After finishing the 2011 season with a 1-11 record and being outscored 204-376, the Hilltoppers certainly have opportunity for improvement in 2012. Head Coach Roger Waialae (pronounced “Why-Lie”) enters his 8th season with plenty of room for optimism. West Liberty returns 7 starters on Defense, and added some much needed depth to the Offense during the off season.
The Offense will be managed by returning starter and Central Florida transfer L.D. Crow. To help provide depth at Quarterback, West Liberty brought in Bo Whitney, a former Texas Tech transfer.
Keep on eye on JUCO transfers Dominic Cooper at running back from West Los Angeles, and Kordarius Rice at wide receiver from Ventura. Cooper rushed for 930 yards, averaging 6.2 yards a carry, and the Toppers are hoping he can have an immediate impact. Rice is more raw, but has tremendous potential and upside.
On Defense, the Toppers return a pair of Ohio Valley products leading the secondary with Marco Ricchetti and Alec Wood from Martins Ferry and Wheeling Park respectively.
2012 Recruiting Class
- Ian Morris, RB, Brooke HS
- Tripper Narigon, LB, Brooke HS
- Bo Whitney, QB, Greenville CC
- Bobby Spence, DB, Buckeye Local
- Michael Berardi, OL, Hargrave Military (John Marshall)
- Lee Peluchette, QB, Wheeling Park
- Miles Young, FB/LB, Eastridge HS
- Jake Turley, G, Grand Valley
- Austin Whitlatch, WR, Canal Winchester
- Kenjay Trueblood, RB, Pembroke Pines HS
- Eli Cruchfield, OL, Good Counsel HS
- Jonathon McCullough, OL, Riverside HS
- Kordarius Rice, WR, Ventura College
- Greg Dixon, DL, West Rowan HS
- Rickey Wilson, K, Licking Valley HS
- Dirone McBride, RB, ASA College
- Dominic Cooper, RB, West LA College
- Jacob Turley, G, Central Valley HS
- Maurice Warren, DE, West Rowan HS
- Ellis Randall II, Athlete, Olympia HS
2012 Football Schedule
- Catawba (N.C.)
- at Virginia State
- W.Va. Wesleyan
- at Fairmont State
- Glenville State
- at W.Va. State
- Shepherd
- Charleston
- at Seton Hill
- at Concord
- UNC-Pembroke
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