West Virginia’s secondary got a little more clarity - and a little more bad news - on the latest availability report ahead of the matchup with TCU.
The biggest change for the Mountaineers came at cornerback, where Jason Chambers was downgraded from questionable to doubtful. Chambers has appeared in only three games this season because the courts took a long time to approve his eligibility for a fifth year.
Since returning, he has looked rusty, which the defense can’t really afford right now. He has given up four catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and he has also had a rough time in run support.
If Chambers is out, West Virginia’s cornerback mix should mostly come down to Chams Diagne, Nick Taylor, and Andrew Powdrell. Taylor’s return would be a major boost, and it looks like he should be able to play. That would give a defense that needs more physicality a much-needed lift.
Most of the other Mountaineers listed stayed where they were on Wednesday: RB Andre Devine, WR Armoni Weaver-Bomar, DL Darius Wiley, N/S Emory Snyder, and S Da’Mare Williams all remained in the same status.
TCU had a few shifts of its own. Third-string running back Landon Walker went from doubtful to out, and reserve safety Ryan Yaites was added to the report as doubtful.
The bigger names to watch for the Horned Frogs are running back Jeremy Payne and tight end Kari Ashley, who leads the team in touchdown grabs. Payne has been their workhorse at running back, and while the ground game hasn’t exactly been rolling, TCU would prefer not to go into the game with only one of its top three backs available.
The rest of TCU’s report included RB Fletcher Fierro, WR Keagan Cunningham, WR Cooper Reid, OL Devan Robison, CB Devondre McGee, EDGE Zach Chapman, and K Kyle Lemmermann.
Another availability report is due out tomorrow morning, and West Virginia and TCU are set to kick off at 12 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
West Virginia Still Faces A Huge Roster Question Days Before Opener
West Virginia still has one of its biggest roster questions hanging over the program just days before the opener, even after a court ruling gave forwards Brenen Lorient and Javan Buchanan a temporary path to a fifth year of eligibility. The two are currently allowed to play, and Ross Hodge has said he feels confident about their availability, pointing to the specific circumstances surrounding each player's case as the Mountaineers try to settle into the final stretch of preseason preparation.
The NCAA, though, has already appealed the ruling, leaving the situation unresolved and keeping the final decision on both players in limbo. For a team trying to get its rotation and frontcourt plans in place, the timing is far from ideal, and West Virginia is still waiting for the last word before the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Faces A Real Test In A Road Game Built For Fireworks
West Virginia heads to Amon G. Carter Stadium for a road matchup that carries plenty of intrigue and not much margin for error. The Mountaineers are coming in as a double-digit underdog, which says plenty about the challenge in front of them and the kind of environment they are about to walk into against TCU.
The setup also points to a game that could tilt quickly if West Virginia cannot keep pace with quarterback Mike Hawkins and receiver DJ Epps. The numbers and recent form around both teams suggest a meeting with real fireworks, and the historical backdrop only adds to the sense that this is one of those Saturdays where the Mountaineers will have to prove they can hang early and still be standing late. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia TCU Has All The Signs Of A Wild Shootout
Phil Steeles read on the upcoming West Virginia-TCU matchup points to the kind of game Mountaineer fans have learned to expect when these two line up: plenty of offense, plenty of stress, and not much margin for error. On the In the Gun Podcast, Steele broke down both teams work on offense and defense this season and came away believing the matchup has the ingredients for a high-scoring night, with West Virginia at least having a path to a surprise result.
For bettors, the number to watch is 57.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook, and Steeles lean is the over. Even without a final answer on whether West Virginia can fully cash in on that upset opportunity, the setup alone suggests a game that could turn into a track meet, which is exactly the sort of thing that makes this one worth circling on the Mountaineers calendar. [Read more 🡒]