MORGANTOWN — Penn State could very well be the best football team West Virginia plays all season. The defense of the No. 7 Nittany Lions, in particular, is standing out as the Mountaineers prepare for their week-one foes.
“They’ll probably be the most talented group that we’ll play (this season),” WVU head coach Neal Brown said Monday. “I may be conservative in this, but they’ve got nine draft picks on their two-deep (depth chart) on defense.
“I think it starts up front,” Brown continued. “At end, they’ve got three guys that are big-time, two that are potential first-round picks.”
The Nittany Lions led the Big Ten in sacks with 43 last season, six more than second-place Michigan. Most of that production is back this season too, with Adbul Carter (6.5 sacks in 2022), Chop Robinson (5.5), Curtis Jacobs (four) and Adisa Isaac (four) all returning.
For the Mountaineers to have a chance against the Nittany Lions when the season kicks off on Saturday (7:30 p.m., NBC) they will need their experienced offensive line to hold up against PSU’s pass rush.
“Offensively, the strength of our football team is the offensive line and we have to win some one-on-one battles versus probably the most talented groups we’ll play all year,” Brown said. “We played four first-round draft picks last year on the defensive line so it’s not going to be the first time our guys have gone against that kind of talent and they think they’re that kind of talent too.”
Carter, only a sophomore, was a freshman All-American last season, racking up 10.5 tackles for loss to go along with his 6.5 sacks.
“Carter is wearing the same number as (former PSU linebacker) Micah Parsons and is getting all the comparisons,” Brown said. “They’re going to use him like Parsons and he’s a freak.”
Robinson, a junior, was graded as one of the best edge rushers in the nation after posting 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss last year.
“When you watch Robinson, he’s special,” Brown said. “He’s going to be a first-round pick, he’s got size, speed and athleticism.”
Robinson spent his freshman season at Maryland and played against WVU in 2021, a 30-24 Terapins victory, in which he did not record any stats.
“He was a little young then,” Brown said. “He’s grown up in the last three years.”
“He was a good defensive end there and he’s obviously gotten a lot better,” WVU center Zac Fraizer added. “It’s going to be a good challenge for us and we’re excited for it.”
WVU’s offensive line is anchored by Frazier, a preseason All-American, and book-ended by all-conference caliber tackles in Wyatt Milum and Doug Nester. Tomas Rimac returns at left guard after starting the final five games last season and Ja’Quay Hubbard and Brandon Yates, who have both made double-digit starts in their careers, are battling to start at right guard.
“I think those guys, left tackle to right tackle, have really taken ownership of not only their room but the whole offense,” offensive coordinator Chad Scott said. “I really think we’ve taken the next step forward simply because of the mentality those guys have up front.”
WVU allowed the third-least sacks in the Big 12 last season, only giving up 20 in 12 games. Part of ensuring protection for their quarterback, whoever that is, against Penn State will be staying out of obvious pass-rush situations.
“Third down and long, we want to stay out of those situations,” Scott said. “(Robinson) coming off the edge on third and eight, he’s a blur, so we definitely want to stay out of those situations.”
