COMMENTARY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — When Neal Brown announced wide receiver Tevin Bush was going to enter the transfer portal and linebacker VanDarius Cowan was out for the season with a knee injury during Tuesday’s news conference, it added to a long list that Brown wishes he didn’t have to check twice.
That list also includes a questionable cornerback Keith Washington and quarterback Austin Kendall, as well as a suspended Hakeem Bailey for the first half at Oklahoma on Saturday. Compared to what the Mountaineers thought would be their starters at the end of spring practice, the depth chart looks completely different prior to the game against the Sooners.
Nearly half the starting lineup for WVU were not expected to be starters when fall camp began in early August, whether it’s due to injury, transfers or simply not living up to expectations.
Let’s start with those who definitely will not be back on the field this season — Bush decided he wanted to be closer to home and has been dealing with a nagging foot injury after beginning the year as the starting slot receiver; JoVanni Stewart started the first four games as “spear” safety, but left the team to take advantage of the four-game redshirt rule; and offensive lineman Josh Sills and defensive end Taijh Alston are out for the season with injuries following respective surgeries.
Offense
Guard Mike Brown was ill prior to the N.C. State game, which opened the door for redshirt freshman James Gmiter to earn his first start. Gmiter hasn’t given that spot up since.
Redshirt freshman Briason Mays overtook Chase Behrndt as the starting center during the N.C. State game, as well, but Behrndt slid over to right guard to replace the injured Sills.
At receiver, Sean Ryan was penciled in as a starter outside, but after landing awkwardly on a catch against Texas, he needed surgery that requires him to miss a few games, though Brown expects Ryan to play again this season. Redshirt freshman Bryce Wheaton tops the depth chart in Ryan’s absence.
To replace Bush, true freshman Winston Wright will continue to get his chance.
Redshirt freshman Mike O’Laughlin overtook Jovani Haskins at tight end — Haskins dealt with legal problems toward the end of camp and hasn’t recovered.
Lastly and most importantly, if Kendall cannot go Saturday, either Jack Allison or Trey Lowe — or both — will play. Allison, a junior, got all of the snaps when Kendall went down against Iowa State, while Lowe, a redshirt freshman, has only thrown two passes in his career.
Just on offense, there’s a chance West Virginia could play with six different starters Saturday than it thought it would at the beginning of the season. That doesn’t even include running back Martell Pettaway, who wasn’t listed as a starter, but was expected to get a bulk of the carries. It was decided he would redshirt the remainder of the season.
Defense
The defense may be in an even more vicarious position, especially in the secondary. Let’s go back even further than the start of fall camp to spring practice — Derrek Pitts and Kenny Robinson were both expected to be leaders at safety. By June, Robinson was out following academic issues and Pitts transferred to Marshall, so right off the bat, the defense was down two starters expected to be major contributors.
Stewart’s decision left the door open for true freshman Tykee Smith, who’s played well this season and will need to continue his upward trend with other issues in the back end of the defense. True freshman Nicktroy Fortune will get the start at cornerback against Oklahoma to replace Bailey, at least in the first half. If Washington can’t play, true freshman Tae Mayo will be forced into a his first-career start at the other corner spot.
Jake Long and Dreshun Miller, while not starters, were expected to provide depth at corner and safety, but are also banged up and haven’t played.
Cowan was suspended the first four games of the season so he wasn’t a starter prior to his injury, but was considered by several coaches to be one of the most talented linebackers on the team. Quondarius Qualls will get most of the snaps at “bandit,” but Brown and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning said others will be moved there to work into the rotation.
Jeffery Pooler and Reuben Jones have taken up for the loss of Alston at defensive end.
So what’s one of the biggest takeaways from this? Not only are the Mountaineers suffering from depth issues for a variety of reasons, the problems have to be plugged with freshmen who have little to no experience.
Of the 22 starters on offense and defense, eight (nine including Lowe) will be freshmen if those questionable cannot play Saturday. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a road game against the No. 5 team in the country in Oklahoma, especially since the Sooners feature the No. 1 offense.
There are two ways to look at it — WVU is forced to play those who may not be ready for Big 12 football, and the consequences will be obvious; or this a great chance for the young guys to get their feet wet in a season that was supposed to be a rebuilding year anyway.
With 14 different starters compared to the depth chart after the spring gamer in April, this wasn’t the plan heading into the season, and we may see the results of that against the Sooners.
