Published: August 24, 2008 11:17 pm         

Players return from short break

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University’s football players reassembled Sunday evening to resume preparations for Saturday’s season-opener against Villanova at Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium.

They returned from a well-deserved two days off, probably one of the few such weekends — if not last — that they will have free before the 12-game schedule runs out. Meetings and some semblance of practice likely were on the agenda when they checked in.

“Everybody is anxious for the season to start,” said Brandon Hogan, a sophomore and converted wide receiver who may start at one of the cornerback positions. “We’ve gone over a lot of Villanova stuff.

“I like playing cornerback. I like to hit people. I won’t say it’s better than offense, though. I like offense, too.”

The coaches decided to switch Hogan to the defensive secondary because of his athleticism. They have been impressed with the way the move is working out.

“I’ve learned my plays pretty well,” said the 6-foot, 170-pound native of Manassas, Va. “My reads are OK. So I’m just trying to get comfortable with everything.”

He’s learning to make the calls that he’s supposed to make and also the different techniques defensive backs must know. He said, “Coach (Dave) Lockwood has taught me a lot.”

While Hogan was a quarterback in high school, he also played safety at times. So what he’s doing now is not entirely new to him.

“I just want to get on the field and play,” he said. “That’s why I am at cornerback now.” In 10 games last year as a freshman, he saw action in more than 225 plays and caught 12 passes for 67 yards.

As a standout at Osbourn High, Hogan led his team to a 14-0 record and the state championship. He passed for 2,539 yards and 39 touchdowns and rushed for 1,735 yards and 26 scores as a senior.

Meantime, the starting nod at spur safety remains a toss-up between Franchot “Boogie” Allen, a junior, and Sidney Glover, a sophomore.

“I played spur last year, then some at bandit safety,” Glover said. “Now I’m back at spur. Coach (Steve) Dunlap says the best three will play at the safety positions.”