MORGANTOWN - Mortty Ivy, West Virginia's second-leading tackler in 2007, can hardly wait until preseason practice starts on Saturday, Aug. 2.

"I can't wait," the 6-3, 260-pound senior from Monroeville, Pa., said. "This is my last year - my last go-round -and I'm very excited for camp to come around."

Ivy is one of the leaders in the linebacking corps, which is the deepest position on this year's team. No fewer than nine players are listed for the three spots in the preseason depth chart. He will be a second-year starter.

With three contenders at each position, he was asked whether playing time might be a problem this year.

"I don't think so," Ivy replied. "You always want fresh guys on the field, anyway, so it's always full speed. A guy doesn't have to play 80 reps.

"You've got to know what you're doing to be able to play. So if everybody is able to do that, everybody is going to be able to play regardless."

Ivy logged 89 tackles last year as the Mountaineers posted an 11-2 record, including a 48-28 upset of No. 3-ranked Oklahoma, and finished No. 6 in the final rankings. He also had 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.  "It's going to be a little different this year, Coach (Bill) Stewart says," he noted. "But I'm really excited to get started. Linebacking definitely will be one of our defense's chief strengths, and three guys are seniors.

"We've also got versatility in there. Each of us can play all three positions. Plus we've got a few underclassmen that can play as well." Senior linebacker Reed Williams, last year's top tackler with 107, hopes to be physically able to play this season. He underwent two shoulder operations during the offseason and is scheduled to be examined by his surgeon this week.

"Reed has been working hard this summer," Ivy said. "Hopefully, he will be medically cleared. He certainly would like to play." Like Williams and others, he thinks this will be a "very special" year for the Mountaineers.

"Our defense is young, but we've got a lot of speed," Ivy noted.  "Plus, on the offensive side you've got Pat White, Noel Devine, Brandon Hogan and Jock Sanders, and the whole offensive line is back.  "It's going to be hard to stop those guys. If we put together a couple of shutouts and hold people under 10-13 points, we'll still be able to win a lot of games."

There's talk of WVU possibly going from a three-man defensive line to a four-man front. Ivy doesn't think that would affect the linebackers significantly. If anything, he suspects it would take pressure off of them.

"Instead of hitting a lot, we could make more plays in open field," he said. "One of the safeties probably would move up into the line (in the move)."

MORGANTOWN - Mortty Ivy, West Virginia's second-leading tackler in 2007, can hardly wait until preseason practice starts on Saturday, Aug. 2.

"I can't wait," the 6-3, 260-pound senior from Monroeville, Pa., said. "This is my last year - my last go-round -and I'm very excited for camp to come around."

Ivy is one of the leaders in the linebacking corps, which is the deepest position on this year's team. No fewer than nine players are listed for the three spots in the preseason depth chart. He will be a second-year starter.

With three contenders at each position, he was asked whether playing time might be a problem this year.

"I don't think so," Ivy replied. "You always want fresh guys on the field, anyway, so it's always full speed. A guy doesn't have to play 80 reps.

"You've got to know what you're doing to be able to play. So if everybody is able to do that, everybody is going to be able to play regardless."

Ivy logged 89 tackles last year as the Mountaineers posted an 11-2 record, including a 48-28 upset of No. 3-ranked Oklahoma, and finished No. 6 in the final rankings. He also had 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.  "It's going to be a little different this year, Coach (Bill) Stewart says," he noted. "But I'm really excited to get started. Linebacking definitely will be one of our defense's chief strengths, and three guys are seniors.

"We've also got versatility in there. Each of us can play all three positions. Plus we've got a few underclassmen that can play as well." Senior linebacker Reed Williams, last year's top tackler with 107, hopes to be physically able to play this season. He underwent two shoulder operations during the offseason and is scheduled to be examined by his surgeon this week.

"Reed has been working hard this summer," Ivy said. "Hopefully, he will be medically cleared. He certainly would like to play." Like Williams and others, he thinks this will be a "very special" year for the Mountaineers.

"Our defense is young, but we've got a lot of speed," Ivy noted.  "Plus, on the offensive side you've got Pat White, Noel Devine, Brandon Hogan and Jock Sanders, and the whole offensive line is back.  "It's going to be hard to stop those guys. If we put together a couple of shutouts and hold people under 10-13 points, we'll still be able to win a lot of games."

There's talk of WVU possibly going from a three-man defensive line to a four-man front. Ivy doesn't think that would affect the linebackers significantly. If anything, he suspects it would take pressure off of them.

"Instead of hitting a lot, we could make more plays in open field," he said. "One of the safeties probably would move up into the line (in the move)."