West Virginia’s dress list is starting to paint a clearer picture ahead of kickoff against Cincinnati, and the big takeaway is that the Mountaineers may have a few moving parts to sort out in the secondary.
Prince Strachan is not listed on the depth chart, but he is still expected to start opposite Jaden Bray. Even if that doesn’t end up being the official lineup, the expectation is that Strachan will see plenty of snaps, and far more than Parkersburg native Cyrus Traugh.
There’s also a chance WVU fans get their first look at Utah running back transfer NaQuari Rogers. He is on the dress list, which leaves the door open for him to make his Mountaineer debut today.
On defense, S Da'Mare Williams has been ruled out for the game, despite appearing on the chart. Starting cornerback Nick Taylor is now considered a game-time decision, which is an encouraging turn after he was labeled as “doubtful” just a few days ago.
If Taylor can’t play, Jason Chambers should see a heavy workload, and Andrew Powdrell could also be in the mix. Powdrell, who played corner at his previous stop, UNLV, is one to watch after defensive coordinator Zac Alley discussed shifting pieces around in the back end.
Another name to keep an eye on is Maliek Hawkins, the younger brother of QB Mike Hawkins Jr. He could see some snaps at safety today as well.
West Virginia and Cincinnati are set for a 12 p.m. ET kickoff. The game will air on TNT and be carried on the Mountaineer Sports Network.
In Other News...
WVU May Have Finally Found The Right QB For Rich Rod
Mike Hawkins Jr. has quickly become one of the most intriguing pieces of West Virginias offense, and not just because of what he does with his arm. The starting quarterback has given the Mountaineers a dynamic run threat from the position, leading the nation in rushing yards by a quarterback while also tying for the most rushing touchdowns in college football.
The passing numbers have not been as clean, but that has come with the territory in an offense that asks him to push the ball downfield. Hawkins throws a high percentage of deep passes, which naturally drags down the completion rate, yet the fit has drawn praise from Phil Steele and plenty of confidence inside the building, where his coaches view him as one of the Big 12s top quarterbacks. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Loaded Ground Game Could Get An Intriguing New Option Today
West Virginia has already built a rushing identity behind Cam Cook and quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr., with freshman Amari Latimer giving the Mountaineers another layer in the backfield. Even with that production in place, the staff has kept working through options, and Utah transfer running back NaQuari Rogers has been around the program for a while now, practicing with the team and even dressing for recent games.
Rogers still has not taken the field, but his presence is another reminder of how much depth this ground game could still have if he gets folded into the rotation. For a West Virginia offense that has leaned on the run and found success with multiple pieces, the question now is less about whether Rogers can help at some point and more about when that chance finally comes, and how big a role he might be able to carve out. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Already Has A Ross Hodge Debate Before The Season
Before Ross Hodge has even gotten through a second season at West Virginia, the Big 12 has already offered an early read on where the Mountaineers stand. The league's preseason coaches poll slotted West Virginia tied with Cincinnati for eighth, a modest starting point for a program trying to climb after bringing in plenty of new faces and asking a lot of Hodge in year two.
The projection is not exactly discouraging, but it does underline the gap between expectation and certainty in Morgantown. West Virginia is supposed to get better as the pieces settle in, yet the timetable for that growth remains a central question, and the first exhibition against Maryland will be the first real chance to see how close the Mountaineers are to looking like a team ready to move up. [Read more 🡒]