MANSFIELD -- Second year head coach Jim Shiffer was pleased by the conditioning and attitude of the 80 players who reported to the Mountaineers 2005 preseason football camp.

"For the most part, the players followed their summer workout schedules and came to camp in physical and medical shape to play," said Shiffer prior to hitting the field for the first time in uppers on Friday morning. "Some players look much better physically then they did during spring ball and that's going to make camp much more productive.

Running backs Poohbear McNeal and Rodney Davis each added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason and came back into camp in excellent shape. The same could be said about wideout Tyrone Robinson.

The Mountaineers will continue to practice in just uppers in the NCAA mandated five day preparation period and will go in full pads starting on Monday.

Friday's practice was highlighted by the skelly drill with quarterbacks John Hengehold, Brandon Hunt and Tyler Blakeslee throwing to a large group of new and returning receivers eager to earn starting berths.

The Mountaineers will open their 11 game schedule when the travel to West Virginia Wesleyan on Sept. 3.