MORGANTOWN — On offense and on defense this year, West Virginia University’s football team will be giving their opponents the Willies.

The Willies, in this case, are senior tight end Will Johnson and redshirt freshman Will Clarke.

While one plays offense, the other defense, they have more in common than just the same first name. Each is deceptively soft spoken for someone who, once the ball is snapped, turns into a physical dynamo.

Johnson’s story at West Virginia is an interesting one, for even today he has trouble picturing himself as a 240-pound tight end. He was recruited out of Centerville, Ohio, which is just outside Dayton. He was a running back and defensive back then, brought to WVU to play wide receiver.

At 195 or 200 pounds, Rich Rodriguez saw him as someone who might make a possession receiver. But somewhere along the way, they took a look at his frame and felt he could pack more weight and help as a pass-catching tight end.

More weight? Yeah. But could anyone imagine 240 pounds?

“Never,” said Johnson.

Yet here he is, big and strong and certainly not hungry, for as hard as he had to work in the weight room to build himself up, there was one benefit.

“It was unlimited how much I could eat,” he said, smiling.

Johnson’s development as a tight end, and we’d better hyphenate that to H-back, gives WVU a host of options. Both he and big, powerful Tyler Urban are tight ends, Urban more traditional on the line, Johnson more a motion tight end.

That means they go for power and have both in the game, along with fullback Ryan Clarke, or they can have just one, Urban being more the blocker and Johnson more the pass catcher.

This is not to say that Johnson can’t block, for it is what he worked hardest on.

“Coming from receiver, you’re learning different routes and you’re also learning blocking, so it’s just putting those two together. Then you have different reads, too. It was pretty tough in the beginning,” he said. “Learning the footwork in blocking, having the right steps and technique was toughest.”

If Johnson is the offensive side of the Willies, get to know Clarke, because everything points to this redshirt freshman into becoming a star.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel speaks in glowing terms about his potential and about how he can help this year and that next year he could really be a force in the Big East.

Certainly, he has the bloodline, his father, also William, having been a star basketball player at Duquesne and probably responsible for the 6-foot, 6-inch size he brings to the defensive end position. He comes out of Taylor Allderdice outside Pittsburgh, being the first player to play at a BCS school since Pitt was riding the running of Curtis Martin.

You are taken aback somewhat upon shaking hands with Clarke and having your hand devoured inside his sizable grip, looking up at him but hearing him speak as softly as he does. He seems as though he is almost a gentle soul, something the coaches and he assure you will not be seconded by opposing offensive tackles or quarterbacks.

“I have to try to adopt a louder side,” he admits. “It takes some time for me to get into it. Usually, when the game starts, I’m right there, but they’d like for me to build up more of a mean streak. I mean, I have one. It’s just bringing it out. I try to stay respectable.”

Do not, however, expect to see him bending over and picking up quarterbacks after sacking them, dusting off their fannies and checking on their health.

“I do not have a like or dislike for quarterbacks,” he said. It’s my job to get them down and get in their face. I will carry out the task that is assigned me.”

Clarke is one of veteran coach Bill Kirelawich’s best students, bearing down on learning the techniques of college line play.

“I just listen to what he says,” Clarke explained. “I think he’s the best. Being one of his players, one of his students, I follow him because he’s been there a long time and knows what he’s talking about it.”

Johnson and Clarke have another area where they are similar, other than names and demeanor. Each is serious about his classwork.

“My first goal this year is to get my degree in December,” said Johnson, who is in a multi-disciplinary studies program. “I’ll be the first in my family, and it will mean a lot to my parents.”

Clarke, too, is serious about his degree, even though he still has four more years to get it.

“I look at the school aspect as working harder than I do for football. Just as you see those guys out there sweating and straining for football, I think the school aspect is even harder,” he said. “Education is the most important factor to have as a person. That is why we are here. Of course, we were recruited to play football, but you still have to learn.”

E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com.