West Virginia Injuries Ahead of Spring Practice

West Virginia University head coach Neal Brown provides an injury update ahead of spring practice

Sep 23, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back CJ Donaldson / Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

INJURY REPORT

The West Virginia football program begins spring practice on Monday as the Mountaineers prepare to build off their 9-4 record a season ago but will be without some key members of last year's squad for the full spring period, according to head coach Neal Brown.

Three Mountaineers will miss spring practice entirely in redshirt junior linebacker Jairo Faverus, defensive linemen, redshirt sophomore Asani Redwood, and redshirt freshman Orend Fisher.

Asani Redwood made 11 appearances last season, providing depth along the front and, according to Brown, ended the season with his best performance in the bowl game where he registered his first career sack.

“I hate it for Asani that he's going miss because I think he's really on the cusp of kind of taking the next step and he played his best game as a Mountaineer in the bowl game,” said Brown.

Redshirt junior offensive lineman Tomas Rimac had offseason surgery and will be held out of practice, although he'll be a little bit more active as the spring session progresses.

Redshirt junior offensive lineman Bryce Biggs will be limited from an undisclosed injury.

Senior tight end Kole Taylor and junior running back CJ Donaldson will also be limited. Taylor had an offseason surgery but will be out there running around and he will not be dressed in full pads. Donaldson had surgery prior to the bowl game and will progress as the team goes through the spring.

West Virginia will return redshirt sophomore linebacker Trey Latham after suffering his season ending injury at TCU. Lathan made five starts at WILL linebacker in all five of his appearances, finishing the year with 16 tackles, a forced fumble and two pass deflections.

Linebacker Josiah Trotter was an early enrollee last year and suffered a knee injury last spring that kept him sidelined for the season. Trotter was ranked as a four star by rivals and listed 15th nationally by ESPN.

“He's probably as big of a recruit we've had here,” Brown stated. “I really believe that he would have been a significant factor for us last fall as a true freshman if he didn't get injured.”