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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. �����Ƶ� The Mountaineer defensive front returns pretty much intact from last season, as its three starters �����Ƶ� defensive end Taijh Alston, defensive tackle Dante Stills and nose tackle Akheem Mesidor �����Ƶ� all are back again in 2022, as are �����ƵU�����Ƶ�s top reserves in Jalen Thornton, Jordan Jefferson, Sean Martin, Taurus Simmons and Edward Vesterinen.

West Virginia wants to develop even more depth within its defensive front, but it already has a very good starting point.

Defensive linemen returning �����Ƶ� Taijh Alston (Sr.), Adetola Daranijo (RFr.), Brayden Dudley (RFr.), Jordan Jefferson (Jr.), Sean Martin (Soph.), Akheem Mesidor (Jr.), Cam Rice (RFr.), Hammond Russell (RFr.), Taurus Simmons (Soph.), Dante Stills (Sr.), Jalen Thornton (Jr.) and Edward Vesterinen (Soph.)

Departing �����Ƶ� Darel Middleton (Sr.), Eddie Watkins (RFr.)

Newcomers �����Ƶ� Aric Burton (Fr.), Zeiqui Lawton (RFr.), �����Ƶani Redwood (Fr.)

The biggest and best news for West Virginia�����Ƶ�s defensive line came when defensive tackle Dante Stills (6-4, 285 lbs., Sr.) decided to put off his pursuit of an NFL roster spot for one more year and return to college in 2022.

The Fairmont, West Virginia, native already has played more games (47) and has the second most starts (26) at �����ƵU of any current Mountaineer on either side of the ball. (Offensive guard Doug Nester has 30 career college starts, but the first 17 of those came at Virginia Tech.)

Dante followed the path already taken by his father (Gary, 1996-98) and older brother (Darius, 2017-20) to West Virginia University, and while both the elder pair had outstanding �����ƵU careers, Dante may pass each of them in several statistical categories.

A key component in the Mountaineer defensive line since the moment he arrived at West Virginia in 2018 following his excellent career at Fairmont Senior (W.Va.) High School, where he was a four-star recruit and a three-time Class AA all-state performer, Stills has played in every game for �����ƵU since his true freshman season.

His first two years at West Virginia, Dante rotated at defensive tackle with Reese Donahue. While Donahue typically started, Stills saw equal action. He was impressive enough to be named a freshman All-American by The Athletic and ESPN.com in �����Ƶ�18. Then, following a seven-sack season in 2019 as a sophomore, he earned second-team all-Big 12 honors. He started all 23 games for �����ƵU in 2020 & 21, recording nine more sacks and 25.5 TFLs. He was named to the all-Big 12 first team this past season.

Because COVID impacted the 2020-21 athletic year, the NCAA did not count that season against a student-athlete�����Ƶ�s eligibility clock. Thus after four complete seasons and 47 career games, Stills had the option to return for the 2022 campaign. He had previously given the indication that �����Ƶ�21 would be his final college go-round, but shortly after �����ƵU�����Ƶ�s Guaranteed Rate Bowl, he announced that he was returning to West Virginia for a fifth year.

Dante will enter his fifth season as a Mountaineer with 111 career tackles, 43.5 TFLs and 19 sacks. He is currently No. 6 on �����ƵU�����Ƶ�s career sacks list, 16 away from the school�����Ƶ�s leader, Canute Curtis with 35, and just seven away from his father, who is tied for No. 2 at West Virginia with 26. Dante is even further up the chart in terms of tackles for loss, as he�����Ƶ�s presently No. 3. Julian Miller tops the list with 49, while Grant Wiley is No. 2 with 46.

Though he�����Ƶ�s healthy, Stills isn�����Ƶ�t expected to be involved in a lot of contact work this spring in order to avoid further wear and tear on the fifth-year senior�����Ƶ�s body.

Dante had to learn to play last year without Darius, a consensus All-American in 2020, by his side, but Akheem Mesidor (6-2, 270 lbs., Jr.) quickly filled those shoes. Much like Darius, Mesidor was a very active defensive lineman who made up for lack of size with an extremely high motor.

A native of Ottawa, Canada, who spent his final prep year at Clearwater (Fla.) Academy International, Mesidor made an immediate impact at West Virginia as a true freshman. Playing in all 10 games and starting one of them for �����ƵU as a college newcomer in 2020, mostly at defensive end, Mesidor had a team-high five sacks to go along with 6.5 TFLs and 32 tackles. That performance earned him freshman All-American honors from ESPN and second-team all-Big 12 recognition.

Akheem moved inside in 2020, replacing Darius as �����ƵU�����Ƶ�s starting nose tackle, though the Mountaineers also lined the versatile Mesidor up at defensive tackle and defensive end at times. No matter what the position, he performed well, finishing with 38 tackles, eight TFLs and 4.5 sacks. For that effort in 2021, he was named all-Big 12 honorable mention.

Mesidor underwent offseason surgery on his shoulder, and while he�����Ƶ�s expected to be 100% by the fall, he�����Ƶ�s not going to get much on-field work this spring.

While Stills and Mesidor held down the two interior first-team d-line spots, Taijh Alston (6-4, 250 lbs., Sr.) usually got the start on the edge, starting 12 of �����ƵU�����Ƶ�s 13 games at defensive end. The only game Alston did not start last year was against Iowa State, when the Mountaineers opened up in a four-man defensive front, but Taijh did see plenty of snaps in that win over the Cyclones, as he did in every West Virginia game last year.

Just staying healthy and on the field in �����Ƶ�21 was a huge triumph for Alston, because so much of his college career had been marred by injury. The Lumberton, North Carolina, native picked East Carolina over �����ƵU during his initial recruitment out of high school, but he suffered a knee injury during the preseason of his freshman year in Greenville and never got to play in a game for the Pirates.

He left ECU that offseason and enrolled at Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College in 2018, where he had 78 tackles, 15 TFLs and seven sacks, enough to earn the recruiting attention of then-West Virginia defensive coordinator Tony Gibson. Neal Brown and his coaching staff had taken over at �����ƵU before Alston arrived in Morgantown, but the defensive end stuck with his decision to enroll at West Virginia.

He was slated to be a regular part of the Mountaineer rotation at defensive end his first season with the program in 2019, but he suffered a severe knee injury in the second game of the year at Missouri. Alston missed the rest of that season and then a subsequent Achilles injury he sustained while rehabbing the next summer kept him out for all but one game in 2020 as well. Finally last year he was able to stay healthy, finishing with 37 tackles, five sacks and 11 TFLs, which was the second-most on the team.

Not only does the starting d-line trio of Stills, Mesidor and Alston return for the Mountaineers, but their top backups also are all back.

Sean Martin (6-5, 279 lbs., Soph.) was used in the rotation at defensive end along with Alston. The four-star recruit coming out of Bluefield (W.Va.) High School was slowed by illness in his first season at �����ƵU but ultimately did play in five games as a true freshman in 2020, mostly on special teams. �����Ƶ a redshirt freshman last year, Martin was a significant part of the defense.

He played in all 13 games, finishing with 15 tackles and causing a fumble. Martin and Alston again figure to be West Virginia�����Ƶ�s one-two punch at defensive end in 2022, though Taurus Simmons (6-2, 238 lbs., Soph.), who got game reps there last year, figures to be used at d-end this coming season as well. The Savannah, Georgia, native had six tackles for the Mountaineers in 2021. Brayden Dudley (6-2, 238 lbs., RFr.) also is expected to factor into �����ƵU�����Ƶ�s defensive end position this year. The Buford, Georgia, native had two tackles last year against Long Island, which was the only game he played in as a true freshman in �����Ƶ�21. It�����Ƶ�s projected that he�����Ƶ�ll get significantly more game opportunities in �����Ƶ�22.

Inside, Jordan Jefferson (6-3, 310 lbs., Jr.), Jalen Thornton (6-2, 277 lbs., Jr.) and Edward Vesterninen (6-3, 275 lbs., Soph.) each return this year after all three saw a good deal of playing time last season.

A native of Navarre, Florida, Jefferson is the biggest and strongest Mountaineer defensive lineman. He�����Ƶ�s played in 28 games in his three seasons at �����ƵU, starting five of them. Jefferson got significant playing time in the second half of last season, subbing in for Mesidor at the nose tackle position. Jordan finished the year with 17 tackles and four TFLs.

Likewise, Thornton was part of West Virginia�����Ƶ�s defensive line rotation last year, usually working as a backup behind Stills at d-tackle. The son of �����ƵU Sports Hall of Famer John Thornton, Jalen also was a regular on several Mountaineer special team units.

A native of Helsinki, Finland, Vesterinen was new to the U.S. when he enrolled at �����ƵU in January of 2021, but he quickly adapted to American college life and NCAA football (he had previously played U.S.-style football for the Helsinki Roosters and the Finnish Senior National Team). �����Ƶ�Eddie V�����Ƶ� moved into the d-line rotation, usually at nose tackle, the second half of last season. Though he missed the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix with a foot injury, he did play in eight other games, starting one of those (Iowa State). He recorded seven tackles on the year, and with his natural strength and intense motor, even bigger things are expected of him moving forward as he adjusts to the U.S. style. His rehab will limit his practice work this spring, though.

Hammond Russell (6-3, 292 lbs., RFr.) is another intriguing young Mountaineer defensive lineman. West Virginia�����Ƶ�s coaches hinted several times last fall that they thought so much of Russell that they were considering pulling his redshirt and playing him in �����Ƶ�21. They resisted that temptation, though, and while the Dublin, Ohio, native did play in two games, including the bowl contest, it was not enough for him to forfeit his redshirt. Thus Russell is a redshirt freshman in �����Ƶ�22 and appears to have a wealth of potential. He has the size to play nose and the athletic ability to line up at DT, so he could help at various positions not only this year but for years to come.

Zeiqui Lawton (6-1, 262 lbs., RFr.) is another redshirt freshman defensive lineman who is expected to contribute at West Virginia in �����Ƶ�21 and several seasons beyond that. A two-time first-team Class AAA all-state selection at South Charleston (W.Va.) High School, after being a second-team choice as a freshman and sophomore, Lawton helped the Black Eagles to the 2020 state championship in his senior season. He had a significant number of scholarship offers while at SCHS, and eventually signed with Cincinnati. After spending the 2021 season with the Bearcats, though, in which he redshirted, he decided to transfer, enrolling at �����ƵU in January. Now he�����Ƶ�ll look to earn a spot in the Mountaineers�����Ƶ� defensive line rotation.

With the 11 d-linemen listed above all seemingly capable of holding their own up front, West Virginia appears in pretty good shape in terms of ability, experience and depth at those three positions. Still, a defensive line can never have too much depth, and the Mountaineers also have to begin building for the future after Stills and Alston depart following the 2022 season.

Cam Rice (6-2, 259 lbs., RFr.), a native of Morgantown, and Adetola Daranijo (5-10, 265 lbs., Fr.) are two redshirt freshmen walk-ons who will work this spring to try to insert themselves into the picture in the defensive line.

In addition, Aric Burton (6-5, 202 lbs., Fr.) and �����Ƶani Redwood (6-3, 260 lbs., Fr.) are two true freshmen who �����ƵU hopes can develop into high-quality defensive linemen over the next couple of years. Because of the Mountaineers�����Ƶ� solid depth in the d-line in �����Ƶ�21, they won�����Ƶ�t likely need either this coming season, so both can spend the year developing their skills, size and strength.

Burton is already at �����ƵU, having enrolled at the University in January. A native of Heufeld, Germany, which is just southwest of Munich, Burton caught the Mountaineers�����Ƶ� attention when he took part in the PPI Dream Chasers�����Ƶ� U.S. camp tour in the summer of 2021, which included a stop in Morgantown. The lanky defensive end remained in America through the fall, attending Clearwater Academy (Fla.) International, which also produced Mesidor a couple of years ago. Burton has good length and an excellent burst, but at a shade over 200 pounds, he definitely needs time in the �����ƵU weight room before he�����Ƶ�s ready for Big 12 trench battles.

Redwood also has an international background. He was born in Jamaica but moved with his family to the Atlanta area in his early teen years. A wrestler and soccer player growing up, the coaches at Collins Hill High School talked him into trying football a couple of years ago, and he quickly took to the sport. Playing for one of the most talent-laden high schools in the country, Redwood helped lead Collins Hill to the Georgia 7A state championship last season. In just his second year of football, he recorded 105 tackles, 34 TFLs and a school-record 17 sacks. He�����Ƶ�s slated to enroll at �����ƵU this summer.

Because each is somewhat new to football, Burton and Redwood both likely will require time to develop. West Virginia probably won�����Ƶ�t need either to contribute this coming season, but when the current veteran d-linemen move on, the Mountaineers then will turn to the younger players.

�����Ƶ for the transfer portal, no college team ever turns down an opportunity to add a great player, but defensive line is the one area of this year�����Ƶ�s Mountaineer team that doesn�����Ƶ�t appear to need a transfer who can help immediately.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (�����Ƶ News) �����Ƶ� There were no headlines praising them Sunday morning after West Virginia manhandled TCU 27-19 to put to rest a three-game losing streak and a seven-game road losing streak that stretched back into the 2019 season, but that's how life is when you are an offensive lineman.

It's not fair, of course, for that big run you saw Garrett Greene make was made possible by the blocks provided by the offensive line. The protection Jarret Doege had that allowed him to throw unencumbered while being sacked only once after Baylor nearly tore him apart with six sacks two weeks ago that the O-line's performance should be in the shadowy world of physical engagement that is played up front.

Surely, when they were missing blocks and being called for false starts and holding penalties through the first half of this season, it seemed no one missed it, least of all the media that never seemed to run out of blame to pass around.

Rest assured, though, what they did against TCU was appreciated by Doege and Greene and Leddie Brown, who rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns ... the last of which he went through a hole on the goal line untouched, in no small part because center Zach Frazier had sent a linebacker flying off into the Texas night sky, not to be seen again until morning.

And the coaches who have patiently been waiting for such a game to come, who had pushed them and taught them, driven them and worked with them on matters physical, fundamental and technical; they were aware of what they were seeing and happy to offer up a four-course meal of compliments to them for their efforts during the two weeks between games and the results they produced.

"They took some of the heat they've been getting all year personal ... and that's what you want. You want it to be important to those guys," coach Neal Brown said.

Now TCU did not present the most daunting of challenges they will see this season, but their edge rushers were big time and they were coached by the veteran defensive guru Gary Patterson, which said the time will come when they would rise up be heard.

"We were really careful about how we handled the pass protection because their defensive ends are really talented and not great matchups for us," Neal Brown admitted in his post-game press conference.

That put a lot of pressure on true freshman tackle Wyatt Wilum from Spring Grove. He had missed the previous game against Baylor and has been a season-long project.

"Wyatt Milum played the whole game at right tackle. He's really growing up as a Power 5 football player," offensive line coach Mike Moore said.

To protect from the outside rush they made sure that Leddie Brown was a big part of the protection plan, chipping a defensive end on each play before heading out as a receiver, and the tight ends were there more to block in protection than to go out and catch balls.

�����Ƶ to the success enjoyed in the running game, that took a joint effort from all parties.

"The run game, it's really not complicated," Neal Brown pointed out. "It goes back to footwork. the vision of the backs, making sure they read the right keys. We threw the tight ends in there and they did a really nice job. Mike O'Laughlin is growing into one of the better tight ends in our league. T.J. Banks did a really nice job as well."

It all went back to the approach during the off week.

"I challenged my guys during the off week," Moore stressed. "Everyone talked about how they wanted to work; about how they wanted to fix it. They worked really hard the past two weeks. They showed today what they can do when they work."

What it came down to was "want to" for the offensive linemen.

"Our emphasis was strain. We got to out-strain these guys. We knew they would be big. We knew they would be physical. I felt like we came together and strained and grew up a little bit more as an offensive line. We protected way better," Moore said. "I'm proud of the way they gutted it out in this game."

Now, there is hope mixed with an indication of capability from the offensive linemen, and that thrills Moore.

"What really excites me is these guys I have, all of them have at least this year and two more left," Moore said.

It is a line made up of Frazier at center, James Gmiter and Doug Nester at the guards, Milum and Michael Yates at the tackles.

Moore admits there's a lot more growing they have to do, beginning this week and next with Iowa State and Oklahoma State the next two challenges ahead.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. �����Ƶ� The Mountaineer football team held an officiated scrimmage Saturday, and �����ƵU head coach Neal Brown discussed afterward the…

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