WVU LB Tyrin Bradley Raves About the Addition of Particular Assistant Coach

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – When WVU added Victor Cabral to the defensive coaching staff, it was done with one clear goal in mind – improve the pass rush. And at least according to one important defensive player, that’s exactly what Cabral is doing.

WVU Spur linebacker Tyrin Bradley raved about Cabral while talking to the media, including WV Sports Now, after fall camp practice on Monday. Bradley credited Cabral with unlocking more from him game.

Bradley, who recorded 22 total tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2023 after transferring up to West Virginia from Abilene Christian, now feels more freedom as a pass rusher and more equipped to have success no matter what the offense is doing. Cabral has been teaching Bradley and others what moves to use and when to use them, and even how to quickly adapt to any situation.

WVU linebacker Tyrin Bradley picks off UNC in the third quarter at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 27, 2023 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Mitchell Northam / WV Sports Now)

But Cabral’s impact on the defense extends beyond just his teaching. WVU head coach Neal Brown has also noted Cabral’s high energy and passion as two of his strongest attributes.

“He changed the trajectory of our room. He’s allowed me to be more free,” said Bradley about Cabral’s influence.

Victor Cabral Already Feels at Home on WVU Staff Despite Learning Curve

Beyond the addition of Cabral to the staff and a player like Bradley entering year two as a Mountaineer, the linebacker unit should have much more depth in 2024, something that was an issues at times last season.

Brown has even directly said he feels the linebacker room is the best it’s been since he arrived in Morgantown in 2019.

Key injuries and struggling to recruit top linebacker talent almost collided to create a disaster for the Mountaineers last season. Lee Kpogba took charge of the unit and Ben Cutter played as well as could be expected, but West Virginia knows it needs more collective production from the linebackers this fall.

Kpogba is gone, but WVU brought in former four-star prospect Reid Carrico and also expects big things from a healthy Trey Lathan and Josiah Trotter.

Defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley has echoed Brown’s belief about depth as well. “Getting (Josiah) Trotter back and Trey (Lathan) back, it’s the deepest we’ve been at linebacker the whole time,” said Lesley back in the spring.

For a related story, these players are candidates to be WVU’s breakout performers in 2024.