West Virginia left tackle Don Barclay has perhaps the most important job of any of the five offensive linemen: protecting quarterback Jarrett Brown's backside. Since Brown is right-handed, Barclay is tasked with keeping oncoming rushers from blindsiding Brown as he goes through his reads. Barclay and Brown have developed a special bond, one built on trust.
“He’s definitely got to have trust in me,” Barclay said. “I always talk to him and joke around.”
However, it’s hardly a laughing matter when a 300-plus pound defensive lineman slips through and tosses Brown to the turf.
“I’m going to protect his back and he knows it.”
Head coach Bill Stewart stated the obvious: “He has to have a good year.”
Though right tackle Selvish Capers is the lone returner along the offensive line, Barclay, a redshirt sophomore, isn’t necessarily a novice. During the 2008 season, Barclay saw action in all 13 games, started one and was used on more than 260 plays. He has experience playing left tackle, left guard and right tackle.
“He’s a very diligent technician,” Stewart said.
Earning playing time has been beneficial to Barclay, who credited growing under two-time All-American left tackle Ryan Stanchek and former center Mike Dent, as helping with that process. “It really helped me out a lot,” he said.
Joining Barclay are Josh Jenkins, a sophomore at left guard, Joe Madsen, a redshirt freshman center, Eric Jobe, a redshirt junior right guard and Capers, who plays at right tackle. During the second week of summer camp, Stewart switched Madsen to center and Jobe to right guard.
Developing cohesiveness will be critical if the line will be successful in 2009. It goes without saying the team, as a whole, will likely go as far as the offensive line pushes it.
“Even tough we’re young, we’re starting to gel now, especially this past week,” said Barclay, who added the fact that the line has its share of both good and bad days.
In practices, the young Mountaineer offensive line gets to refine their skills against the team’s defensive linemen, a group of experienced and skilled players. Scooter Berry, Chris Neild and Julian Miller are a handful for many offensive lines and the same is true in this case.
“Scooter, I think, is one of the best out there,” said Barclay. “Julian Miller is doing really well.”
And that can only make the unit better down the road.
During the spring game back in April, Barclay broke his left fibula. He has recovered from the injury nicely, but it still getting treatment to rehabilitate the fracture. Barclay did not miss any reps in any practices during camp and should be primed to go for the home opener, Saturday, Sept. 5, against Liberty.
“I’m ready to go,” he said.
However, until WVU plays its first game of the 2009 season, Barclay and the other offensive linemen have work to do.
“We got to have as many reps and keep on gelling.”