MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It’s become routine for the WVU coaching staff, but already through five games, today’s game at Texas Tech will feature a first-time starting quarterback.
The Mountaineers faced true freshman Shane Illingworth at Oklahoma State, replacing the injured Spencer Sanders. Last week against Kansas at Milan Puskar Stadium, sophomore Miles Kendrick was the third different starter the Jayhawks rolled out this season.
Now, WVU (3-1, 2-1 Big 12) will take on Tech’s Henry Colombi, who provided a spark for the Red Raiders after Alan Bowman’s struggles continued. Texas Tech coach Matt Wells didn’t put the blame on Bowman for why the quarterback play has been average this season. Bowman did struggle, though, in the loss two weeks ago at Iowa State before finally being replaced by Colombi. Colombi went on to lead the only scoring drive of the game for Tech.
Colombi entered two games in relief against ISU and Kansas State, and played well, completing 74.1% of his passes for 359 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Wells is very familiar with Colombi as they spent two years together at Utah State from 2017-18, prior to Wells getting the job with the Red Raiders (1-3, 0-3). Colombi transferred after last season and reunited with his former coach, and was granted immediate eligibility in August.
“The key, now that he’s become the starter, for Henry is consistency,” Wells said. “The ability to make an in-game adjustment, take what coach (David) Yost is coaching him on the headset in between series and move it to the next series, and continue to play at a high level. I think that’s the key to any quarterback, but certainly for a guy in his first start.”
Fortunately for WVU head coach Neal Brown, Wells announce Colombi was starting a week ago during Tech’s bye week, so the Mountaineers coaches had ample time to prepare, rather than being unsure of who to prepare for — Bowman or Colombi.
While he didn’t start a game at Utah State, Colombi played a lot in his three years there, throwing 69 total passes for 460 yards and two scores.
“One of our [graduate assistants] went back during the bye week and pulled all that, so we’ve seen that,” Brown said. “I think he’s more than capable, they obviously like him. If you look at it, really their scoring drives over the last two games have been led by him.”
Colombi will play behind an offensive line that’s only allowed three sacks through four games, but he’ll have to face the No. 1-ranked unit in total defense with the Mountaineers. WVU is tied for fifth in total sacks (16) and 11th in tackles for loss (37).
“At the end of the day, football is football, but when you coming into a later situation you don’t really have a feel for the game yet,” Colombi said. “It’s different when you’re out there, you pick up on tendencies and stuff like that.”
Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2.
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