2021 CFP SEASON PREVIEW AUTUMN 11

WEST VIRGINIA
#6 BIG XII: CONF 4-4, HOME 4-0, AWAY 0-4, BOWL: W
Head Coach: Neal Brown (3) OC: Gerad Parker (2) / Chad Scott (3)
DC: Jordan Lesley (2) / ShaDon Brown (1)
OFFENSE:
QB: Returns starter Jarret Doege (2587 YDS, 14 TD, 4 INT passing, -101 YDS, 2 TD rushing). Lost backup Austin Kendall (164 YDS,
2 TD, 1 INT). Returns third string Garrett Greene (24 YDS passing, 40 YDS rush).
RB: Returns Leddie Brown (1010 YDS, 9 TD rushing, 202 YDS, 2 TD receiving), Tony Mathis (55 YDS, 1 TD) and A’Varius Sparrow
(10 YDS). Alec Sinkfield (327 YDS, 3 TD) transferred to Boston College.
WR: Returns top two receivers Winston Wright (553 YDS, 2 TD) and 6’3 Bryce Ford-Wheaton (416 YDS 3 TD). Also returns Sam
James (300 YDS, 2 TD in 2020, 677 YDS in 2019), 6’3 Sean Ryan (264 YDS), Reese Smith (128 YDS), Isaiah Esdale (115 YDS), 6’2
Sam Brown (92 YDS) and Graeson Malashevich (30 YDS). Bringing in 4-star freshman 6’4 Kaden Prather who could have gone
anywhere.
TE: Returns all three TEs who made a catch, Mike O’Laughlin (137 YDS, 1 TD), TJ Banks (41 YDS, 1 TD) and Charles Finley (1
catch, 2 YDS).
OL: Starting QB Doege was sacked 20 times. G Doug Nester (allowed 0 sacks) transferred in from Virginia Tech. Incoming
freshman 4-star Wyatt Milum is the No.14 OT (109 NTL) in the 2021 class. Tariq Stewart entered the transfer portal.
DEFENSE:
DL: Lost DT Darius Stills (35 TOT, 2 sacks) to the NFL. DE Jeffery Pooler (23 TOT, 3 sacks) transferred to Northwestern. Returns
senior Dante Stills (35 TOT, 10.5 TFL 2 sacks) who is one of the best defensive linemen in the country. Also brings back Akheem
Mesidor (32 TOT, 5 sacks), Jared Bartlett (19 TOT, 3.5 sacks), Vandarius Cowan (17 TOT, 2 sacks) and Jalen Thornton (5 TOT).
Darel Middleton (15 TOT, 1 sack) transferred in from Tennessee.
LB: Lost ILB Tony Fields II (88 TOT, 1 sack, 1 INT) to the NFL. Lost Dylan Tonkery (19 TOT, 1 INT). Returns Josh Chandler-Semedo
(64 TOT, 1 INT) and Exree Loe (46 TOT). Also returns LB/DE VanDarius Cowan (17 TOT, 2 sacks). Lance Dixon (10 TOT, 1 FF)
transferred in from PSU. True freshman Jairo Faverus (4.4 speed) converted from CB to LB.
SF: Two-year starter Tykee Smith (career 111 tackles, 4 INT) who could be the best safety in the country for 2021, abruptly
transferred to Georgia in late March. Also lost Dante Bonamico (16 TOT). Returns Sean Mahone (53 TOT, 1 INT) and Scottie
Young (4 TOT in 1 game) entering his second year at WVU after transferring from Arizona where he started 29 games. CB
Alonzo Addae (66 TOT, 2 INT) switched to safety.
CB: The best corner on the team, Dreshun Miller (31 TOT, 1 INT) transferred to Auburn. Alonzo Addae (66 TOT, 2 INT) switched
to safety. The No.19 ranked corner of the 2020 class and possible starter in 2021, David Vincent-Okoli (did not play 2020) left
the team. Jackie Matthews (3 TOT) or Daryl Porter will start across from Nicktroy Fortune (35 TOT, 1 INT). Charles Woods
(redshirted 2020) transferred in from FCS Illinois State where he started 15 games in 2019 making 48 TOT and 4 INT.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
KR: Returns Evan Staley (6/9 FG, 19/19 PAT), Casey Legg (5/7 FG, 9/9 PAT) and Tyler Sumpter (3/4 FG, 1/1 PAT). Casey Legg
kicked off most of the time.
PR: Returns Tyler Sumpter (37 punts, 40.5 AVG). Kolton McGhee punted 9 times (39.7 AVG). Redshirt junior Evan Matthes is the
only player listed on the roster strictly as a punter. CB Charles Woods could return punts.
SPIN
Morgantown, WV – Last season the Mountaineers were 6-4 overall. Two of their losses were by
one possession. The defense finished 4 th in the FBS for total YDS/G allowed (291.4), which was the
best of any P5 team and took the top spot in passing defense (159.6 YDS/G). The run defense
ranked 28 th in the FBS (131.8 YDS/G) and 4 th in the Big 12. The two best defensive backs, the best
linebacker and arguably the best defensive lineman on the team are all gone from last year which
indicates a step back on defense. Credit WVU for not scheduling multiple small schools, eleven of
their games are vs Power Five teams, including old rivals Maryland and Virginia Tech. Iowa State,
Oklahoma State and Texas are all home games. If the offense gets going, West Virginia could be a
dangerous team. I have West Virginia going 5-7, just missing a bowl game. That five win mark is
assuming they lose to Baylor and Kansas State which are both winnable games. Loking at the
confernce as a whole, if there is one time I thnk I might have underestimated, it’s West Virginia.
Twitter @Autumn_Eleven