(photo by Sean McNamara)

We have the first batch of position changes for WVU since the start of preseason camp.

Junior Dante Bonamico, a former standout at Bridgeport High, is switching from free safety to the “spear” position in first-year coordinator Vic Koenning’s new defensive scheme for the Mountaineers. The spear typically is kind of a mix between a safety and a linebacker as far as positioning and responsibilities on the field. Prior to the switch, Bonamico had been sharing first-team repetitions with junior Jake Long, now he will be competing for playing time with senior JoVanni Stewart and redshirt freshman Kwantel Raines at spear.

Bonamico wasn’t the only one on the move, however. Freshman Tykee Smith, who was one of the highest-rated recruits in Neal Brown’s first class (and the highest to actually make it to campus for preseason camp), had been getting some reps at spear behind Stewart and Raines but was moved to free safety on Thursday.

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On Friday I chatted up cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae regarding how he feels about the depth at corner behind veterans Keith Washington and Hakeem Bailey and what it is like to coach his younger cousin Alonzo Addae, a newcomer to WVU via transfer from New Hampshire. You can read that here (behind our paywall).

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Former WVU receiver Dillon Spalding announced on Friday on Twitter that he is retiring from football due to a hip injury. Spalding left West Virginia after spring ball and landed at James Madison, where he was set to take on his former team in the season-opener in Morgantown later this month.

I left the program due to a career ending hip injury. https://t.co/WmQhgDuEAo

— Dillon Spalding (@DillonSpalding) August 9, 2019

Spalding was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from quarterback Trey Lowe at West Virginia’s spring game this year.