Late Tuesday night, West Virginia released its depth chart for Saturday’s home game against Arizona, and the document didn’t bring many surprises. Even with a few newcomers carving out real roles in the previous week, the Mountaineers’ lineup looks largely the same on paper.
At quarterback, the chart still shows Mike Hawkins Jr. OR Scotty Fox Jr., with Jyron Hughley OR Max Brown listed behind them. In the backfield, Cam Cook remains the lead name, followed by Amari Latimer, Chris Talley and Martavious Boswell.
One player to watch is Utah transfer NaQuari Rogers, who is getting closer after more than a full week of practice. Whether he appears in this game remains to be seen, but he’s clearly moving toward being ready.
At receiver, Prince Strachan’s role should keep growing after he logged his most extended action of the season last week at Iowa State. He caught three passes for 41 yards, and that could lead to even more snaps this week. He may even get the start over John Neider at the X, and at minimum he looks set to be the No. 2 option there.
On defense, the BAN group lists Harper Holloman, David Afogho and Tobi Haastrup OR Jeremiah Johnson. At MIKE, Ben Cutter is still the top name, with Isaiah Patterson OR Tyler Stolsky behind him. The BS spot shows Kamari Wilson, Da'Mare Williams OR Kameron Reddic.
The only notable tweak on the defensive chart is at MIKE, where Patterson now appears first in the OR pairing with Stolsky. Patterson has been a meaningful part of the defense this season and is clearly in the rotation, while Stolsky has played only sparingly.
There are also a few names that may not appear on the depth chart but still figure to matter on game day. Corner Jason Chambers made his season debut last week and saw significant snaps, and that should continue even though he isn’t listed.
The same goes for safety JaCorey Thomas. Free safety Andrew Powdrell spent most of his snaps in the slot last week, and with Thomas getting work there too, Powdrell is expected to keep filling that backup role behind Latimer.
In Other News...
WVU Faces A Brutal Home Test In First Big 12 Win Bid
West Virginia heads into a difficult home matchup with Arizona still searching for its first Big 12 win, and the timing could hardly be trickier. The Mountaineers are trying to navigate the league grind while dealing with a trimmed offensive group, which only raises the pressure on a team that needs cleaner execution and more balance to keep pace.
Arizona brings a lot more than just a capable passing game into Morgantown. With Noah Fifita directing an offense that has shown it can move in multiple ways, the Wildcats arrive with a clear edge in firepower, even if there are paths for West Virginia to make it interesting at home. The bigger question is whether the Mountaineers can turn a tough spot into a breakout league moment before the schedule starts to really tighten. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Defense Gets A Break But Still Faces A Real Test
West Virginias defense could use a little relief after a rough stretch, and Arizonas injury report offers some of it. The Wildcats are set to come in without leading receiver Tre Spivey, along with Giovanni Richardson, Chris Hunter III, Cole Rusk and running back Ismail Mahdi, a depleted group that changes the shape of their offense and trims some of the pressure on the Mountaineers secondary and front.
Noah Fifita, though, still gives Arizona a dangerous focal point. Even with the missing weapons, the quarterback is expected to keep steering the passing game, which means West Virginia cannot treat this like a soft landing spot after its recent defensive struggles. The Mountaineers may get a break in terms of personnel, but they still have to prove they can handle a competent passing attack and avoid another night of chasing plays. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Defense Just Got Called Out Before Arizona Test
West Virginias defensive issues have become impossible to ignore as the Mountaineers head into this weeks matchup with Arizona, and coordinator Zac Alley did not sugarcoat where things stand. The unit has been beaten for plenty of yardage and points during the season, leaving the defense searching for answers at a point when every possession matters even more.
The challenge only gets sharper against an Arizona team that has been sturdy against the run, which puts a spotlight on West Virginias ground game and whether it can help keep the pressure off a defense trying to stop the bleeding. For the Mountaineers, the game is about more than one matchup on paper. It is also a chance to see whether the frustration Alley voiced can turn into a response on the field. [Read more 🡒]