MORGANTOWN — The first year under head coach Neal Brown, the WVU offensive line was in a constant state of rotation — not because of phenomenal depth, but simply trying to stay afloat.
The Mountaineers struggled mightily along the offensive line in 2019, especially in the running game. There was a lot of youth, but they were not ready to play at the Power 5 level.
A year later, there was significant improvement, especially in the running game. Most importantly, that youth was a year older and a year stronger.
Now, five practices into spring camp, Brown and the Mountaineers are at a point where there is solidarity up front with experience waiting in the wings. Perhaps most important, age concerns are nonexistent — this group will be around for a while.
Of the projected offensive linemen to get playing time in 2021, only one is a senior — right tackle John Hughes. The rest, anchored by sophomore center Zach Frazier, have played meaningful snaps but are still underclassmen.
Brandon Yates took over the starting left tackle as a redshirt-freshman last season, while guard James Gmiter, a junior, has played in 20 games and started 10 of them the last two years. John Hughes dealt with injuries last season but played in 11 games in 2019. Parker Moorer added depth at right guard and right tackle.
Frazier started all 10 games last season — six at guard and four at center. A key part of this spring is to have most of the linemen work at other positions. Gmiter has started games at both right and left guard, but this spring is also taking reps at center to spell Frazier, after the graduation of Chase Behrndt. Redshirt-freshman Jordan White, listed as a guard, is also getting snaps at center.
Moorer is working at right guard and right tackle, and the same can be said for Hughes. Virginia transfer Ja’Quay Hubbard could factor in at guard, but he will miss the spring, recovering from off-season surgery.
“The guys who took all those reps across the board are now in a place where they know what happens in a Big 12 game,” offensive coordinator Gerad Parker said. “Look at Zach Frazier. Although he played a bunch of guard, he now moves over to center and he has taken a bunch of reps in Big 12 games, so he knows what to expect. Guys like Brandon Yates, Gmiter, Parker Moorer, they have done it before. Now it’s getting lost, getting better, getting stronger, knowing how to answer to the snap of the football and all those things it takes to get good when it matters.”
Another potential key piece is Virginia Tech transfer Doug Nester, a Spring Valley alum returning to his home state. With the Hokies, he started 17 games the last two years at right guard, but is working at guard and right tackle this spring with the Mountaineers.
After missing the first practice last week due to contact-tracing from one of his classes, Nester is settling in nicely, according to Brown.
“His last two days have been impressive,” Brown said of Nester. “As he learns what we’re doing and learns what the expectations are, and then what his job is in each scheme, you can see him playing with more confidence and being more physical. I’m excited about him. I think he can be an upper-level Big 12 offensive lineman, without a doubt.”
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