Slaton Leaves, So Devine Must Step Up
At times in 2007 Noel Devine looked like the best successor imaginable to one of the greatest backs in WVU football history, Steve Slaton.
Going into the 2007 season it pretty much was assumed by anyone familiar with how the NFL Draft works that Slaton was probably going to be in his last year of college ball. The only problem was Slaton—by his standards—had a year so mediocre it may have cost him millions. Slaton and Pat White started the season as the de facto co-leaders of a National Championship run and by the end of the year White was the hero and Slaton become an afterthought. Luckily for anyone who supports the ‘Eers White will be the one returning in 2008.
Steve Slaton’s decision to go pro is definitely questionable to put it mildly. Not to say he is the next Maurice Clarett, but Slaton’s workout at the NFL scouting combine will have to be nothing short of genius to justify why he left WVU early.
If this was the NFL Slaton would have been gone to clear cap space after a disappointing year, and the younger Devine would be ready to takeover. One thing I loved about Slaton was his ability to catch the ball, and then make people miss. Devine has good hands, but whether or not he can have a 30 catch season may be too much to ask.
Perhaps a more devastating blow, but less high-profile one is the loss of wide receiver Darius Reynaud. Reynaud led the Fiesta Bowl winning team in receptions this year, and was arguably the most athletically gifted player on the roster. The Mountaineers will need for receivers Wes Lyons, Tito Gonzales and Dorrell Jalloh to step in for the loss of Reynaud.
Steve Slaton has earned the respect of West Virginia University, despite some clear signs of injuries, weight gain and loss of a once uncontainable burst. 2008 is a new era of Mountaineer Football and Slaton will not play a roll.
Devine had gigantic expectations to live up to in his rookie season and he delivered by all means. The man was such a threat out of the backfield that the ‘Eers will look for him to carry the load in yet another National Championship campaign.
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