MORGANTOWN — A month away from spring football practice, West Virginia University is dealing with a couple of serious personnel problems that could have an effect on the season.
Geno Smith, penciled in as the replacement for Jarrett Brown at quarterback, is dealing with what offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen termed “a serious foot injury,” the result of an offseason training accident, and he may not be able to take any meaningful reps in spring practice.
And then there is the strange case of wide receiver Logan Heastie, a five-star recruit from a year ago who redshirted last year and had academic struggles in the first semester this year. He is dealing with “personal issues,” according to coach Bill Stewart, and while listed on the WVU roster has not been taking part in offseason workouts for the past month.
This news, along with the announcement of new staff assignments, came out at Stewart’s annual spring press gathering.
Spring practice will begin on April 6 and conclude late, with a night game on April 30.
The date in part is hoped to allow Smith to have time to heal and maybe get some spring work in.
While Mullen said he expected Smith to do little more than “sling the ball around in skeleton drills” this spring, Stewart was hopeful that having a screw put into the foot to help the injury heal will allow him to take part in some more meaningful drills.
“We do as much with him as he can medically tolerate,” Stewart said. “(Trainer) Dave Kerns is the guiding light along with the medical staff. But he ain’t going to be running the option.”
Smith missed last spring after suffering an injury to his other foot in an ATV accident, so he figures to be behind no matter what when the season comes around.
As a true freshman, Smith completed 32 of 49 passes, 65.3 percent, for 309 yards and a touchdown and an interception. He replaced Brown when he suffered a concussion and helped WVU beat Marshall.
“He had wonderful experience last year, over 200 reps,” Mullen noted, but he will be really behind after missing two springs.
“It’s a big deal,” Mullen said. “It will affect the plays we call and the things we run this spring. It will hurt his ability to grow and mature.”
According to Stewart, Smith is currently throwing while seated in a chair now to keep the throwing muscles active, but cannot yet bear weight on his foot as he throws.
Smith is one of two Mountaineer quarterbacks with experience, along with Pat White’s younger brother, Coley.
“We jumped Coley White already and told him ‘Who said you aren’t in the mix.’ You get ready,” Stewart said.
The Mountaineers are really light at quarterback. There’s Smith and White and two freshmen coming in when practice begins in the fall, both highly regarded prospects. One is Barry Brunetti out of Memphis, the other Jeremy Johnson out of Silsbee, Texas.
Both figure to be in the mix this year.
“By default they will be in the top three,” said Mullen, noting they will be on the travel roster and dressing for games, even if one of them doesn’t beat out Smith and White for the starting job.
That, of course, would be a tall order for a true freshman, again without benefit of the spring, but both quarterbacks are in possession of the playbooks and both are in contact with Mullen. Brunetti will be in town for a meeting on March 17 during spring practice.
Freshmen just don’t have the ability to make the reads an experienced quarterback makes deep into his career.
The Heastie situation is a strange one. He is not in any legal or academic trouble, and Stewart says the door is open for him.
He just seems to be confused.
“He’s thinking of his future,” Stewart said. “He did not have the success attached to his five-stardom.”
Stewart said he went through a poor workout about a month ago and never came back. Attempts to reach him have failed.
As for the coaching assignments, Stewart has made assistant Chris Beatty his director of recruiting while also adding the fullbacks to his coaching duties, which included running backs and slot receivers.
Lonnie Galloway, the wide receivers coach, will coordinate the passing game under offensive coordinator Mullen, while line coach Dave Johnson will coordinate the running game.
Veteran safeties coach Steve Dunlap will handle defensive special teams, including kickoff and punt return coverage and field goal and extra point block defense, while newcomer Dave McMichael will coach tight ends and handle the offensive special team units, including field goal, extra point and kickoff returns.
David Lockwood has the cornerbacks and the emphasis on the defensive passing game and Bill Kirelawich has the defensive line with the focus on the defensive running game.
E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com.
