MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — 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.