West Virginia Football: Predicting the New Defensive Leaders

Although the defense is breaking in a new 3-4 and 4-3 hybrid defensive scheme, the unit does return seven starters from 2011.

The scheme switch will not be as bad as many analysts anticipate because Keith Patterson has taught the switch before when he was at Tulsa, who also had run a 3-3-5 stack the year before his time there.

What will be most important for the Mountaineer defense will be the defensive line, and the coaches will have to try and replace the production of Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller who have moved on to the NFL.

The experience on the defense is in the secondary with players like Darwin Cook, Pat Miller along with Brodrick Jenkins as players who have played significant minutes in recent years.

Lets take a look at who will be the new defensive leaders heading into 2012.

5. Pat Miller, CB

Pat Miller had a very nice year in 2011 with 66 stops and two interceptions.

Although he missed the spring with a broken foot, he will be back in a few months at 100 percent.

Defense backs coach Daron Roberts will count on both Miller and Brodrick Jenkins to provide the leadership role filled by Keith Tandy and Eain Smith from last year's squad.

When healthy, Miller has enough talent to be a shutdown corner in the Big 12, and with the defensive staff employing more blitzes in 2012, his interceptions will likely increase.

The senior DB will have to have a huge year for the Mountaineer defense to reach its true potential, and this player has the talent to do just that.

4. Will Clarke, Defensive End

Will Clarke is easily the best returning defensive lineman for the Mountaineers, and he will have to have a big year rushing the quarterback if West Virginia wants to make a run at the Big 12 title. 

Clarke has tools to do it and he is a load in the trenches. 

At 6'6" and 265 pounds he certainly looks the part of a dominant defense end. As a junior in a primarily substitute role he had 34 tackles, two sacks and five tackles for loss.

I have said many times before, and I want to reiterate this fact again, the Mountaineers must have a pass rush to have success defensively. 

The offensive lines in the Big 12 will be much better than the big fellas' WVU has faced in the Big East. Pair that with a rise in skill level and facing high-powered attacks, the Mountaineers face a big challenge in 2012.

Clarke will have to provide the leadership on the defensive line, and the only question is: Will he be up to the challenge?

3. Jared Barber, Linebacker

Barber was productive as a freshman one year ago, but his best game came when it mattered most, in the Discover Orange Bowl.

In the BCS game the freshman recorded six tackles (five solo) and had two pass breakups. Coming into his sophomore year, Barber will play a key role in the linebacker core for the Mountaineers.

At 6'1" and 220 pounds, he has the size to run sideline to sideline, and that is ideal in the new defensive scheme.

With fellow linebacker Jewone Snow missing the spring due to injury, Barber received a ton of reps which will give him an advantage heading into fall.

Watch for Barber to have a huge year in 2012.

2. Darwin Cook, Safety

Darwin Cook had a monster 2011 season in his first year as a starter, and he had 85 tackles and two picks. 

He had three games with at least 10 tackles (Norfolk State, Rutgers and Louisville). In the Orange Bowl he had four stops with the infamous 99-yard fumble recovery for a TD that deflated the Clemson Tigers.

Heading into 2012 he will have to be a vocal leader on the defense and also come up at times for run support. 

Against teams like Texas and Kansas State who like to play a physical brand of football, Cook will be relied upon to make big plays.

1. Terence Garvin, Safety/Linebacker

Garvin is the unquestioned leader of the Mountaineer defense, and is arguably the best athlete on this side of the ball as well.

A year ago he was all over the field with 72 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defended and a TD. He is the definition of a ball hawking safety, and even chipped in with 3.5 sacks in 2011.

Although he missed the Orange Bowl with a knee injury, he will be at full speed heading into the 2012 season.

When healthy, he is one of the best safeties in the country, and he is another Mountaineer who will be counted on to have a big year heading into the Big 12.

Co-defensive coordinators Keith Patterson and Joe DeForest have to be elated to have a multidimensional player such as this senior DB on their roster because he can do it all on the field.

When Garvin is on top of his game, the WVU defense is as well.