Pocket book: Clement made essentially the most of his alternative, incomes a scholarship with 3-touchdown efficiency

MORGANTOWN — Martinsburg product Hudson Clement had fairly the Saturday night time.

Not solely did the redshirt freshman receiver rack up 177 yards and three touchdowns in West Virginia’s 56-17 win over Duquesne, however Clement, a former walk-on, was awarded a scholarship after the sport.

So what was higher, the scholarship or the touchdowns?

“I’d say the scholarship,” Clement mentioned after the sport. “That’s one thing after I got here right here I knew I’d should grind for. Each day you’re form of enjoying with that in your thoughts. Three touchdowns is clearly a loopy accomplishment, particularly in your first recreation, however that scholarship is the most important factor for me.”

Clement was a late addition to the Mountaineers’ beginning lineup previous to kickoff when WVU coaches observed that senior Devin Carter wasn’t in a position to run full-speed throughout warmups.

“He acquired his alternative and he was prepared for it. He didn’t know he was beginning that recreation till a bit of bit earlier than,” offensive coordinator Chad Scott mentioned. “Generally the very best alternative you may have is the one you didn’t find out about. He didn’t have any thought about it and had no time to consider it, no time to organize and overthink it.”

Clement’s first catch Saturday, the primary of his faculty profession, was a 14-yard landing from quarterback Garrett Greene. His subsequent reception was a 39-yard contested catch on the sideline. He capped off the night time with touchdowns on back-to-back drives, the primary a 70-yard catch and run and the second and 46-yard reception the place he was extensive open downfield.

“I’ve the utmost confidence in myself to carry out at a excessive degree, however nobody actually expects to enter their first faculty soccer recreation enjoying like that and scoring three touchdowns,” Clement admitted. 

Head coach Neal Brown mentioned he thought Clement would earn a scholarship sooner or later this season anyway, and determined that there could be no higher time to award it than proper after the sport on Saturday.

“I believe the scholarship was going to occur as this 12 months went on anyway and so why delay it when he had that efficiency,” Brown revealed on Monday. “When you may have manufacturing and also you carry out nicely, I believe it is advisable to be rewarded and so I simply felt that it was the fitting time the opposite night time. 

“The child made performs…You knew it wasn’t a expertise problem. He wanted reps and he wanted some alternatives.”

It was the second time already this season Brown has given a scholarship to a former walk-on, inserting linebacker Caden Biser on scholarship earlier than the crew’s season-opener at Penn State.

“It’s the most effective issues,” Brown mentioned. “I actually prefer it when you may convey the household in, I believe that makes it extra particular. We strive to do this as a result of these are actually good moments and also you prefer to share them. However we’ve had a pair the place we’ve sort of completed it spontaneously.”

Flash of White

Clement wasn’t the Mountaineers’ solely breakout offensive participant on Saturday as true freshman working again Jahiem White was additionally in a position to make a reputation for himself.

White led WVU with 115 dashing yards, all coming within the second half in opposition to the Dukes, and scored a 19-yard landing within the third quarter.

“We have been very excessive on him as a result of we all know what he’s able to,” mentioned fellow working again Jaylen Anderson, who scored an eight-yard landing within the first half. “As soon as he will get these huge video games underneath his belt, he’ll be very harmful to cope with.”

White has primarily been billed as a velocity risk but in addition confirmed stunning energy for a man who is simply listed at 5-7.

“He’s going to be a particular participant,” Scott mentioned. “We’re enthusiastic about him, he’s clearly gifted with the ball in his hand, however he’s powerful and bodily as nicely. Surprisingly, he understands when to stay his foot within the floor and get some laborious powerful yards.”

Scott mentioned early in fall camp, White didn’t play very disciplined and simply tried to outrun defenders to the nook, one thing he was in a position to do in highschool, as an alternative of studying every play and making the right minimize.

“Early in fall camp, the performs he was having success with on Saturday he was combating in fall camp,” Scott mentioned. “At first, he was getting away with it and it was powerful attempting to teach him to do what’s proper as a result of he was turning the nook and hitting the large one. Fortuitously for our protection, they caught on to him and stopped a pair. It was actually good to see him in a recreation setting like that be disciplined, have a look at what he’s alleged to be taking a look at and capitalize on huge alternatives after they got here.” 

Unsurprisingly, Brown mentioned each Clement and White are incomes themselves greater roles within the offense transferring ahead.

Each Sides of the Brawl

Anderson, a redshirt sophomore, didn’t play within the Yard Brawl final season however had his personal expertise with Pitt because the Panthers tried to recruit him out of highschool. Anderson, from Perry, Oh., mentioned Pitt recruited him laborious, even bringing him in for a go to.

“They share their services with the Steelers and it was very nice,” Anderson mentioned. “Rising up, I had all the time been a Steelers fan so it was fairly cool being there.”

So how did he find yourself a Mountaineer?

“Actually the coaches did a great job of recruiting me and getting on board with what they’d happening right here,” Anderson mentioned. “Coach Scott did a extremely good job recruiting me so he was an enormous half in that.”

Now that Anderson has labored his approach into WVU’s working again rotation, he’s desperate to play the Panthers this Saturday (7:30 p.m., ABC).

“It’s what we stay for, it’s why we play soccer,” he mentioned. “It’s huge recreation and a rivalry all of us look ahead to.”

Accidents

The three receivers who have been out in opposition to Duquesne, Carter, Traylon Ray and Ej Horton, are all anticipated to be again this week. Carter practiced Monday whereas Ray was restricted. Horton has not performed but this season however Brown is hopeful he shall be prepared on Saturday.

Defensive lineman Asani Redwood can be nearing his season debut, being a full apply participant on Monday.

Punter Oliver Straw acquired harm in opposition to the Dukes and didn’t return with an ankle harm. Brown mentioned his standing will rely on how he progresses this week. Backup Leighton Bechdel had a 26-yard punt in reduction on Saturday.

Cornerback Montre Miller will proceed to be out after lacking Duquesne.

“We need to make it possible for he will get wholesome,” Brown mentioned. “Hopefully by the tip of this week, I’ll be capable of make an announcement on that, however I don’t need to put any strain on him.”