A day after West Virginia’s matchup with Coastal Carolina, the grades from ProFootballFocus paint a pretty clear picture: Michael Hawkins carried the offense, and he did it in more ways than one.
Hawkins finished as the top offensive performer for the Mountaineers with a 79.5 grade. The quarterback was efficient as a passer and also topped 100 yards on the ground, even as the offense stalled in the second half.
The grading suggests the issues weren’t all on him. In fact, the read here is that the play calling may have limited what he could do more than anything else.
West Virginia also got strong work up front. Amare Grayson posted a 78.5 at right guard, while Nick Krahe earned a 70.9 at left guard and Wes King came in at 65.3 at center. That gave the Mountaineers three offensive linemen on the positive side of the ledger.
The skill positions showed up, too. Armoni Weaver-Bomar graded at 75.9 at receiver, though that came on just 13 snaps and was boosted by his touchdown catch. DJ Epps added a 72.5 at wideout, and the backfield had two more names worth noting: Amari Latimer at 75.7 and Cam Cook at 66.7.
Here’s the full group of Mountaineers who graded above 65.0 on offense, with at least 10 snaps:
Michael Hawkins, QB - 79.5
Amare Grayson, RG - 78.5
Armoni Weaver-Bomar, WR - 75.9
Amari Latimer, RB - 75.7
DJ Epps, WR - 72.5
Nick Krahe, LG - 70.9
Cam Cook, RB - 66.7
Wes King, C - 65.3
In Other News...
WVU Snap Counts Exposed One Trust Issue Fans Will Notice
West Virginias latest snap counts offered a clear look at how the staff is sorting out its rotation, and the picture was pretty straightforward on offense. The starting offensive line never came off the field, while 21 players saw action on that side of the ball, a sign the Mountaineers are still leaning heavily on their first group even as they work through the early part of the season.
The defense was more fluid, with 30 players getting in the game and the rotation shaped in part by the injury to defensive lineman Darius Wiley. Even so, the distribution of snaps suggests there are still roles up for grabs, and the way those defensive reps continue to settle will tell a lot about which players the staff trusts most when the games tighten up. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Already Has A Few Early Problem Spots Fans Will Notice
West Virginias latest game offered an early look at where the Mountaineers are already getting steady play and where the rough edges still show up. The Pro Football Focus grades point to a few bright spots, with quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. and defensive lineman Nate Gabriel standing out among the better performers as both sides of the ball were put under the microscope.
Carsten Casady at right tackle and tight end Ryan Ward were among the lower-graded players, which is the kind of detail that tends to matter when a team is still sorting out its identity. For a WVU staff trying to build consistency, those evaluations can be just as useful as the positives, since they hint at which spots are stabilizing and which ones may need attention before the tests get tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Pat White Just Got A West Virginia Honor Fans Will Love
West Virginia finally gave Pat White the kind of homecoming that fits his place in program lore, retiring his No. 5 jersey before the season opener against Coastal Carolina. White, the Mountaineers quarterback from 2005 to 2008, is now the seventh player in school history to receive the honor, a recognition that puts him alongside the most celebrated names ever to wear the gold and blue.
Whites college career still stands out for the way it changed the programs ceiling, from Big East records to becoming the first quarterback in college football history to start and win four straight bowl games. Now back on the sideline as an assistant coach under Rich Rodriguez, he gets to help shape the next chapter while his own legacy is permanently folded into the stadiums story. [Read more 🡒]