West Virginia’s offense looks deeper and more talented than it has in a while, but not every room comes with the same level of certainty. That’s the thread running through the Mountaineers’ offensive confidence meter: some groups feel sturdy right now, while others are still built more on promise than proof.
Quarterback is the most intriguing place to start. Mike Hawkins Jr. has the look of a player who could become Rich Rodriguez’s next star at the position, and he’s already shown enough arm talent to make that feel real.
The true freshman at Oklahoma made several next-level throws against SEC competition despite working with a far-from-ideal supporting cast. Behind him is Scotty Fox Jr., who started a handful of games last season and had flashes against TCU, Houston, and Arizona State.
He’s still developing, but if West Virginia has to turn to him because of injury, there’s enough there to believe he can keep the offense moving and give the Mountaineers a shot.
Still, the first-year factor keeps the confidence level from climbing even higher. Hawkins hasn’t been a full-time starter yet, and that matters.
Experience carries weight at quarterback, even when the upside is obvious. The belief here is strong, but so is the caution.
Running back brings a different kind of uncertainty. On paper, it’s easy to see why the room should excite people with the nation’s leading rusher in the backfield.
But Amari Latimer is the only player in the group with Division I experience, and that forces a more measured outlook. Latimer is a special talent, and there’s reason to expect positive contributions from JUCO addition Martavious Boswell and freshman Chris Talley.
They just need to prove it first.
Cam Cook should also be a major part of the picture, especially early in the Big 12 schedule. Once Latimer gets acclimated, running backs coach Jay Boulware is expected to ease some of the load on Cook.
The room has plenty of names worth watching, but it also has plenty of questions. Can DJ Epps do it at the Power Four level?
Can John Neider become a top-of-the-rotation option this fall? Will JUCO products Keon Hutchins or Kedrick Triplett factor in?
Could walk-on Cyrus Traugh earn meaningful offensive snaps? There’s no shortage of bodies or talent here, but most of it is still untested.
This is the kind of group that could swing hard in either direction. If three or four players emerge as reliable options, Rich Rod should be able to keep the offense balanced each week.
Tight end sits in a similar middle ground. West Virginia plans to play at least three players there this fall: Ryan Ward, Josh Sapp, and Cam Ball.
None has piled up many catches in their careers, though each has some ability to threaten defenses in the passing game. The bigger concern is the blocking, and when that question is paired with limited receiving production, it explains the modest confidence level.
Up front, though, the tone changes completely. No offensive group on the roster inspires more confidence than the line led by Rick Trickett.
His presence alone should pay off for West Virginia in the trenches, and the personnel gives that optimism real substance. The projected starting five of Kevin Brown, Nick Krahe, Wes King, Amari Grayson, and Carsten Casady brings 5,528 career snaps into the season.
They’ve been around, they’ve produced, and under Trickett’s guidance there’s every reason to think that continues.
In Other News...
WVUs Wide Receiver Room Has Real Promise And One Huge Concern
West Virginias receiver room enters fall camp with a mix of proven snaps and plenty of intrigue, which is usually the kind of setup that can either steady an offense or leave it searching for answers. Several of the eligible wideouts have already started at the FBS level, and the groups overall profile suggests there is real talent here if the pieces fit together the right way.
The concern is just as obvious: availability. Jaden Bray brings upside but has spent much of his college career battling injuries, while John Neider gives the room another experienced option after making the move from quarterback and starting part of last season for the Huskies. Add in the promise of players such as TaRon Francis and Prince Strachan, and the Mountaineers have a group that could look much better than expected, but only if the health and roster churn stop getting in the way. [Read more 🡒]
Where Former WVU Stars Stand As NFL Camp Pressure Builds
A number of former West Virginia standouts are heading into preseason with very different kinds of pressure attached. Some already have a foothold in the league, while others are trying to turn a summer opportunity into something more permanent. For a program that has sent plenty of talent to Sundays, these next few weeks will say a lot about which Mountaineers are still climbing and which ones have already carved out a place.
The most interesting part is how narrow the margin can be for the players still on the bubble. A few are working to prove they belong on a 53-man roster, while others are trying to stay in the conversation for a practice squad role or a depth job if injuries and camp attrition open the door. For West Virginia fans, it is the kind of preseason watch list that can change quickly, and the real answers may not come until the final rounds of roster cuts. [Read more 🡒]