Two Representing WVU at the NFL Combine

West Virginia will be represented by two former standouts at this year's NFL Combine. Najee Goode and Bruce Irvin will be in Indianapolis for the week-long scouting event. Both players join an impressive list of players looking to impress all 32 teams before the NFL Draft in April.

Goode had a solid final season at the inside linebacker position. He finished with 87 total tackles to lead the team. Goode also had five sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble. He has decent size, very good awareness, and solid tackling ability. He will certainly be looking to improve his speed, and show he can play in a base defense. CBS has him listed as a 7th round prospect.

Irvin is the sack specialist, who had his numbers drop a bit in his final season. However, most scouts will understand that he saw many more double teams this season than last. He still finished with 8.5 sacks and forced three fumbles. He also played many more snaps this season, totaling 40 tackles. Irvin has pure rushing ability, tremendous speed, and technique. Can he play DE in the league? Or is outside linebacker in his future? Look for Irvin to destroy some of the speed drills at the combine. CBS has Irvin as a 3rd-4th round prospect. If he has a good combine and pro day, he will go higher than that.

Snubs: Julian Miller and Keith Tandy both should have been invited. Miller had a productive career at DE for WVU. He is also projected to be a late-rounder. Meanwhile, Tandy didn't have the strongest final season, but does have a very good skill-set at CB, and is projected to be a mid-round pick.

Deep Thoughts, WVU-Style

Brad Starks may be on the outside looking in. Both Dana Holgorsen and Asst. Coach, Shannon Dawson have said very little about the speedy wideout. And what has been said isn't very appealing to the guy. It's really not surprising. In a pass-happy system, you would think you'd want receivers that have plenty of experience at the position. Starks, a converted quarterback, has put up some decent numbers over the last two seasons. However, he isn't known for his route-running and hands...not a good combination in this system. Starks might be better suited to go back to quarterback at this point.

The running back battle has been confusing. WVU may have 11 backs on the roster, but has one stepped up yet? Or two? Or three? Possibly. The names that keep getting thrown around the most are all actually all freshmen. Vernard Roberts was the preseason number one. But, both Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison continue to impress. Meanwhile, Shawn Alston will probably be heading over to practice with the big backs, considering he is now listed with the fullbacks...unofficially.

More praise for Goode. Holgorsen continues to praise Najee Goode for his play and maturity. The linebacker didn't get a ton of publicity heading the season, especially with three potential high round picks along side him in Keith Tandy, Julian Miller, and Bruce Irvin. However, Goode may be the most important part, as he anchors the linebacking core. He finished with 47 tackles last season, and is certainly poised to break out in 2011.

Wherever Virginia Tech Goes is where WVU should go. Who doesn't miss the Battle for the Black Diamond Trophy? Ideally, the Mountaineers would be in a conference with all the good rivals. Let's throw WVU, Pitt, V-Tech, Penn State, Notre Dame, Maryland, Syracuse, and a few others together and call it good.

Anyone else feel this is the year Marshall gets decimated? I sure as hell do. The Herd's chance was last season. Marshall now has to deal with a WVU football team looking to make a statement as soon as they possibly can. A head coach looking to show what he can do. A quarterback with a chip on his shoulder. A defense that continues to be told it's not deep enough. Good luck, Doc.