True freshman Cutter catches on quickly, set for first start at Houston

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s true freshman, Ben Cutter, had already made an impact for the Mountaineers during a close game against TCU on September 30.

Unfortunately, during the fourth quarter of that game, linebacker Trey Lathan suffered a serious injury, ending his promising redshirt freshman season.

Now, Cutter will assume the role of mike linebacker and make his first start at 7 p.m. Thursday when West Virginia plays at Houston.

“You have to prepare every week like you are the starter, so that once you get in, you’re ready,” said Cutter.

A native of Denver, N.C., Cutter has recorded 12 total tackles and a tackle for loss so far this season. In the Mountaineers’ 24-21 victory over the Horned Frogs, Cutter was credited with two solo stops and four assisted tackles.

“There’s not really time for nerves because you have so much to think about, get aligned and knowing your assignment,” said Cutter. “You don’t have time to really think about how you’re feeling. You just go out there and do your job.”

Last year, as a senior at East Lincoln High School, Cutter put up impressive numbers, helping his team win the 3A state championship. He finished the season with 193 tackles, two sacks, eight tackles for loss, and four interceptions.

“The way our defense was set up in high school, they really couldn’t run away from me. I was in the middle of the field and we had two stack linebackers on either side of me,” Cutter explained. “Everybody’s job was basically to box in and get everything back to the inside. If everything is funneling to me, I’m going to make a lot of plays in high school.”

During the recruitment process, Cutter considered Appalachian State and Louisville, but ultimately chose to visit Morgantown, where he felt he could become the best player possible thanks to the strength staff at West Virginia.

After enrolling early at WVU in January, Cutter weighed in at 205 pounds, down from his playing weight of 213 pounds last season, due to a bout with the flu. However, he quickly added weight and now sits at 225 pounds.

Cutter, a rotational defensive player who has also contributed on special teams, is now a crucial part of a defense that has performed well throughout September. Only Penn State has scored more than 21 points against West Virginia in the team’s first five games.

Enrolling early has helped Cutter with his transition to college football.

“I had plenty of time for things to start slowing down for me, so I feel I was pretty prepared going out for my first snap,” he said.

One of the biggest adjustments for Cutter has been learning to have more responsibility in pass coverage, something he rarely had to do in high school as an aggressive linebacker.

“That was probably the toughest part,” Cutter admits. “I was a downhill linebacker in high school and loved fitting the run. We really didn’t have too many coverage rules. Coming in here and learning all the different things you have to see, the different adjustments you have and the different types of coverages we play was a huge adjustment for sure. Coming in early helped me adjust to the game.”

While West Virginia may not have expected Cutter to become a starter this early in his career, defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley is not overly concerned. Lesley believes it’s essential to put Cutter in positions to succeed.

“The No. 1 thing, Ben plays the game the right way. He plays fast and physical,” said Lesley. “Just like any freshman, no matter when you start playing or how much you start playing, there’s always a learning curve. We have to keep him in good situations and good positions and Ben will be fine.”

Throughout his journey, Cutter will aim to make the most of his extended playing time while keeping Lathan in his thoughts.

“He came in the other morning and we were in a linebacker meeting and we all went down and talked to him,” Cutter said. “He seemed in good spirits. It was nice to see him and see him smile.”