West Virginia Football 2012: Breaking Down Spring Practice

We may still be a good six months away from the college football regular season kicking off, but spring ball is right around the corner, which, for the most part, keeps us occupied for a little while as we patiently wait out this long offseason.

West Virginia had a very successful season last year, as they finished the season 10-3 and had a huge Orange Bowl victory over the Clemson Tigers. This year, they return a total of 15 starters and are looking to really build on their recent success as they head into their new home, the Big 12.

We are just days away from spring ball for the Mountaineers; here is everything you need to know as we inch closer.

Schedule

West Virginia begin their spring practices on March 11, and the spring game takes place on April 21.

Offensive Depth Chart

Quarterback: Geno Smith, Paul Millard

Fullback: Shawne Alston, Ryan Clarke

Running Back: Dustin Garrison, Vernard Roberts

Wide Receiver: Stedman Bailey, J.D. Woods

Wide Receiver: Tavon Austin, Coley White

Wide Receiver: Ivan McCartney, Ryan Nehlen

Offensive Tackle: Nick Kindler

Offensive Guard: Jeff Braun

Center: Joe Madsen

Offensive Guard: Cole Bowers

Offensive Tackle: Pat Eger

Defensive and Special Teams Depth Chart

Defensive End: Will Clarke, Ted Rietschlin

Nose Tackle: Jorge Wright

Defensive Tackle: J.B. Lageman, Shaq Rowell

Strong Side Linebacker: Doug Rigg, Tyler Anderson

Middle Linebacker: Jewone Snow, Jared Barber

Cornerback: Ishmael Banks, Josh Francis

Cornerback: Pat Miller, Brodick Jenkins

Strong Safety: Terence Garvin, Wes Tonkery

Free Safety: Travis Bell, Cecil Level

Kicker: Tyler Bitancurt

Punter: Mike Molinari, Corey Smith

Big Man on Campus

There is of course plenty of offensive firepower on this team, but quarterback Geno Smith is the guy that makes everything click. Last season, he threw over 4,300 yards and 31 touchdowns while completing 65 percent of his passes.

As this offense returns a total of eight starters, he not only can lead this team to a possible national championship, but also have a great shot at the Heisman trophy.

You can replace great skill position players, but nothing makes up for a great quarterback. That's why Smith is the big man on campus.

Biggest Shoes to Fill

Junior defensive end Will Clarke will go from being a backup to trying to replace the best defensive player on the team last season in Bruce Irvin.

Irvin was a force on the defensive side of the ball as he finished last season with 40 tackles and eight sacks. This shouldn't be as hard as some of the others to fill, because Clarke held his own in a limited role, finishing the year with 35 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

The expectations are going to be high, but Clarke is talented enough to fill in the void.

Most Important Questions to Answer

Is Dustin Garrison going to be healthy by the time the regular season starts, and will Shawne Alston be able to carry the load in his absence?

Alston had a solid game against Clemson in the Orange Bowl, as he finished the game with 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns, showing glimpses of his potential with every carry. In his three-year career, he only has 159 touches, but if he can run like he did in the postseason, he will steal carries away from Garrison throughout the year.

The defense will also have serious changes to go through as well. 

Last year, West Virginia ran the odd 3-5-5 scheme that made things very difficult for the opposing offenses. This season, they look to have four down linemen, and things will look different because several coaching changes have taken place.

Just how quickly can the defense adapt to the changes, and what effect will it have on them as a unit?

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].