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Mar. 26—MORGANTOWN — Whether it was with Arizona, Jacksonville State, Michigan or with West Virginia the first time, Rich Rodriguez likes to pound the rock. Last year, the Gamecocks were third in the FBS in rushing, so Rodriguez's second tenure in Morgantown will be no different.
The best way to run the ball effectively is by getting one of the best running back coaches in the country, and Rodriguez did. Earlier this month, Rodriguez hired North Carolina running back coach Larry Porter, and he is excited to be a part of Rodriguez's rushing attack.
"We get to run the ball, " Porter said. "As opposed to being over there as a running back coach and you're throwing it 50 times a game. What are we doing ? We're actually running the ball. That excites me, and I embrace that excitement again. I'm with a head coach that loves to run the football."
Porter coached multiple NFL-drafted running backs over his years at LSU, Auburn and North Carolina.
There's a high chance his most recent back, Omarion Hampton, is picked in the first round and maybe even top 15 of this year's draft. He's proven to produce NFL talent. Porter didn't compare any of his current backs to Hampton because every back is "unique."
Producing NFL talent and allowing players to further their careers lured Porter into coaching. He played at Memphis for four years and was asked to help coach a high school team after his career was over. Then, Porter received a call from a former coach to coach at the college level and accepted.
"I figured out what I truly wanted to do, which was kind of give back to young men, " Porter said. "Coaching was the avenue for me to give back to young men and impact the lives of young men."
Porter isn't a stranger to WVU. North Carolina played the Mountaineers in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in 2023, where WVU won 30-10. Rodriguez wasn't coaching on the opposite sideline, but Porter appreciated the blue-collar style of the players. In addition to the tough players, Rodriguez's joy for the run drew Porter to Morgantown.
"Coach likes to run the leather off the ball, " Porter said. "I think everything we do will be built around the run. That will be an emphasis. I truly expect us to continue that trend of him putting up elite numbers in terms of running the ball."
In the few weeks he's been with the team, Porter has started to develop a connection with his new room.
Last year's leading rusher, junior Jahiem White is still dealing with an injury, but he's bought into Porter's new mentality of putting last year behind and achieving what's in front.
"I think [White ]'s super excited about that mentality, that mindset, " Porter said. "Just trying to build on the things that he accomplished last year. That's kind of where our focus is. He's been a pleasure to get to know and to meet and be around.
Porter's still getting used to his new job and is just laying the foundation of playing with a hard edge, which is Rodriguez's emphasis this year. He's fully embraced the culture. When Rodriguez gets on one of his running backs, Porter stands right behind him and reiterates the same message after.
"If you hear coach, we're not doing our job, " Porter said. "That's kind of the way I see it. When he doesn't have to coach, we're doing our job. If you hear him, we're not. I'm trying to make sure with my guys he's staying quiet."
Porter's spring practice time is winding down with the spring game on April 5, but his work will ramp up with recruiting. He confirmed that he'll be involved in recruiting. Porter's recruiting is a strength, bringing in 5-star and 4-star recruits, winning national recruiter of the year twice. Porter has three keys to recruiting: creating relationships, working at it daily and understanding the vision of the head coach.
"I'm working through that, but one thing for sure is that I will be involved in recruiting, " Porter said.
Porter pins his ears back most of the time and is still learning the ropes, but with what Porter has done so far in the short time, he's already making the expected impact on the running backs.
"I've been pleased with their progress so far, " Rodriguez said. "Larry's doing a great job. I think I've got one of the best running back coaches in the country."
Logan Bradley hired as inside receivers coach Rodriguez officially announced West Virginia's new inside receivers coach Logan Bradley Wednesday morning. Bradley comes over from Auburn, where he was the assistant tight ends coach last year and an offensive analyst the two years before.
Bradley coached alongside Rodriguez at Ole Miss while Rodriguez was the offensive coordinator. Bradley worked as a student assistant from 2014-17 and a defensive secondary student assistant from 17-18.
"He was at Ole Miss before I got there and worked with the recruiting staff, and everyone there always spoke highly of him, " Rodriguez said in a statement.
Bradley volunteered with the Miami Dolphins in 2018 and was an offensive graduate assistant at Liberty before the Tigers.
Continue reading...
The best way to run the ball effectively is by getting one of the best running back coaches in the country, and Rodriguez did. Earlier this month, Rodriguez hired North Carolina running back coach Larry Porter, and he is excited to be a part of Rodriguez's rushing attack.
"We get to run the ball, " Porter said. "As opposed to being over there as a running back coach and you're throwing it 50 times a game. What are we doing ? We're actually running the ball. That excites me, and I embrace that excitement again. I'm with a head coach that loves to run the football."
Porter coached multiple NFL-drafted running backs over his years at LSU, Auburn and North Carolina.
There's a high chance his most recent back, Omarion Hampton, is picked in the first round and maybe even top 15 of this year's draft. He's proven to produce NFL talent. Porter didn't compare any of his current backs to Hampton because every back is "unique."
Producing NFL talent and allowing players to further their careers lured Porter into coaching. He played at Memphis for four years and was asked to help coach a high school team after his career was over. Then, Porter received a call from a former coach to coach at the college level and accepted.
"I figured out what I truly wanted to do, which was kind of give back to young men, " Porter said. "Coaching was the avenue for me to give back to young men and impact the lives of young men."
Porter isn't a stranger to WVU. North Carolina played the Mountaineers in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in 2023, where WVU won 30-10. Rodriguez wasn't coaching on the opposite sideline, but Porter appreciated the blue-collar style of the players. In addition to the tough players, Rodriguez's joy for the run drew Porter to Morgantown.
"Coach likes to run the leather off the ball, " Porter said. "I think everything we do will be built around the run. That will be an emphasis. I truly expect us to continue that trend of him putting up elite numbers in terms of running the ball."
In the few weeks he's been with the team, Porter has started to develop a connection with his new room.
Last year's leading rusher, junior Jahiem White is still dealing with an injury, but he's bought into Porter's new mentality of putting last year behind and achieving what's in front.
"I think [White ]'s super excited about that mentality, that mindset, " Porter said. "Just trying to build on the things that he accomplished last year. That's kind of where our focus is. He's been a pleasure to get to know and to meet and be around.
Porter's still getting used to his new job and is just laying the foundation of playing with a hard edge, which is Rodriguez's emphasis this year. He's fully embraced the culture. When Rodriguez gets on one of his running backs, Porter stands right behind him and reiterates the same message after.
"If you hear coach, we're not doing our job, " Porter said. "That's kind of the way I see it. When he doesn't have to coach, we're doing our job. If you hear him, we're not. I'm trying to make sure with my guys he's staying quiet."
Porter's spring practice time is winding down with the spring game on April 5, but his work will ramp up with recruiting. He confirmed that he'll be involved in recruiting. Porter's recruiting is a strength, bringing in 5-star and 4-star recruits, winning national recruiter of the year twice. Porter has three keys to recruiting: creating relationships, working at it daily and understanding the vision of the head coach.
"I'm working through that, but one thing for sure is that I will be involved in recruiting, " Porter said.
Porter pins his ears back most of the time and is still learning the ropes, but with what Porter has done so far in the short time, he's already making the expected impact on the running backs.
"I've been pleased with their progress so far, " Rodriguez said. "Larry's doing a great job. I think I've got one of the best running back coaches in the country."
Logan Bradley hired as inside receivers coach Rodriguez officially announced West Virginia's new inside receivers coach Logan Bradley Wednesday morning. Bradley comes over from Auburn, where he was the assistant tight ends coach last year and an offensive analyst the two years before.
Bradley coached alongside Rodriguez at Ole Miss while Rodriguez was the offensive coordinator. Bradley worked as a student assistant from 2014-17 and a defensive secondary student assistant from 17-18.
"He was at Ole Miss before I got there and worked with the recruiting staff, and everyone there always spoke highly of him, " Rodriguez said in a statement.
Bradley volunteered with the Miami Dolphins in 2018 and was an offensive graduate assistant at Liberty before the Tigers.
Continue reading...
