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West Virginia Football: 5 players trending up after 2019 Gold-Blue Spring Game

By Phil Poling

MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 06: West Virginia Mountaineers take the field before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountaineer Field on October 6, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 06: West Virginia Mountaineers take the field before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountaineer Field on October 6, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 25: A member of the West Virginia Mountaineers holds up his helmet before the take the field against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers during the 2011 Backyard Brawl on November 25, 2011 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 25: A member of the West Virginia Mountaineers holds up his helmet before the take the field against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers during the 2011 Backyard Brawl on November 25, 2011 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Sam James | Wide Receiver

Wide receiver Sam James made the biggest impression at Saturday’s Gold-Blue Spring Game. He hauled in four passes for 85 yards and pitted himself securely in the No. 2 wide receiver slot behind T.J. Simmons. With Gary Jennings and David Sills preparing for the NFL Draft, James is expected to capitalize on their departures.

“He’s a guy that needs to be a playmaker for us,” said Brown after the spring game. “We’re obviously young at the position and lost a ton of production … I’m excited about him. He’s talented. To see him, with people in the stands, make plays was definitely encouraging.”

James is still only a redshirt freshman, though. And high expectations too soon can be detrimental to a young player. He’s got two career catches under his belt for two yards. And spring game production doesn’t necessarily translate into fall success. Expect James to step up and help Neal Brown’s offense in his first season at the helm, though. He could wind up being a three- or four-year starter for Brown.

Next. Quarterbacks rising in NFL Mock Draft. dark

There’s plenty for the Mountaineers to improve on as spring wraps up, from polishing up blocking and route running, to knowing what to do during a timeout. However, Stone Wolfley, Leddie Brown, Trey Lowe III, Exree Loe, and Sam James provided enough bright spots to make Mountaineer Nation feel encouraged about the direction of the West Virginia football program.

*All stats and quotes from wvusports.com

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