Published: August 23, 2008 11:49 pm         

Williams to play in first game?

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia football notebook:

Linebacker Reed Williams may be playing in next Saturday’s opening game against Villanova, after all.

The outstanding senior from Moorefield was in full pads and wore a blue jersey in two or three practices before this weekend’s two-day layoff. Witnesses said the shoulders on which he underwent surgery last winter held up well in contact.

It was the first banging Williams had experienced since the 48-28 upset of Oklahoma last Jan. 2 in the Fiesta Bowl. He was voted that game’s MVP award.

Coach Bill Stewart had said earlier that if Williams were available for the 2008 lid-lifter he might be used in spots. But Pat Lazear, his sophomore backup at middle linebacker, is expected to see most of the action.

Williams admittedly wants to play this season if able.

They grew up not many miles apart in Florida, but Noel Devine and Jock Sanders couldn’t be closer than they are as sophomore speedsters for WVU.

“We’re two of a kind,” said Devine, the starting tailback. “It’s crazy all the similarities we have. We just bonded when we first came here.”

Devine is from Fort Myers, while Sanders is a starting wide receiver from St. Petersburg who also could see action in reserve at tailback. Stewart calls them the “munchkins.”

Sanders said some people back home tried to discourage him from enrolling at WVU, thinking he wouldn’t play much because of Devine’s potential. But both will tell there’s no rivalry whatsoever between the two.

Obviously high on both youngsters, Stewart has said there are three players on offense who must touch the ball the most — quarterback Patrick White and that dynamic duo.

Steve Dunlap, assistant head coach and tutor of the safeties, is managing to get around well after having undergone knee surgery in June. He tore a cartilage playing racquetball.

The former Mountaineer player and coach has 30 years of collegiate experience, including stints with teams that appeared in 14 bowls.

“I enjoy coaching our safeties,” Dunlap said. “They have to be versatile back there, and they’ve responded well to coaching.”

All-America offensive tackle Ryan Stanchek thinks the offensive line will be dependably deeper than it was a year ago.

“I think some (second-stringers) are going to get some playing time,” he said. Those include sophomore Eric Jobe at center and redshirt freshman Don Barclay behind Stanchek at left tackle.

Stanchek also thinks true freshman Josh Jenkins will spell guard Jake Figner at times unless he is redshirted. Jenkins is on the two-deep chart for the Villanova game.