FROM METRONEWS

BY ALAN TAYLOR

 

Under an ideal scenario, Dylan Tonkery would still be playing outside linebacker. But ideal scenarios haven’t aligned with West Virginia’s defense lately.

 

So coordinator Tony Gibson moved Tonkery inside this spring, to Mike linebacker, to the middle of the defensive traffic, where the sophomore from Bridgeport is learning new assignments and, just as crucially, learning to be heard.

 

“The biggest hurdle with Dylan was getting him to talk,” Gibson said. “He’ll play, but he’s a man of few words.”

 

Becoming more assured has led Tonkery to become more vocal with communications to the Sam and Will linebackers who flank him, along with the three-man front. That has been the tell-tale sign of camp with Tonkery showing that he’s in charge of that defense with the same assertiveness Al-Rasheed Benton possessed the past two years.

 

“I put a lot on our Mike linebacker and he’s got to make our checks, make our calls and make sure we get lined up,” Gibson said. “But Dylan is so much better right now because he has so much confidence.”

 

A year ago this time, Gibson didn’t know what to expect when Tonkery was thrust into the starting spot at Will linebacker because of David Long’s offseason knee injury. But Tonkery held his own against Virginia Tech and was the four-game starter until Long returned.

 

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Editor's Note: Photo by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.