West Virginia’s season opener is right around the corner, and with it comes the usual camp questions that don’t really disappear once the games start. The Mountaineers are set to open at home against Coastal Carolina on September 5, and as kickoff gets closer, one of the more interesting themes is which jobs are truly settled and which ones are going to keep shifting all year.
One of those spots is tied to a situation that never really got a clean resolution. Strachan entered the spring as the expected starter and appeared to hold that role through the spring period.
Then injury took him out for the summer, and Neider stepped into that first-team role during summer workouts. When fall camp opened, Strachan still had not been cleared, which gave Neider even more time to work with the top group.
Even now that Strachan is back, the picture is not fully settled.
How much of a battle is this really? That part remains murky.
Maybe the difference ends up being something small, like one player getting 45 snaps and the other getting 42. Maybe both wind up on the field together.
What is clear is that the job did not stay locked down the way it looked in the spring.
The last time the media was able to watch, Strachan still was not fully cleared for tackle. He was, it was believed, still working through the acclimatization period. That leaves the door open for this one to keep developing as the season goes on, rather than snapping into place before the opener.
In Other News...
Rich Rodriguez Just Made West Virginias QB Situation Even More Intriguing
Rich Rodriguez used the new seasons first Coaches Show to lay out a roster picture that feels a little more settled in some spots and wide open in others. He touched on the influx of high school recruits and transfers, and made clear that experience up front remains a priority as West Virginia continues sorting out the pieces around its offense. He also gave updates on several skill players, including running backs Cam Cook and Amari Latimer and wide receivers DJ Epps and Jaden Bray, while reinforcing the up-tempo style that has long been part of his identity.
The most intriguing part, though, came when Rodriguez addressed quarterback, where Scotty Fox and Michael Hawkins were both mentioned as possible starters. Even with the rest of the offense taking shape, that decision could end up shaping how quickly the Mountaineers find a rhythm in Rodriguezs system, especially with the line and skill positions still coming together. For a team trying to build continuity on the fly, the race under center suddenly feels like one of the most important storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Whites WVU Honor Only Happened After A Longstanding Barrier Fell
Pat White is finally getting the kind of programwide recognition his West Virginia career long seemed to deserve, with his No. 5 jersey set for a ceremonial retirement Saturday before the Mountaineers season opener. The official retirement will come after the current season, once Jaden Bray finishes his eligibility, but the moment itself marks a significant change for a school that had to rethink its own rules before it could put White in that company.
The West Virginia Athletic Council revised its policy to make the honor possible, removing a longstanding barrier that had kept Whites number from being retired. In a recent interview, White looked back on his time in Morgantown and said he was grateful for the distinction, a fitting acknowledgment for one of the defining players in modern Mountaineers history. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginias First Depth Chart Brings Some Real Early Surprises
West Virginias first football depth chart of the season offered an early look at how the coaching staff sees the roster coming together, and it came with a few eyebrow-raisers. The two-deep blends transfers, freshmen and returning players, while the defensive line stands out as one of the younger groups on the board. It also underscores how much competition remains across the roster, with some junior college additions not cracking the initial two-deep.
Matt Sieg was the name that jumped out most, as the true freshman appears prominently in multiple spots and seems to have earned an immediate place in the conversation. The cornerback group also reflects some of the staffs specific preferences, with players of varying sizes slotted into roles that suggest the battle for jobs is still very much alive. For a program trying to sort out its identity early, the first depth chart was less about settling questions than showing just how many are still open. [Read more 🡒]