MORGANTOWN - West Virginia football coach Dana Holgorsen walked out of his press conference Tuesday after saying his team was ready to move on to Georgia Southern.
Then in strode standout cornerback Daryl Worley. He of the tall, cut build. He of the padded resume. He of the high ceiling. And the thought had to hit some in the room.
Forget Georgia Southern. Might this junior be ready to move on to the NFL after this season?
"We never know what God has in store for us," Worley said with a half laugh. "I'm just going to stick to the game plan and do everything I can on the field to help my team win a championship."
Steve Sarkisian could use lessons from the corner in regard to political correctness.
"I'm not really focused so much on me," Worley said. "I never have been. I've always been a team guy. I want to do my part in the scheme. I just want to play."
Play he does. And very well. In his two years at WVU, Worley has 97 tackles (7.5 for loss), four interceptions and nine passes broken up. Last year he was named an Iron Mountaineer for his excellence in the weight room. But that could have been for his Cal Ripken-ish ways. Since stepping in Morgantown as a true freshman, he's missed just one of 23 games.
Many rave about Karl Joseph, who is rated the No. 4 strong safety for next season's NFL draft by Draft Scout. Yet Worley is ranked the No. 15 cornerback for 2017. He's 3 inches taller and a pound heavier than Joseph. With a big year, Worley very well could declare himself eligible for the draft. Fine corners are coveted in the NFL.
"I'm not even mentally thinking about it," Worley said. "I'm prepared for these next six months, the games upcoming."
The player is a worker. He works in the weight room. He works on the field. And he continues to work.
"I feel like I just want to play faster this year," he said. "I want to be able to recognize things and make more plays in the scheme we work around."
That scheme will be tested in the home opener against Georgia Southern. Coach Willie Fritz will throw a spread option at the Mountaineers Sept. 5. Last season, the Eagles threw just 19 percent of the time.
"[Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson] was telling us that of any game we play, this is the one we'll have to be the most disciplined," Worley said. "It's a team that doesn't throw the ball that much. We can't fall asleep because, if we do, that's when they'll throw it up top. It's a game we'll have to stay locked in mentally as a secondary and focus on what we have to do."
For a cornerback, the game could be a dream. Or a snooze.
"I guess you could call it a little bit boring, but, at the same time, if it's just a running game, I'll just make as many tackles as I can over my way," Worley said with a smile.
The game will be interesting. And the WVU secondary might just have shiny stats afterward.
"Maybe," Worley said, again smiling.
Whatever the near or far future, Worley is ready.
"It's a great feeling to be out of camp and preparing specifically for the game," he said. "We're excited for it."
Even those opposing Worley in practice.
"The freshmen receivers have come in and challenged us," he said. "They've challenged us as much as we've challenged them, which is phenomenal. I love going up against those young guys and being able to teach them, and them being able to tell me things I've done that may be easy to beat.
"Everyone is looking great, from our D-line to our linebackers to our secondary. We're pushing each other."
And, when the season is over, we'll see if Worley's talent pushes him out the door.