MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — There’s no question that the 2010s was full of offensive firepower most of the decade under coaches Bill Stewart and Dana Holgorsen.
From the first game in 2010 — a 31-0 win over Coastal Carolina at Milan Puskar Stadium — to the 2019 season-ending 20-17 win at TCU a month ago, some of the best offensive players in the history of the West Virginia football program suited up for the Mountaineers. Here are the best of the best, position by position:
Quarterback: Geno Smith, 2010-12
There were only a couple seasons during the last 10 years when WVU didn’t have strong play at quarterback, but Smith’s run to start the decade, transitioning from stagnant Jeff Mullen offense to the Air Raid attack of Holgorsen, is the best of the 2010s and may be the best in school history.
Smith ranks at or near the top in almost every passing record at WVU. He’s first with 11,662 passing yards and 98 touchdowns. He threw for a school record 4,385 yards in 2011 as a junior and a second-best 4,205 in 2012 as a senior. His 42 touchdowns passes in 2012 is also a school record. Against Baylor in 2012, Smith broke two school records after throwing for 656 yards and eight touchdowns in a single contest.
Smith also helped West Virginia win 10 games, including the Orange Bowl, as a junior. In the Orange Bowl win, the Mountaineers scored 70 points — tied for most all-time in a bowl — and Smith tossed six touchdowns.
Smith was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft and plays for the Seattle Seahawks.
Honorable mentions: Will Grier (2017-18), Skyler Howard (2014-16), Clint Trickett (2013-14)
Running back: Wendell Smallwood (2013-15)
There were no exceptional seasons at running back for WVU this decade, except for Wendell Smallwood’s 2015 campaign. Splitting carries with Rushel Shell, Smallwood still rushed for 1,519 yards — the fourth most in school history in a season — and nine touchdowns.
In his career, Smallwood ran for 2,462 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding 618 receiving yards to his tally. He declared early for the NFL draft and was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round in 2016 and helped the Eagles in the Super Bowl in 2017. Smallwood plays for the Washington Redskins.
Honorable mentions: Noel Devine (2010), Charles Sims (2013), Rushel Shell (2014-16), Kennedy McKoy (2016-19)
Wide receiver: Tavon Austin (2010-12)
This is easily the most difficult position to pick, since West Virginia had several all-Americans at wide receiver over the last 10 years, but Tavon Austin was the most electric player any time he was on the field, either at receiver, running back or as a returner.
Austin finished his career with 3,413 receiving yards (most all-time) and 29 touchdowns (third in school history). His 114 receptions as a senior in 2012 are the most in school history, as are his 288 in his career.
Austin also had 1,033 career rushing yards, as well as six rushing touchdowns. His 344 rushing yards against Oklahoma in 2012 are a school record. In the return game, Austin had 433 punt return yards and one score, while tallying 2,407 kick return yards and four kickoff return touchdowns.
Austin was drafted No. 8 overall in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft by the then-St. Louis Rams and plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
Honorable mentions: Stedman Bailey (2010-12), Kevin White (2013-14), Shelton Gibson (2014-16), Daikiel Shorts (2013-16), David Sills (2015, 2017-18), Gary Jennings (2015-18)
Tight end: Trevon Wesco (2016-18)
Wesco didn’t put up massive numbers in his three seasons with the Mountaineers, but his flexibility to play either tight end or fullback made him critical to the offense.
Known as a hard-nosed and physical blocker, Wesco helped contribute to some of the highest-ranked offenses in school history. Personally, he grabbed 28 career passes and two touchdowns for 376 yards — 366 of which came his senior year in 2018.
Honorable mentions: Cody Clay (2012-15), Tyler Urban (2010-11), Will Johnson (2010)
Offensive tackle: Colton McKivitz (2016-19)
McKivitz was Mr. Consistent during his time at West Virginia. Subbing in for an injured Yodny Cajuste against Missouri in 2016, McKivitz didn’t miss a start over the last four seasons, all the while raking in accolades and honors, including Big 12 Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior in 2019.
Honorable mentions: Yodny Cajuste (2016-18), Don Barclay (2010-11)
Offensive guard: Quinton Spain (2011-14)
Spain took a while to find his niche, beginning as a tackle before movie inside, but when the decision was made to make him a guard, Spain took off.
A massive human-being at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, Spain moved bodies, paving the way for the likes of Charles Sims in 2013 and a mixed attack in 2014.
After going undrafted in 2015, Spain inked a deal with the Tennessee Titans, where he eventually became a starter and signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills.
Honorable mentions: Mark Glowinski (2012-14), Adam Pankey (2013-16), Kyle Bosch (2015-17)
Center: Tyler Orlosky (2013-16)
Orlosky added stability to West Virginia’s offense when it needed it most. He was the center for four different starting quarterbacks in his career, though three were during his freshman season in 2013.
When it was all said and done, Orlosky started 50 games in his career and was another coach on the field as Holgorsen liked to call him.
Honorable mention: Joe Madsen (2010-12)
