Published: August 28, 2008 12:02 am         

White ‘definitely ready to go’

WVU linebacker Lazear believes players are focused

MORGANTOWN — Heisman Trophy hopeful Patrick White admittedly thinks about this being his final season of football for West Virginia University.

But the 6-foot-2, 192-pound senior from Daphne, Ala., said earlier in the week that he’s definitely ready to go in Saturday’s season opener against Villanova at Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium.

The kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. with a sellout crowd of some 60,000 fans assured. ESPN Regional will televise the action on several West Virginia channels.

“I’m certainly comfortable with the offense (installed by new coordinator Jeff Mullen),” White said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a good time on the field this fall.

“We had a good spring, worked hard over the summer and have had good preseason practices. So I think we’re well prepared.”

Any chance the Mountaineers might be underestimating Villanova’s Wildcats?

White replied, “We can’t take anybody lightly. We just want to play Mountaineer football.”

Pat Lazear, sophomore middle linebacker who will share time with senior Reed Williams, believes all of the players already are focused on this game.

“We’re tired of hitting each other,” he said. “We need to play a game. It doesn’t matter who’s the opponent. We can’t afford to overlook any team on our schedule.”

How good is the WVU defensive unit going to be this year?

“It depends on how we use our talent,” the 6-1, 235-pound Lazear replied. “It seems like we’re pretty solid. Our goals remain the same.”

Those are to limit opponents to 14 points or fewer per game and an average of only three yards per carry.

Lazear said it’s possible for West Virginia to lose to a 1-AA team such as Villanova. But he vowed that “we’re not going to let that happen.”

Here’s what senior center Mike Dent thinks of Josh Jenkins, the highly rated 6-5, 305-pound freshman guard from Parkersburg:

“He has tremendous ability. He has a lot of talent and potential to be a great player. He’s getting better each day in learning the system.

“I think he has a great attitude and he wants to learn and is taking stuff from older players. It’s great to see a young guy like that.”

Jenkins is listed on the two-deep chart as the backup for veteran Jake Figner at right guard in the offensive line. A definite decision has not been made whether to redshirt him this year or play him.

Dent said, “I think Josh has the ability to play pretty much any position out there in the offensive line.”

Noel Devine, the talented sophomore running back, believes everyone on the squad is anxious for the season to get under way.

“We’ve been preparing for this game and now it’s finally game week,” he said. “When the game comes, we’re going to be ready.”

The five-star speedster from Fort Myers, Fla., sees differences in the WVU offense this year.

“We have Jock (Sanders) at slot and Pat (White) at quarterback, a wide receiver in Bradley (Starks) and we’re throwing the ball a lot.

“It’s going to be hard to stop our offense.”

He said it’s up to the coaches how many carries he will get Saturday in his first start.

“But I think it will be around the high 20s.” he added. “I’m looking forward to proving myself.”