Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the West Virginia Mountaineers season with what you need to know.
– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
– West Virginia Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 8-4 overall, 6-3 in Big 12
Head Coach: Neal Brown, 1st year
– CFN Preview 2019: All The Team Previews
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSE
– Will Grier is gone, David Sills is done, and Dana Holgorsen is off to Houston, but new head coach Neal Brown is a big-time offensive coach who gets back five regular starters and enough firepower to keep it all going. Replacing Grier isn’t going to be a lock, but …
– The Mountaineers might have just hit another quarterback home run transfer. Grier worked out well after coming in from Florida, and former Oklahoma Sooner Austin Kendall is another potential star. It’s not blowing smoke that Kendall was neck-and-neck with that Kyler Murray guy for the starting job coming out of spring ball last year, but obviously the future Arizona Cardinal prevailed on the way to a historic season.
He’s a sharp, accurate passer, but he’s still in a wee bit of a battle with former Miami Hurricane Jack Allison, who stepped in for Grier in the bowl game and completed just 17-of-35 passes for 277 yards with a. pick in the loss to Syracuse.
– As if losing Sills wasn’t bad enough, Gary Jennings is gone after catching 917 yards worth of passes and 13 touchdowns, and third-leading receiver Marcus Simms has entered the transfer portal. Throw in the graduation of TE Trevon Wesco, and the top four receivers – at least in terms of yards – are gone.
6-2, 201-pound junior TJ Simmons is back after catching 28 passes for 341 yards and a score. He can work inside or out, and now it’s going to be a fight to come up with the pieces to fill in around him.
Redshirt freshman Sam James is a speedster who’ll find a role somewhere on the outside, and 5-6, 165-pound junior Tevin Bush is coming off a 14-grab season. If his banged up shoulder is fine, 6-5, 246-pound junior Jovani Haskins will be the main man at tight end.
– Running back is the offense’s deepest position, at least early on. Senior Kennedy McCoy is back after leading the team with 802 yards and eight scores, but he’s not alone with senior Martell Pettaway a 623-yard, six score rusher averaging over six yards per carry. There’s enough overall depth to come up with a nice rotation to take the pressure off Kendall early on.
– The starting five on the offensive front is fine with four of the five starters returning from the bowl game, but the depth isn’t quite there. All-star left tackle Yodny Cajuste is gone, but 6-7, 312-pound senior Colton McKivitz is a decent option to fill in at one spot, and 6-4, 301-pound senior Kelby Wickline will likely slide on in on the right side.
The guards are set, led by 355-pound junior Michael Brown, but with Matt Jones transferring, the center spot is a wee bit of a question mark with 298-pound versatile junior Chase Behrndt getting a long look.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSE
– The defense that was good enough to finish in the middle of the Big 12 pack gets back enough talent to be okay, but the secondary that gave up 259 yards per game and allowed 22 touchdowns has overcome some massive personnel losses. Defensive coordinator Casey Vance has a ton of work to do because …
– It only seems like all the safeties entered the transfer portal. What looked like a strength coming into the season is now an issue with Dravon Askey-Henry graduating and second-leading tackler Kenny Robinson deciding to enter the transfer portal coming off a 77-tackle season. Junior Derrek Pitts and backup EJ Brown are bolting, too. Now it’s scrambling time, hoping for juniors Sean Mahone and Jake Long to be ready to fill in the gaps around smallish 5-8 senior Jovanni Stewart.
The corners are in better shape with seniors Josh Norwood – who finished third on the team with 64 tackles – and Keith Washington back. The depth is a wee bit lacking, but Tavian Mayo is a nice-looking recruit who should be ready for either spot.
– Leading tackler David Long is done at one linebacker spot, and now it’s up to promising 234-pound sophomore Josh Chandler to turn into a star. 6-0, 228-pound Dylan Tonkery is a bit undersized on the inside, but he’s got enough range to be okay with a bigger role, but 238-pound senior Shea Campbell is a bigger option coming off a 40-tackle season.
– The expectations are high for a great-looking group of defensive end prospects. 235-pound sophomore hybrid VanDarius Cowan – okay, he’s really a linebacker – promising in a rotation with junior Zach Sandwisch. The hope is for6-4, 245-pound JUCO transfer Taijh Alston to be a pass rushing answer on the other side.
Losing tackle Tyrese Allen to the transfer portal hurts an okay situation in the interior. 6-1, 290-pound junior Darius Stills isn’t massive on the nose, but he’s strong and ultra-quick behind the line. 6-4, 276-pound senior Reese Donahue is a good veteran to anchor the remade line.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP WEST VIRGINIA PLAYERS
Best West Virginia Offensive Player
QB Austin Kendall, Jr.
At least, the hope is that he’ll be the star of the offensive show. He didn’t get a whole lot of work at Oklahoma, but last year he completed 12-of-17 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in his limited work behind Kyler Murray. With Jalen Hurts coming aboard, it was time to move on and kickstart his career – and West Virginia got itself a potential superstar.
Yes, he still has to beat out Jack Allison for the starting job, and yes, he hasn’t proven he can rise up and rock on a regular basis, but he’s accurate, mobile, and he’s the right prospect to grow into the job in the overall transition.
2. OG Josh Sills, Jr.
3. OT Colton McKivitz, Sr.
4. RB Kennedy McKoy, Sr.
5. PK Evan Staley, Jr.
Best West Virginia Defensive Player
LB/S JoVanni Stewart, Sr.
Call this more of a projection than a proven fact, but as is, he’s awfully good. What is he? The 5-8, 197-pounder is built like a safety, he’s used at times like a linebacker, and he makes a whole lot of plays no matter where he works.
On a defense undergoing so many changes, and with so many key parts gone or taking off, his all-around skills and experience stand out. He made 54 tackles with four sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss last season, and now he should do even more when the ball is in the air.
2. CB Josh Norwood, Sr.
3. CB Keith Washington, Sr.
4. DT Reese Donahue, Sr.
5. DE Taijh Alston, Soph.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The West Virginia Offense
No pressure, but throw for 300 yards per game on a regular basis with all new parts. Will Grier had the offense down last year, the receiving corps was loaded with talent, and everything was set up perfectly to throw for over 4,200 yards with 38 touchdowns in an amazing year.
And it still wasn’t enough to do any better than 8-4.
However, considering all the issues and concerns on the defensive side, and with high-octane offenses like Missouri’s and NC State’s early one before the Big 12 fun starts, the passing attack had better be ready to throw, throw and throw some more.
QB Austin Kendall is a great prospect – he has to be ready. The top four receivers are gone – but there’s no time to worry about what might have been or get stuck wondering if anyone can produce.
Being efficient is fine, and relying on the running game at times is a must, but right out of the box, the air show has to be fantastic.
Biggest Key To The West Virginia Defense
West Virginia secondary … survive and advance. It might be ugly for a while until all the coaches can put together all the puzzle pieces, but that might take a while.
Just about every safety who ever played for West Virginia transferred or was out of eligibility this offseason – slight exaggeration, but not far off – and the pressure will be on the already taxed corners who did everything possible to last year, including generating a whole lot of tackles.
It’s the cost of doing business in the Big 12 to give up 300 passing yards and a ton of big plays on a regular basis, but until the offense finds its footing, the secondary has to be able to come up with just enough stops to hold serve.
The D that allowed 200 yards or more in each of the last ten games, and got ripped to shreds for over 1,100 yards in the final three, has to start by not giving up home runs.
Last year, WVU went 0-3 when allowing three or more touchdown passes. To take this even further, it’s 1-7 over the last three years when it gives up three or more scoring throws. And that’s why …
Key Player To A Successful Season
S Sean Mahone, Jr.
More to the point, and and all of the safeties must step up and shine in place of all the lost parts. All-Big 12 performer Kenny Robinson bolted to the transfer portal, as did Derrick Pitts and Eugene Brown, all of which would’ve made the Mountaineer secondary a possible strength.
The 5-11, 202-pound Mahone is fast enough to work at corner, but he has to go from promising backup to statistical star in one fall camp. He can hit, but he has to prove he can be consistent in one of the safety gigs.
Key Game To The West Virginia Season
Texas, Oct. 5
Let’s be fair here. Neal Brown and the new coaching staff need a little time to replace several key parts and make everything work, so allow for a wee bit of a free pass in early non-conference games against Missouri on the road and NC State at home. But by the opener in October, it’s Game On.
It’s asking for way too much for a repeat of last year’s thrilling 42-41 Mountaineer win over Texas – one of the best games of the season – but both teams get a week off to rest up and prepare. Pull this off in Morgantown, and the Neal Brown era takes off with a huge win and an early signature moment.
– West Virginia Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 West Virginia Fun Stats
– First Half Scoring: West Virginia 288 – Opponents 145
– Fumbles: Opponents 25 (lost 9) – West Virginia 16 (lost 7)
– Average Yards Per Pass: West Virginia 9.5 yards – Opponents 8.0 yards
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. WEST VIRGINIA WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
Easily one of the toughest calls in the Big 12 this season, what is this team going to be under new coach Neal Brown?
The young former Troy head man was a strong choice by the program after Dana Holgorsen made the move away from the adult table to the Group of Five world, but good luck trying to figure out where all the pieces on the 2019 Mountaineers fit.
The offensive line is solid and relatively settled, the running back situation is strong, and the corners and linebackers should be set.
Is Oklahoma transfer Austin Kendall really ready to handle the starring role? Where are all the receivers from last year? Where are all the safeties? Who are all these new guys, and what’s going to happen when the recruiting class kicks in and has to play a big role?
Brown will be cut some slack considering there’s a rebuilding job to be done here – at least a rehab – but it could be a major indictment of the Holgorsen era if West Virginia wins eight games like it did last year when the team was loaded with veterans.
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 6
Brown is just that good a head coaching prospect, and the talent level across the board isn’t falling off that much. Yeah, the mass exodus at safety is a problem, and you don’t get better by losing the parts to the passing game, that WVU did, but there’s enough in place to fight and claw to seven wins.
There should be a win over James Madison – although not a slam-dunk – and beating Kansas on the road and Texas Tech at home are a must.
That’s three … maybe.
The Mountaineers don’t get any major breaks considering they have to go to Missouri and host NC State.
Texas, Iowa State and Oklahoma State are all home games, but getting two wins out of that would be amazing. Going to Oklahoma, Kansas State, Baylor and TCU will all be problems.
But Brown will get enough wins to go bowling and set the foundation for a stronger 2020.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
