West Virginia’s offense lit up the scoreboard for 45 points, but the Pro Football Focus grades still came in surprisingly flat in a few spots.
The biggest head-scratcher came on offense. Several Mountaineer skill players graded well, but the numbers weren’t as inflated as you might expect after a big day.
WR DJ Epps led the way at 81.3, followed by WR Cyrus Traugh at 77.6. TE Ryan Ward posted a 74.1, while WR Prince Strachan checked in at 69.3.
WR John Neider finished at 60.2, WR TaRon Francis at 55.6, and WR Jaden Bray at 52.3.
At tight end, Josh Sapp earned a 67.5 and Cam Ball a 45.7.
The offensive line was where the grades got especially harsh. OL Carsten Casady was the highest among the group at 65.1. After that came OL Wes King at 59.1, OL Amare Grayson at 58.7, OL Malik Agbo at 57.4, OL Kevin Brown at 56.1, and OL Nick Krahe at 51.6.
That’s a line that clearly had its issues. The run game didn’t get consistent movement, and pass protection had problems, especially when Cincinnati sent extra rushers. Still, five of the six linemen landing in the 50s felt lower than expected.
There’s also a case to be made that a few offensive players should have landed much higher. Strachan and Amari Latimer could have been in the 70s, and Hawkins maybe belonged in the high 80s or even the 90s. He threw for 464 yards, ran for 77 more, and didn’t have a single turnover-worthy play.
On the defensive side, the grades told a familiar story.
Up front, DL Zeke Durham-Campbell was the top-graded lineman at 71.6. DL Will LeBlanc followed at 61.7, then DL Taylor Brown at 60.3 and DL K.J.
Henson at 60.2. DL Emerson Joy finished at 58.7, DL Nate Gabriel at 51.7, DL Corey McIntyre Jr. at 49.6, and DL Yendor Mack at 49.4.
At edge, EDGE Harper Holloman posted a 65.8, EDGE Tobi Haastrup earned a 60.1, EDGE David Afogho came in at 52.8, and EDGE Jeremiah Johnson at 52.2.
The linebackers had a rough time, especially in coverage. LB Jason Hall Jr. led the group with a 76.1, but he was only on the field for nine defensive snaps. LB Cam Torbor scored 58.5, LB Ben Cutter 55.0, LB Ashton Woods 49.7, and LB Isaiah Patterson 45.6.
In the secondary, CB Andrew Powdrell graded at 66.2, CB Chams Diagne at 64.9, CB Jason Chambers at 63.6, and CB Keyshawn Robinson at 60.0. N/S Geimere Latimer posted a 71.7, S JaCorey Thomas a 69.0, S Kameron Reddic a 62.1, S Kamari Wilson a 50.2, S Jacob Bradford a 50.0, and S Matt Sieg a 41.7.
The safety play remains a problem, and the linebackers struggled in pass coverage again. The defensive line didn’t generate much push either, though it was also missing Corey McIntyre Jr. and Nate Gabriel, two of its most consistent performers.
In Other News...
Michael Hawkins Jr. Just Answered WVUs Biggest Offensive Question
Michael Hawkins Jr. gave West Virginia the kind of offensive lift it had been searching for against Cincinnati, and he did it in a way that showed both control and explosion. He completed 25 of 33 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, then added 77 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground as Rich Rodriguez shifted the offense toward the passing game and let the Mountaineers attack vertically.
Prince Strachan was a big part of that change in rhythm, with deep completions helping stretch the field and set up scoring chances. West Virginia still had to finish the job the hard way, and the defense delivered a crucial late stop, including snuffing out a fake punt, to help lock in a win that felt like more than just one good night for the offense. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Finally Broke Through But One Concern Isn't Going Away
West Virginia finally snapped its skid Saturday with a 45-42 win over Cincinnati, a result that gave the Mountaineers their first victory since Sept. 19 and pushed them to 4-3. It was the kind of needed response that can steady a team in midseason, especially with Mike Hawkins Jr. delivering one of the biggest passing days of the year and DJ Epps doing major damage downfield.
Mike Hawkins Jr. was nearly unstoppable, completing 25 of 33 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns while adding 77 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. Epps was just as central to the offense, catching eight passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns, but even in a breakthrough win, the way West Virginia won made clear there is still plenty to sort out moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Already Has One Early Issue Ross Hodge Can't Ignore
The first real test of the Ross Hodge era for West Virginia came in an exhibition against Maryland, and it exposed both the promise and the problems this group will have to work through before the games start counting. The Mountaineers pushed the Terrapins into overtime, which at least offered a glimpse of the competitiveness Hodge wants, but it also showed a team still sorting out its identity after a long offseason of change.
For a staff trying to build habits early, the details mattered as much as the result. There were encouraging individual moments, including from the Butler transfer and other key players, but the larger takeaway was harder to miss: this roster already has an issue that cannot wait until midseason to get addressed. With the opener ahead, Hodge has a useful teaching tape and a clear reminder that exhibition success is only part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]