West Virginia football: 5 surprise contributors who’ll boost Mountaineers in 2018

MORGANTOWN, WV - SEPTEMBER 03: West Virginia Mountaineers players celebrate after the game against the Missouri Tigers at Milan Puskar Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. West Virginia defeated Missouri 26-11. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - SEPTEMBER 03: West Virginia Mountaineers players celebrate after the game against the Missouri Tigers at Milan Puskar Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. West Virginia defeated Missouri 26-11. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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1. Dante Stills, Defensive Line | True Freshman

I made this list in hopes of bringing attention to some excellent football players who might be overlooked, even by their own fanbases. With freshman Dante Stills, I don’t think that’d be possible.

First of all, Stills is listed at 6-foot-4 and 289 pounds He was the state’s No. 1 recruit by every major recruiting service in 2017. And he’s finally reunited with his brother, Darius. Darius is expected to start at nose tackle after playing in nine games last season. Could the younger Stills join him along Tony Gibson’s defensive front?

Darius and Dante aren’t the only Stills Morgantown has seen, though. Their father, Gary, was a sack-master for Don Nehlen’s teams in the 1990s. One thing Dante achieved that his family members failed to do is play in the Under Armour All-American game.

On a micro level, a Mountaineer playing in the Under Armour All-American game seems minuscule. But on a macro level, it’s great exposure for potential recruits even remotely interested in WVU.

Next: West Virginia: 5 breakout candidates to watch in 2018

Dante Stills isn’t a projected 2018 starter — he’s not even on the preseason depth chart at all. This doesn’t mean he won’t contribute in some fashion, but expecting too much too early from the freshman could cause unwanted pressure for someone who’s already filling familial shoes.