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As crowded as the WVU backfield was in 2013, it will be just as crowded, if not more so, in 2014. Andrew Buie has re-enrolled at WVU and will be participating in off-season workouts and spring practice according to a report by Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Stephen Nesbitt. As a sophomore, Buie led the Mountaineers in rushing with 851 yards and then found himself at the bottom of the depth chart early in fall camp last season.
When it was reported in August that he was taking a semester off, red-shirting and rejoining the team in the spring, the news was met with more than a bit of skepticism. But, keeping true to the initial report, Buie has returned, ready to compete with Wendell Smallwood, Dreamius Smith, Dustin Garrison and transfer Rushel Shell for playing time.
There is the possibility that perhaps Garrison could possibly move out to slot receiver, but that is pure speculation at this point. There are currently no running back commitments in the current recruiting class, but that can always change over the next month or so before National Signing Day on February 5th.
The running back chart (not in any particular order) now looks like this:
No. | Player | Year | Ht/Wt. | Position | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
13 | Andrew Buie |
JR | 5'9"/190 | HB (B) Running Back | |||||
4 | Wendell Smallwood |
SO |
5'11"/219 | HB (B) Running Back | |||||
9 |
Rushel Shell |
SO | 6'/215 | HB (B) Running Back | |||||
2 |
Dreamius Smith |
SR | 5'11"/217 | HB (B) Running Back | |||||
29 |
Dustin Garrison |
SR | 5'8"/182 | HB (B) Running Back |