How about some exercise? The 2015 season is over, offseason conditioning starts soon and it won’t be long before spring football starts … somewhere.

It's a busy day at Mountaineer Field! #HailWV pic.twitter.com/vp5IOhoBd4

— GamedayWVU (@GamedayWVU) January 5, 2016

But I was thinking over the past few days about offseason programs and spring football and what they’re intended to accomplish, which, in short, is to prepare the team for the upcoming season. West Virginia loses some players on all three sides of the ball, and certainly the winter will be used to get ready for the spring and the spring will be about finding starters and backups for the season.

But I don’t know the Mountaineers have a whole a lot of identifying to do. I think they know who’s on the field for the first rep of the first spring practice.

Here’s the depth chart before the Cactus Bowl:

WR (X)
Shelton Gibson, 5-11, 192, r-So., 23 games, 11 starts
Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Fr., 12 games, no starts

LT
Marquis Lucas, 6-4, 315, r-Sr., 36 games, 29 starts
Yodny Cajuste, 6-5, 295, r-Fr., six games, six starts

LG
Adam Pankey, 6-5, 312, r-Jr., 32 games, 24 starts
Amanii Brown 6-5 292 r-Fr, five games, no starts

C
Tyler Orlosky, 6-4, 296, r-Jr., 36 games,  28 starts
Stone Underwood, 6-4, 298, r-Sr., 15 games, one start

RG
Kyle Bosch, 6-5, 310, r-So., 18 games, 18 starts
Tony Matteo, 6-4, 294, r-Jr., 17 games, two starts

RT
Marcell Lazard, 6-5, 306, r-So., 14 games, five starts
Grant Lingafelter 6-5 314, r-So., 14 games, no starts

IR
Daikiel Shorts, 6-1, 201, Jr., 37 games, 23 starts
Jordan Thompson, 5-7, 175, Sr., 48 games, 18 starts

WR
Ka’Raun White, 6-1, 198, r-So., eight games, one start
David Sills, 6-3, 202, Fr., seven, one start

QB
Skyler Howard, 6-0, 206, Jr., 16 games, 14 starts
William Crest, 6-2 212 r-Fr., 11 games, no starts

TE/H
Cody Clay, 6-4, 262, r-Sr., 50 games, 24 starts
Darren Arndt, 6-3, 244, r-Sr., 14 games, no starts

RB
Rushel Shell, 5-10, 224, r-Jr., 24 games, 10 starts
Elijah Wellman, 6-2, 234, r-So., 24 games, five starts

HB
Wendell Smallwood, 5-11, 202, Jr., 37 games, 21 starts
Jacky Marcellus, 5-8, 182, r-So.,  three games, no starts

Defense
DE
Christian Brown. 6-2, 290, r-Jr., 39 games, 13 starts
Eric Kinsey, 6-3, 280, Sr., 44 games, four starts

NT
Kyle Rose, 6-4, 295, r-Sr., 50 games, 32 starts
Darrien Howard, 6-1, 300, Jr., 24 games, no starts

DE
Noble Nwachukwu, 6-2, 271, r-Jr., 34 games, 25 starts
Isaiah Bruce, 6-1, 238, r-Sr., 49 games, 20 starts

SAM
Nick Kwiatkoski, 6-2, 238, r-Sr., 47 games, 36 starts
Xavier Preston, 6-2, 236, So., 21 games, no starts

MIKE
Jared Barber, 6-0, 232, r-Sr., 43 games, 24 starts
Al-Rasheed Benton, 6-1, 235, r-So., 25 games, one start

WILL
Shaq Petteway, 6-0, 232, r-Sr., 50 games, 11 starts
Edward Muldrow III, 6-3, 210, Sr., 24 games, 10 starts

CB
Daryl Worley, 6-1, 202, Jr., 34 games, 27 starts
Rick Rumph III, 5-11, 185, Sr., 42 games, two starts

FS
Dravon Askew-Henry, 5-11, 202, So., 25 games, 25 starts
Khairi Sharif, 5-8, 182, r-Jr., 12 games, no starts

SPUR
KJ Dillon, 6-1, 209, Sr., 47 games, 28 starts
Marvin Gross, 6-2, 212, r-So., 23 games, no starts

BS
Jarrod Harper, 6-1, 211, r-Jr., 37 games, eight starts
Jeremy Tyler, 5-11, 206, Jr., 32 games, one start

CB
Terrell Chestnut, 5-11, 193, r-Sr., 39 games, 26 starts
Nana Kyeremeh, 5-11, 192, r-Jr., 29 games, one start

Special Teams
K
Josh Lambert, 5-11, 212, r-Jr., 36 games
Mike Molina, 5-8, 177, r-So., five games

P
Nick O’Toole, 6-3, 216, Sr., 37 games
Billy Kinney, 6-4, 206, r-Fr., no games

LS
John DePalma, 6-6, 252, Sr., 49 games
Nick Meadows, 5-11, 232, r-So., three games

H
Nick O’Toole, 6-3, 216, Sr., 36 games
Billy Kinney, 6-4, 206, r-Fr., no games

KO
Nick O’Toole, 6-3, 216, Sr., 37 games
Mike Molina, 5-8, 176, r-Fr., five games

PR
KJ Dillon, 6-1, 209, Sr., 47 games
Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Fr., 11 games

KR
Jovon Durante, 6-0, 165, Fr., 12 games
Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Fr., 11 games

That’s 30 positions and 60 spots on the depth chart. The Mountaineers count just 20 players who won’t be back next season and only three positions (tight end/H-back, Will linebacker, left cornerback) lose both players. At 14 spots, they lose the starter but at 11 they lose no one.

How does that look? Here’s the first depth chart with what changes to a player’s class and experience after the win against Arizona State.

WR (X)
Shelton Gibson, 5-11, 192, r-Jr., 24 games, 12 starts
Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Soph., 13 games, no starts

LT
Open
Yodny Cajuste, 6-5, 295, r-Soph., seven games, six starts

LG
Adam Pankey, 6-5, 312, r-Sr., 33 games, 25 starts
Amanii Brown 6-5 292 r-So, five games, no starts

C
Tyler Orlosky, 6-4, 296, r-Sr., 37 games,  29 starts
Open

RG
Kyle Bosch, 6-5, 310, r-So., 19 games, 16 starts
Tony Matteo, 6-4, 294, r-Sr., 17 games, two starts

RT
Marcell Lazard, 6-5, 306, r-Jro., 15 games, six starts
Grant Lingafelter 6-5 314, r-Jo., 14 games, no starts

IR
Daikiel Shorts, 6-1, 201, Sr., 38 games, 23 starts
Open

WR
Ka’Raun White, 6-1, 198, r-Jr., nine games, two starts
David Sills, 6-3, 202, soph, eight games, one start

QB
Skyler Howard, 6-0, 206, Sr., 17 games, 15 starts
William Crest, 6-2 212 r-So., 12 games, no starts

TE/H
Open
Open

RB
Rushel Shell, 5-10, 224, r-Sr., 25 games, 11 starts
Elijah Wellman, 6-2, 234, r-Jr., 25 games, five starts

HB
Wendell Smallwood, 5-11, 202, Sr., 38 games, 22 starts
Jacky Marcellus, 5-8, 182, r-Jr.,  three games, no starts

Defense
DE
Christian Brown. 6-2, 290, r-Sr., 40 games, 14 starts
Open

NT
Open
Darrien Howard, 6-1, 300, Sr., 25 games, no starts

DE
Noble Nwachukwu, 6-2, 271, r-Sr., 35 games, 26 starts
Open

SAM
Open
Xavier Preston, 6-2, 236, Jr., 22 games, no starts

MIKE
Open
Al-Rasheed Benton, 6-1, 235, r-Jr., 26 games, one start

WILL
Open
Open

CB
Open
Open

FS
Dravon Askew-Henry, 5-11, 202, Jr., 26 games, 26 starts
Khairi Sharif, 5-8, 182, r-Jr., 13 games, no starts

SPUR
Open
Marvin Gross, 6-2, 212, r-Jr., 24 games, no starts

BS
Jarrod Harper, 6-1, 211, r-Sr., 38 games, nine starts
Jeremy Tyler, 5-11, 206, Jr., 33 games, one start

CB
Open
Nana Kyeremeh, 5-11, 192, r-Sr., 30 games, one start

Special Teams
K
Josh Lambert, 5-11, 212, r-Sr., 37 games
Mike Molina, 5-8, 177, r-Jr., five games

P
Open
Billy Kinney, 6-4, 206, r-So., no games

LS
Open
Nick Meadows, 5-11, 232, r-Jr., three games

H
Open
Billy Kinney, 6-4, 206, r-So., no games

KO
Open
Mike Molina, 5-8, 176, r-So., five games

PR
Open
Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Soph. 13 games

KR
Jovon Durante, 6-0, 165, Soph., 12 games
Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Soph., 12 games

A few notes on all of that: Nick O’Toole leaves a lot of blanks that make those numbers I mentioned earlier about spots on the depth chart seem worse than they probably are. Those blanks are easier to fix than, say, in the secondary or on the offensive line. I didn’t include Durante among the receivers because the Mountaineers weren’t. If he returns, he’s in the mix, for sure.

Now I’ll project the 2016 depth chart, based on what I’ve come to learn of late, and you’ll pick it apart comment.

WR (X)
Shelton Gibson, 5-11, 192, r-Jr., 24 games, 12 starts
Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Soph., 13 games, no starts

LT
Yodny Cajuste, 6-5, 295, r-Soph., seven games, six starts
Colton McKivitz, 6-7, 275, r-Fr., no games, no starts

LG
Adam Pankey, 6-5, 312, r-Sr., 33 games, 25 starts
Amanii Brown 6-5 292 r-So, five games, no starts

C
Tyler Orlosky, 6-4, 296, r-Sr., 37 games,  29 starts
I have no idea

RG
Kyle Bosch, 6-5, 310, r-So., 19 games, 16 starts
Tony Matteo, 6-4, 294, r-Sr., 17 games, two starts

RT
Marcell Lazard, 6-5, 306, r-Jro., 15 games, six starts
Grant Lingafelter 6-5 314, r-Jo., 14 games, no starts

The coaches really like McKivitz, and he’s a big human being. There are some other names that could jump in — Sly Townes? — but WVU has a lot of linemen who haven’t played much or at all — four true freshmen, Brown, Townes. That’s not great, but it helps WVU only loses Lucas and has a few tackles who can play, plus good experience at guard. The backup center spot, because it’s so particular, is something we’ll have to learn in the spring.

IR
Daikiel Shorts, 6-1, 201, Sr., 38 games, 23 starts
Steven Smothers, 5-11, 150, Fr., zero games, zero starts
or William Crest, 6-2 212 r-So., 12 games, no starts

See next note.

WR
Ka’Raun White, 6-1, 198, r-Jr., nine games, two starts
David Sills, 6-3, 202, soph, eight games, one start

QB
Skyler Howard, 6-0, 206, Sr., 17 games, 15 starts
Chris Chuganov, 6-1, 192, r-Fr., zero games, zero starts
or William Crest, 6-2 212 r-So., 12 games, no starts

I’ve heard way too many good thing about Chuganov to think he won’t jump Crest. I think Crest is too valuable to be a third-team quarterback, but I think Smothers is good enough to play next season.

TE/H
Michael Ferns, 6-3, 242, r-So., zero games, zero starts
or Trevon Wesco, 6-5, 265, Jr., zero games, zero starts
or Stone Wolfley, 6-4, 240, r-Fr., zero games, zero starts

Uhoh! Ferns was a big-time recruit at Michigan, but he was held in higher regard as a linebacker and hasn’t played in college. Wesco has been reliable and productive at very successful Lackawanna College. Wolfley is a younger, not-yet-as-strong, more athletic Cody Clay. Just a thought, but what if Yodny Cajuste is a tight end now and the bowl game was the beginning and not a one-time thing? He’s crazy athletic.

RB
Rushel Shell, 5-10, 224, r-Sr., 25 games, 11 starts
Elijah Wellman, 6-2, 234, r-Jr., 25 games, five starts

HB
Wendell Smallwood, 5-11, 202, Sr., 38 games, 22 starts
Jacky Marcellus, 5-8, 182, r-Jr.,  three games, no starts
or Donte Thomas-Williams, 6-1, 224, r-So., four games, no starts

Big offseason for DTW. The coaches want it to happen, but they need him to want it, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if Martell Pettaway or Kennedy McCoy is the third running back as a freshman, if only because someone has to do it. McCoy shoudl enroll next week.

Defense
DE
Christian Brown, 6-2, 290, r-Sr., 40 games, 14 starts
Xavier Pegues, 6-3, 285, r-Jr., zero games, zero starts

NT
Darrien Howard, 6-1, 300, Sr., 25 games, no starts
Jaleel Fields, 6-1, 284, r-So., zero games, zero starts
or Alec Shriner, 6-3, 280, r-Fr., zero games, zero starts

DE
Noble Nwachukwu, 6-2, 271, r-Sr., 35 games, 26 starts
Adam Shuler, 6-5, 250, r-Fr., zero games, zero starts

That looks a little thin, I know, but give it a second. It’s believed Pegues and Shuler could play nose. The list doesn’t include Larry Jefferson, who’s a specialist and could be far more productive next season, or Jon Lewis, a walk-on who’s built himself into a reliable player who can absorb more snaps. Freshman Jeffery Pooler is supposed to enroll next week, too, and that could give him a head start. The coaches like the foundation and the potential. (Sleeper: Reese Donahue.)

SAM
Xavier Preston, 6-2, 236, Jr., 22 games, no starts
Marvin Gross, 6-2, 215, r-Jr., 24 games, no starts

MIKE
Al-Rasheed Benton, 6-1, 235, r-Jr., 26 games, one start
Justin Arndt, 5-11, 201, r-Sr., 36 games, zero starts

WILL
David Long, 6-0, 205, r-Fr., zero games, zero starts
Sean Walters, 6-2, 228, r-Sr., 31 games, zero starts

Yikes, right? There’s plenty of confidence in Preston and Benton, and Long has been mythological on the scout team. WVU doesn’t have much choice with the backups — and I might be embellishing with them because Gross is actually a safety. I think? He was a linebacker before he was forced to play safety, but I think he’s better off at linebacker. The starters, the backups and rising junior Hodari Christian, are the only other linebackers on scholarship, which is bizarre. I could see Gross and Walters flipping spots or Arndt or Walters playing multiple spots. WVU needs help here from the recruiting class, and Brandon Ferns — the aforementioned Michael’s younger brother — would help mightily.

CB
Rasul Douglas, 6-2, 190, r-Sr., 11 games, no starts
Jordan Adams, 6-1, 175, r-Fr., zero games, zero starts

FS
Dravon Askew-Henry, 5-11, 202, Jr., 26 games, 26 starts
Khairi Sharif, 5-8, 182, r-Jr., 13 games, no starts

SPUR
Kyzir White, 6-2, 210, Jr., zero games, zero starts
Jarrod Harper, 6-1, 211, r-Sr., 38 games, nine starts
or Jeremy Tyler, 5-11, 206, Jr., 33 games, one start

BS
Jarrod Harper, 6-1, 211, r-Sr., 38 games, nine starts
Jeremy Tyler, 5-11, 206, Jr., 33 games, one start

CB
Antonio Crawford, 5-11, 191, r-Sr., 38 games, two starts
Nana Kyeremeh, 5-11, 192, r-Sr., 30 games, one start

White had a great season and a great two-year career at Lackawanna, but he’s being courted far and wide now because everyone else figured out what WVU saw early — he can play. He might be the best junior college safety out there. I think he stays and rooms with his brother Ka’Raun. Harper and Tyler need to have huge seasons, but they’re capable. Getting Crawford when he transferred from Miami was, in retrospect, a super-significant acquisition, and he’s been very good on the scout team.

Special Teams
K
Josh Lambert, 5-11, 212, r-Sr., 37 games
Mike Molina, 5-8, 177, r-Jr., five games

P
Jonn Young, 6-0, 185, Fr., no games
Billy Kinney, 6-4, 206, r-So., no games

LS
Nick Meadows, 5-11, 232, r-Jr., three games
Damon Johnson, 6-0, 200, Fr, zero games

Johnson is coming on scholarship, but he’s a freshman, and WVU really liked Meadows when he played this season, including a full game as the starter when John DePalma was hurt. But this could go either way.

H
Billy Kinney, 6-4, 206, r-So., no games
or I have no idea

KO
Mike Molina, 5-8, 176, r-So., five games
Josh Lambert, 5-11, 212, r-Sr., 37 games ir
or Jonn Young, 6-0, 185, Fr., no games

The Mountaineers offered Young a scholarship, and it’s expected he’ll sign it next month. They think that highly of him, but he will be a true freshman. Kinney has a huge leg and the coaches know what they have in him, except he hasn’t played either. I’m honestly guessing on the holder. For all we know, it could be a quarterback or receiver.

PR
Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Soph. 13 games
William Crest, 6-2 212 r-So., 12 games, no starts

I heard Jenning had the best December among all the receivers, and the bowl seemed to prove that. I’m guessing on the backup. 

KR
Jovon Durante, 6-0, 165, Soph., 12 games
or Gary Jennings, 6-1, 206, Soph., 12 games
or Shelton Gibson, 5-11, 192, r-So., 24 games
or Wendell Smallwood, 5-11, 202, Sr., 38 games

I think Smallwood could be the preseason player of the year in the Big 12 — it’ll be Baker Mayfield — and he’s in line for a huge season. He can return kicks, and he and Gibson are as good as WVU has with the ball in his hands. Why not?