The West Virginia Mountaineers enter the 2019 season as a new-look team. They were in Big 12 contention last year before some tough losses, the most brutal of which was a home loss to Oklahoma where the defense simply could not get stops. Neal Brown is in town this year and hopes to usher in a new era in Morgantown.
Prestige Ranking (if NCAA Football 20 existed): 4*
Returning Starters:
Offense: 3
The Mountaineers offense will not look anything like it did last season. They lose nearly all of their main contributors. One returning player that will help will be running back Kennedy McKoy. However, in a pass heavy offense, the Mountaineers will be in trouble. The Mountaineers lost electric QB Will Grier, and with him lost their top 2 receivers from last year to the NFL draft. They will also replace 4 of 5 starters from last year’s offensive line. Look for the Mountaineer offense to take a step back in 2019.
Defense: 6
The defense for West Virginia will return more than the offense, but will still be losing some key members. They return a decent bit in a secondary that got LIT UP last season. They return a very good LB in Dylan Tonkery, but lose an elite LB David Long to the NFL draft. In a unit that was not good at all last year, there isn’t a ton of hope for improvement this upcoming season.
Special Teams: 2
West Virginia will bring back their placekicker and long snapper, but will have to replace their punter, Billy Kinney and returner Marcus Simms.
Key Losses:
On offense: QB Will Grier, WRs David Sills and Gary Jennings, OT Yodny Cajuste . On defense: DL Ezekiel Rose, LB David Long, DB Dravon Askew-Henry.
Key Newcomer: Offense – Austin Kendall:
With the loss of Will Grier, the Mountaineers will have a huge hole in the QB room for 2019. Oklahoma transfer Austin Kendall has come to Morgantown to hopefully stable the position for a year or 2 while the younger players learn the new Neal Brown system.
Key Newcomer: Defense – VanDarius Cowan
In an open spot on the WVU linebacker core, Cowan will look to bring some energy to the new defense. The former Alabama transfer and 4 star recruit will likely get his opportunity in the starting lineup this fall for the Mountaineer defense.
West Virginia Wins the Big 12 if…
Oklahoma and Texas leave the Big 12 AND Neal Brown practices magic and somehow gets everything to click for this team by the start of the season.
Circle this Game on the Calendar:
October 5th in Morgantown against Texas. The chances to win this game seem bleek, but after the events of last years game (David Sills’ infamous horns down, and Will Grier willing WVU to victory) rest assured there is some bad blood here and this is must see TV.
2019 Outlook: 4-8 (3-6)
With all the novelty in Morgantown this fall, you really have to stretch to see the Mountaineers make any kind of noise this fall in the Big 12. This year will mainly be about getting into a new system and getting some more experience to make a run at the conference in the near future, this just won’t be that year.
