Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris is heading into Saturday night’s trip to Morgantown with a clear message: West Virginia is going to make this a problem.
In his weekly press conference, Morris called the Mountaineers a “True test this week” and said the road matchup will push his team in every way, especially with the game coming under the lights in what he described as a “hostile environment.”
Morris had plenty of praise for Rich Rodriguez and the way West Virginia is put together. He pointed to Rodriguez’s long track record - noting he is “almost up to 200 wins as a head coach” - and said his teams have a habit of giving opponents trouble.
“I think he’s super creative. They’re a little bit different than anybody we play in that they really want to run the quarterback.
(Mike) Hawkins is really dynamic back there with his feet, and they’ve been super explosive in the pass game. Once you start bringing those safeties down and adding an extra hat, it opens up some seams, and he’s been phenomenal.”
That quarterback run game is clearly at the center of Morris’ concern. He said the Cowboys will have to communicate cleanly and handle West Virginia’s fronts without getting rattled by the setting.
“They force a ton of issues. They like to wreak havoc.
They come from everywhere. We’re going to have to do a really nice job at identifying fronts and be able to communicate at a high level in a hostile environment.
What a great opportunity for our team to go on the road… so many things you dream about - national TV, football weather, under the lights, undefeated team, first Big 12 game.”
Morris also singled out the challenge of getting Hawkins down once the play breaks open, while stressing that the quarterback isn’t the only runner Oklahoma State has to worry about.
“Get him on the ground and tackle him. It’s easier said than done, right?
That’s something we haven’t faced this year is that extra blocker in run schemes. We’re going to have to do a nice job in communication, and whenever we do get a chance to get him on the ground…like missed tackles will kill you when you’re fitting this run game up.
It’s not just Hawkins. (Cam) Cook is a really dynamic back that will punish you as well.”
Beyond the matchup itself, Morris said West Virginia looks like a much more complete team than it did a year ago.
“They look so much better as a team from year one to year two. I think they did a nice job in the portal, going out and getting some of their needs, and they have some returners back in year two of the system, so you can definitely see the growth.”
And when it came to Hawkins specifically, Morris made it clear this isn’t a quarterback he sees as one-dimensional. He said he had been watching Hawkins since high school and came away impressed by how complete his game is.
“I watched Hawkins in high school, and he can do whatever. Like, he’s really talented.
I’ve watched him throw the football, and some of these guys that are great athletes and great runners, they might have a fault and not be able to throw the football down the field, whereas he can. I think he’s a true dual-threat quarterback.”
In Other News...
WVU's Biggest Home Night In Years Comes With Real Stakes
West Virginia is getting one of those home nights that can define a season, and there is more riding on it than atmosphere alone. Milan Puskar Stadium is set for a major prime-time setting, and the Mountaineers are trying to turn a strong start into something bigger by staying perfect through the opening stretch and putting themselves back into the AP Top 25 conversation.
Rich Rodriguez has pointed to the energy around the program and the value of protecting home field, which makes this one feel less like just another September game and more like a measuring stick. For a team still trying to prove its early momentum is real, a night game in front of that crowd offers a chance to keep building and a reminder that the next step has to happen where West Virginia is supposed to be toughest to beat. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Injury Outlook Suddenly Looks Better Heading Into Oklahoma State
West Virginias injury picture is starting to clear up just in time for a trip to Oklahoma State, and that matters for a team that took a few hits in the recent game against Virginia. Rich Rodriguez said Nick Krahe will be limited in practice but is expected to play, while Jaden Bray is dealing with a hip bruise and should be back soon. The outlook is also encouraging for Ball, who is expected to play after being knocked out, giving the Mountaineers a little more stability as they try to manage the week.
There is even more room for optimism at running back, where Martavious Boswell and Talley are expected to be available. On the perimeter, Prince Strachan should see his role grow after being used sparingly last week, which could give West Virginia another option as it heads into a matchup that can use every healthy body it can get. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Is Finally Seeing The WVU Offense He Wanted
West Virginias offense has come out of the gate looking far more like the unit Rich Rodriguez envisioned, with the Mountaineers setting the pace in the Big 12 on the ground and sitting near the top of the national rushing charts. The early results have given the head coach reason to feel better about where the group is headed, especially with quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr., running back Cam Cook and a supporting cast that has helped the attack find a rhythm.
Rodriguez still sees room for the offense to grow, and that is part of what makes the early success interesting for West Virginia. The Mountaineers have already shown they can lean on a dynamic running game, but the expectation is that more players will continue getting involved as the season moves along, which could make an already troublesome offense even harder to handle. [Read more 🡒]