West Virginia and Kansas both opened the week with their first availability report, and neither side is dealing with a full-blown crisis. The Mountaineers are in solid shape overall, while the Jayhawks have a couple of notable questions, most of them tied to the offensive line and quarterback room.
For West Virginia, the report shows RB Andre Devine, TE Cam Ball, OL Amare Grayson, OL Lamarcus Dillard, DL Darius Wiley and N/S Emory Snyder. The biggest takeaway is that the Mountaineers still look relatively healthy heading into the matchup, especially after losing Bubba Grayson for the rest of the regular season.
Two names stand out on WVU’s side: Cam Ball and Lamarcus Dillard are out. On the positive side, QB Jyron Hughley and S Jacob Bradford appear set to be available after missing the trip to Texas Tech last week because they were sick.
Earlier in the week, Rich Rod said the expectation is that Josh Aisosa would move into the starting lineup at right guard, with Nick Krahe staying at left guard. Both linemen handled both guard spots against Texas Tech, so West Virginia does have some flexibility there if anything shifts in practice over the next couple of days.
At this point, there doesn’t seem to be anyone else on the Mountaineers’ report who should raise much concern.
Kansas, meanwhile, has its own short list: RB Jalen Dupree, TE Jack Utz, OL Kasen Carpenter and DL Grady Seyfert. The two names that matter most are offensive lineman Connor Stroh and quarterback Cole Ballard.
Stroh is the Jayhawks’ starting left guard and has been their most reliable blocker in the run game. Pass protection has been a different story.
He’s allowed 10 pressures this season, and Kansas will likely lean on Amir Herring if Stroh can’t go. Herring has logged 200 snaps at left guard this year, along with 78 at right guard.
Ballard is another key piece to watch. He was competing with Isaiah Marshall for the starting job before the season, and he got the start two weeks ago against TCU when Marshall was out with a leg injury. If Marshall were to go down and Ballard is unavailable, Kansas would turn to junior Chase Jenkins, who transferred in from Rice last offseason.
In Other News...
Former Mountaineer Trey Lathan Is Still Giving WVU Fans A Reason To Smile
Trey Lathan may be wearing Kansas colors now, but the former West Virginia linebacker is still finding a way to connect with Mountaineer fans through something bigger than football. This season, he pledged to donate $50 for every tackle he makes to Miami Childrens Hospital and WVU Medicine Golisano Childrens Hospital, a gesture rooted in his familys experiences and one he has already taken beyond the checkbook by visiting the hospitals with teammates.
Coming into the game against West Virginia, Lathan has piled up 62 tackles, which has translated into $6,200 for Miami Childrens Hospital and $3,100 for WVU Medicine Golisano Childrens Hospital. It is the kind of off-field story that resonates in Morgantown, where Lathans time in the program still matters and where his latest chapter has given fans another reason to pull for him, even if the jersey has changed. [Read more 🡒]
Bachmeiers Holy War Slide Just Raised A Bigger BYU Question
Week 10 in the Big 12 kept the quarterback conversation moving fast, with Noah Fifita rescuing Arizona late and Thomas Castellanos turning in a strong outing for Texas Tech. The weekend also helped set the table for a busy Week 11 slate, where several notable matchups will put more pressure on the leagues passers, including Michael Hawkins Jr., Isaiah Marshall and Devon Dampier.
For West Virginia fans, the bigger picture is the conference-wide pecking order at quarterback, and the latest rankings reflect how quickly that can shift from one week to the next. The top eight entering Week 11 are being shaped by recent production and overall impact, which means every snap in the coming games matters for anyone trying to climb the list or hold position. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Faces A Sneaky Test As Unbeaten Start Continues
West Virginia heads into its home date with Mercer looking to keep an unbeaten start rolling and push the winning streak to three. The Mountaineers are 2-0 after a recent win over Stetson, a game that again showed how much this early-season group can lean on multiple contributors rather than one go-to scorer.
Mercer arrives at 2-2 after an overtime win against Georgia Southern, and the Bears bring a balanced attack that can make this a little trickier than a typical nonconference tune-up. With several Mercer players already producing in double figures, West Virginia will have to stay sharp at both ends if it wants to keep the momentum going and avoid letting a sneaky test turn into a problem. [Read more 🡒]