, will line up in the slot numerous times during the course of a game.
West Virginia's wide receivers also play a critical role in the team's spread-option rushing attack and are relied upon to block downfield for the dynamic duo of White and Slaton. Jalloh and Gonzales have established themelves as two of WVU's most dependable blockers.
Best known for his prowess at the fullback position, senior Owen Schmitt has also been utilized at tight end this year to take advantage of his excellent blocking skills. Deceptively versatile, the bruiser has hauled in 12 passes for 121 yards this season.
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Key Matchups |
Reynaud is undoubtedly West Virginia's go-to-guy when they decide to put the ball in the air. With All-Big 12 corner Reggie Smith sidelined for the bowl game with a broken big toe, the responsibility of shutting down Reynaud will fall on Lendy Holmes and Marcus Walker.
The corners may be asked to play a lot of one-on-one coverage as the Sooners attempt to keep as many guys in the box as possible to contain the running game. To prevent OU's safeties from cheating up, West Virginia will have to take some shots downfield.
Strong safety D.J. Wolfe will play a key role in this theater and against multiple receiver sets. Wolfe leads Oklahoma with four interceptions on the season. White has thrown just four picks in 2007 for the Mountaineers.
If the game comes down to a two-point conversion, the Sooners will need to keep track of Jalloh, who has made his career with a pair of clutch game-winning two-point conversion catches in overtime wins against Louisville (2005) and Rutgers (2006).
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Key Numbers |
| 14 | Receiving touchdowns the Mountaineers have scored this season |
| 11 | Receiving touchdowns Darius Reynaud has accounted for |
| 26 | Passing plays of 20 yards or more the Mountaineers have had this season |
| 11 | Number of those plays Darius Reynaud has accounted for |
| 10 | Number of those plays the rest of the receiving corps has accounted for |
| 25 | Number of Mountaineer scoring drives this season that took less than 2:00 |
| 6 | Interceptions thrown this season by West Virginia's quarterbacks |
| 19 | Number of passes the Sooner defense has picked off |
| 450.50 | Average total yards per game for West Virginia this season (No. 19 nationally) |
| 324.00 | Average total yards the Sooners have allowed (No. 18 nationally) |
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2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl |
No. 3 Oklahoma faces No. 9 West Virginia in the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 2 in Glendale, Ariz. It's OU's sixth BCS bowl game in eight seasons and second consecutive trip to the Fiesta Bowl. The Sooners clinched a BCS berth with the program's fifth Big 12 title since 2000 by defeating then-No. 1 Missouri in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Complete coverage of the game and an archive of the scouting reports are available at Sooner Fiesta Bowl Central. The OU Athletics Department has a limited amount of tickets in official OU sections of the stadium. Sooner fans can check availability online or call the OU Athletics Ticket Office toll-free at (800) 456-GoOU or locally at (405) 325-2424.
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