West Virginia’s defense put together a rough night, and the Pro Football Focus grades back up just how ugly it was.
The Mountaineers did not generate much heat on Jaylen Raynor, and the numbers tell the story. West Virginia finished with eight pressures on 31 dropbacks, a number that speaks to how little disruption the front was able to create. The defensive line had trouble getting free, stayed tied up in blocks, and even when Raynor drifted around in the pocket, the rush still could not finish the job.
The PFF grades reflect that struggle. On the line, Corey McIntyre Jr. led the group at 73.0, followed by Taylor Brown and Zeke Durham-Campbell at 68.0, K.J.
Henson at 66.5, Nate Gabriel at 60.3, Emerson Joy at 55.9, and Yendor Mack at 54.3. At edge, Harper Holloman posted a 63.4, while David Afogho came in at 45.0.
West Virginia’s linebackers were the clearest bright spot on the defensive side. Isaiah Patterson graded out at 80.2, and his day included the game-changing interception in the second half. Antoine Sharp Jr. checked in at 73.4, Ben Cutter at 69.4, Jason Hall Jr. at 65.9, and Cam Torbor at 64.3.
In the secondary, JaCorey Thomas had the best mark on the defense at 76.9 in his debut after transferring from Georgia. Andrew Powdrell earned a 61.4, Jayden Ballard and Kameron Reddic both landed at 59.7, Matt Sieg was at 57.2, and Kamari Wilson finished at 50.0. At corner, Nick Taylor posted a 61.6, Chams Diagne a 57.2, Jason Chambers a 57.0, and Keyshawn Robinson a 38.1.
The tackling total looks decent at first glance - just nine missed tackles - but that number doesn’t tell the whole story. The defense took poor angles to the ball and often never got close enough to make contact, which made the stat line look better than the performance really was.
On offense, the grades were mixed, but the running game still produced 227 yards even if the line had a hard time controlling the line of scrimmage. A lot of that came from Hawkins and Cook creating on their own, with six of the eight explosive runs coming from Hawkins improvising behind the line.
Among the receivers, Prince Strachan led the way at 72.3, followed by Cyrus Traugh at 70.6, DJ Epps at 70.0, Jaden Bray at 59.9, and John Neider at 53.2. At tight end, Josh Sapp graded at 58.4, Ryan Ward at 58.1, and Cam Ball at 58.0.
Up front, Carsten Casady posted a 69.0, Amare Grayson a 61.4, Josh Aisosa a 58.2, Nick Krahe a 56.5, Kevin Brown a 51.6, and Wes King a 51.0. The group had a difficult outing overall, especially when it came to controlling the line and getting to the second level.
In Other News...
WVUs Defensive Collapse Is Raising Bigger Questions Than Fans Expected
West Virginias defensive struggles are no longer just a bad stretch, theyre becoming a real problem for a program trying to find stability in conference play. The Mountaineers have given up plenty of yardage and too many explosive plays in recent games against Iowa State and Oklahoma State, and the concern goes beyond one rough afternoon or one busted coverage. With the defense sitting last in total defense among Power Four teams, the numbers are starting to match what has looked obvious on the field.
Zac Alley and Rich Rodriguez are both under the microscope now, because the issues keep pointing in two directions at once: execution and roster talent. West Virginia has also had trouble against first-year head coaches this season, which only adds to the sense that opponents are finding answers faster than the Mountaineers are. The deeper question is whether this is simply a correction period for a young unit, or a more serious sign that the defensive foundation is not where it needs to be. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Just Showed How Dangerous This Team Can Be
West Virginias latest matchup with Iowa State offered another reminder that this team can beat you in more than one way. In the 13th meeting between the programs and the first since 2024, the Mountaineers leaned on a ground game that kept churning and a supporting cast that showed up everywhere else, from the trenches to the kicking game. Michael Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook each went over 100 rushing yards, a sign that the offense has found a reliable physical edge.
The rest of the roster did its part too, with the defense stacking tackles and sacks while special teams helped tilt field position with solid punting. For a West Virginia team trying to prove its ceiling is higher than a one-dimensional attack, that kind of complete effort matters. When the run game is rolling and the other phases are holding up their end, the Mountaineers look dangerous in the way good teams are supposed to. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Still Has One Thing Keeping This Season Alive
West Virginias season has been carried, at least in part, by an offense that has given opposing coaches plenty to worry about. Michael Hawkins and Cook have formed one of the more productive quarterback-running back pairings in the Big 12, and the Mountaineers have leaned on that attack to stay in games even when other parts of the team have sputtered. Add in solid special teams, and there is still enough there to give West Virginia a fighting chance on a weekly basis.
Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers made it clear this week that defending West Virginia is no easy task, especially with Hawkins in the mix. The defensive issues remain real, and they continue to put pressure on the Mountaineers to keep finding answers on offense. For now, though, that side of the ball is the reason the season still has life. [Read more 🡒]