MORGANTOWN — Now that West Virginia is out of the running for the Big 12 title and a marquee bowl, the question becomes whether quarterback Will Grier has played his final college game.
Ever since Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith suffered a devastating knee injury in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl, several star players have elected to sit out their team’s bowl game with the NFL Draft looming. Running backs Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey got the practice started in earnest the year following Smith’s injury.
That thought hadn’t occurred to Grier in the aftermath of a painful 59-56 defeat Friday in his last home game.
“It honestly hasn’t been on my mind,” Grier said. “I was planning on playing next weekend and haven’t had a thought otherwise.”
David Sills has already made up his mind.
“I’m 100-percent dedicated to this program,” Sills said. “We’ve put way too much time and effort in together. I’ll 100 percent be playing in the bowl game.”
When asked if he thought Friday night was the final game he’d play with Grier, Sills responded, “No I don’t.”
Grier wowed by Murray
Grier and Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray are two of the three finalists for the Maxwell Award, and there’s a solid chance they’ll be reprising that role as Heisman Trophy finalists as well. Underneath a national microscope, both players produced on Friday night.
Grier’s 539 passing yards were the second-most in WVU single-game history. But Murray earned the win, accounting for 364 yards through the air and 114 on the ground.
What was Grier’s lasting impression of his counterpart?
“He’s the fastest human I’ve ever seen live. After the first touchdown I was like, ‘I don’t even know what you tell defenses when he gets out in space.’”
Already a first-round pick of the Oakland A’s last summer, Murray has the potential to be drafted by an NFL team next spring.
“He’s going to steal a lot of bases,” Grier said before realizing that’s not all Murray is capable of. “Or whatever it is he wants to do.”
Offense produces despite line in shambles
In the most chaotic game of the season, West Virginia coped with the chaos of three offensive line injuries. Somehow the Mountaineers managed to produce 56 points and 704 yards despite playing behind a makeshift group that shuffled spots from series to series.
The shuffle began when Colton McKivitz moved from right tackle to right guard in place of the injured Isaiah Hardy. That forced Kelby Wickline off the bench to start at right tackle. Matters got more complicated when all-conference left tackle Yodny Cajuste appeared to injure his lower leg late in the third quarter, forcing backup right guard Chase Behrndt to take over at left tackle.
There were also times during the game where Wickline and left guard Josh Sills each missed plays after getting dinged up.
“We had to put a lot on those guys,” Grier said. “We had guys move around. They gave it their best. They got beat sometimes. They misidentified some stuff. But you’ve got Colton moving from right tackle to left tackle. He’s making calls [meant for a right tackle]. We’re throwing new guys inside or who haven’t played that position. Josh Sills played at tackle.
“I’m proud of the way they battled. They weren’t perfect but it’s hard to expect that against a good front seven when they’re out of position.”
