MORGANTOWN, W.Va. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” If there was ever a player made to work in a youth football camp, it is West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene.
After all, the WVU redshirt sophomore plays the game with the abandon and enjoyment of a child himself.
That was on display at his recent appearance at an event put on by the Country Roads Trust NIL group, which facilitates name, image and likeness opportunities for Mountaineer student-athletes. Greene, just as he plays the game himself, bounced around the proceedings with abandon, interacting with the campers at every opportunity.
The campers themselves, during pickup games, exhibited much of the same, echoing GreeneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s freelance approach with scrambles and less-than-conventional runs and moves during the morning at Mylan Park.
In todayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s high-pressure, results-oriented and money-dominated world, playing for the sheer joy of it might seem to be anachronistic. However, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s right up GreeneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s alley.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s why you fall in love with the game,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ the Tallahassee, Florida, native said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œYou play the game because itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s fun. There is a lot of pressure, but at the end of the day itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a game and we are here to enjoy it.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
That, as noted previously, is also reflected in his play on the field. While he knows it canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t dominate his approach, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the chaos created when he scrambles or gets out of the pocket that makes him the most dangerous to opposing defenses.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think that is when I am at my best, when I am able to go play freely,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he acknowledged. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI do know that I have to be able to function in a normal offense ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” it canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t be helter-skelter all the time. I have to be able to run a 17-play drive down the field.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Achieving that balance has been an ongoing goal for the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder, who has continued to work to bring together the dynamism of his ad hoc game with the discipline of a pocket passer.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSome of my goals (this spring), especially with the new offense, was to fully grasp it,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Greene said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œEven though itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s similar, there was some (different) nuance to it. The other was to get more comfortable in the pocket. I think I made some strides there, and going forward I want to get more comfortable there. I am excited with what this offense can be.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
As might be expected, GreeneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s personality and exuberant participation, not to mention the visible position he plays, made him a favorite during the camp. That included his targeting with a number of water balloons in a post-camp free for all.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI guess IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m just a lightning rod,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said, laughing off a couple of welts he received from some close-range throws. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI guess some of the kids just wanted to hit me, but it was a great day, and it ended really well.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s hoping for the same sort of positive ending and outcome to his career, which, despite starting in 2020, still has three years of playing time remaining due to that COVID season, which doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t count against eligibility.
HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s seen spot duty so far, with 53 rushes and 40 passes in 13 games of action, but no matter how it turns out, he has had no second thoughts about his choice of WVU, which he has more than once promoted via social media.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œJust being a 17-year-old and making that decision in high school and now two and a half years later, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s still holding true to be the best decision of my life,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI am just super blessed and super honored to be able to live in this state and be able to play for this wonderful university. I couldnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t be happier with my decision.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
