West Virginia walked out of Week 1 with a 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina, and now the focus shifts to a different kind of test against UT Martin: cleaning up the rough edges, getting more people involved, and building on the parts that already worked.
That first game had the kind of split personality that can make a fanbase reset its expectations in a hurry. The Mountaineers were sharp early, then got dragged into a second half that left plenty to sort through.
Still, head coach Rich Rodriguez called those problems “correctable,” and that matters heading into Week 2. If the issues really are fixable, this is the kind of game where WVU should start showing it.
The biggest bright spot from last week was Cam Cook, who wasted no time announcing himself. On the opening play, he ripped off a 72-yard run.
One snap later, he punched in a three-yard touchdown. Two plays, 75 yards, and the tone was set.
Cook finished with 30 carries for 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns, plus two catches for 11 yards. He earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors for it, and deservedly so.
Even so, after that explosive start, the production slowed: he had 28 carries for 67 yards and another score the rest of the way. Part of that was the game flow, part of it was a new offensive line still finding its footing in Week 1.
As the unit gets more reps together, West Virginia needs to create more room for Cook to keep doing damage.
That line also ties into another thing worth watching against UT Martin: how many younger players get on the field. Rodriguez said he wanted to play a lot of guys, and when WVU went into halftime with a 24-0 lead, it looked like that plan might happen.
The second half changed that. This week should offer a much better chance to get meaningful reps for players like Scotty Fox, Jyron Hughey, Amari Lattimer, Chris Talley, the entire backup offensive line, Yendor Mack, Tobi Haastrup, and Jeremiah Johnson, among others.
Those snaps matter, especially for young players and reserves who need live game action.
There’s also a clear defensive standard WVU should be aiming for. The secondary was a concern last week, and while UT Martin is an FCS opponent, the Mountaineers can still use this game to set a baseline.
Force fumbles. Pick off a pass.
Get into the backfield and make the Skyhawks feel the pressure. However it comes, the defense needs to show more authority, and ideally keep UT Martin from putting together a long scoring drive until backups are in.
Michael Hawkins is another piece worth watching. He was one of the more enjoyable players to follow against Coastal Carolina, showing the kind of balance West Virginia wants at quarterback: efficient passing and real value as a runner.
His best moment came on the 49-yard touchdown strike to Armoni Weaver-Bomar that made it 14-0. That kind of deep ball wasn’t something that stood out often in his Oklahoma tape, but if he starts hitting throws like that consistently, it changes the offense in a hurry.
Another shot downfield would be a welcome sight this week.
All signs point to a comfortable WVU win over the Skyhawks. The Mountaineers shouldn’t be staring at another shaky second half, and this matchup should give Rich Rodriguez a chance to experiment, gather information, and get ready for the first real test next week against Virginia. A 2-0 start would also mean West Virginia would reach that mark for the first time since 2018.
In Other News...
West Virginia's Hot Start Was Overshadowed By An Ugly Blue Lot Scene
West Virginias fast start on game day was supposed to be all about the football, but the atmosphere outside the stadium took a sharp turn before kickoff. In the Blue Lot, a tailgate scene turned physical as multiple fans were involved in an altercation, with one man thrown to the ground while others looked on and tried to make sense of what was unfolding.
The confrontation was captured on video and spread publicly, turning a routine pregame setting into the kind of unwanted headline Mountaineer fans would rather forget. A shirtless fan stepped in during the chaos, but it remains unclear whether anyone was arrested or injured in the incident, leaving the postgame conversation focused on the scene in the parking lot instead of the early buzz around the team. [Read more 🡒]
Former Mountaineers Son Is Rising At Ohio State With A Powerful Story
Chris Henry Jr. has already found a role in Ohio States offense as a freshman wide receiver, and his rise carries a familiar name for anyone around West Virginia football. He is the son of Chris Henry Sr., who starred for the Mountaineers before going on to the Cincinnati Bengals, giving this latest chapter a clear link back to the programs own history.
His story reaches well beyond football, though, because Henry Jr. was raised by his mother and by Adam Pacman Jones, his fathers former teammate who later became a legal guardian and mentor. For West Virginia fans, it is another reminder of how tightly the sports past and present can overlap, even as Henry Jr. begins building his own path in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Trickett May Be More Vital To WVU's Offense Than Fans Realize
Rick Trickett has spent a 53-year career around offensive line rooms, and his football family has deep West Virginia roots through sons Travis, Chance and Clint. At WVU, though, Travis Trickett is the one most directly shaping the Mountaineers' offense in the present tense. He serves as a senior offensive assistant and works closely with Rich Rodriguez, who handles the play-calling but leans on Trickett for the kind of in-game offensive insight that can help a staff stay a step ahead.
What makes Trickett especially important is that his value goes beyond one job title. He has built a reputation as a recruiter, and around the program there is growing speculation that his background and feel for the game could eventually make him a head coach somewhere down the line. For now, WVU benefits from having him in the middle of the operation, even if his influence is easy to miss from the outside. [Read more 🡒]