West Virginia needed experienced players to lead a defense full of newcomers, and linebacker Chase Wilson wasted no time showing he could be one of them.
The Colorado State transfer was a steady presence in Saturday’s 45–3 win over Robert Morris, helping anchor a unit that surrendered just 123 total yards. For Wilson, the debut was less about numbers and more about setting a tone.
“I thought we did well. We forced two turnovers today, gave up one explosive in the first half. That shouldn’t have happened,” Wilson said. “But for the first time being out there together with a bunch of new guys, I thought we did well”.
Fit with Alley’s scheme
Comfortable in Zac Alley’s system, Wilson praised the defensive coordinator’s ability to match schemes to personnel. “He does a great job of finding what your skill set is individually and matching it up to the game plan that week,” Wilson said.
That detail-driven approach fits Wilson’s style. A two-time All-Mountain West performer at Colorado State with more than 230 career tackles, he embraced the chance to prove himself at the Power Four level. His veteran presence has already shown up in how he communicates expectations. “How to do the little things right, how to show up on time, how to work hard, how to take care of your body,” he explained earlier this month.
Embracing leadership role
Wilson also pointed to the team’s response in the second half as an example of what this group can be. “It wasn’t the prettiest ball game in the first half, but we came out, we responded well as a team. Offense complements defense, defense complements offense,” he said.
The redshirt senior has quickly grown fond of his new home, from the tempo of practice under Rich Rodriguez to the atmosphere of Mountaineer Field. “The crowd was amazing tonight,” Wilson said of his first time experiencing “Country Roads” after a win. “If we can keep that going for home games, it’s going to be a tough place for people to come play in”.
Wilson knows there will be bigger challenges ahead, but his role is already clear, bringing the physicality, experience, and steadiness that can help carry a rebuilt defense forward.
Offer Alert
Fall camp is here and there’s no better time to sign up with us to get all your WVU intel! Sign up today – $1 for the first week, plus a complimentary year of access to The Athletic included. Join – http://gowvu.us/Join
Wondering what other WVU fans are saying?
__________________________________________
• Talk about it with West Virginia fans on The Blue Lot
• SUBSCRIBE today to stay up on the latest on Mountaineer sports and recruiting
• Get all of our WVU videos on YouTube by subscribing to the WVSports.com Channel
• Follow us on Twitter: @WVSportsDotCom, @rivalskeenan
•Like us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok