After an 11-year hiatus, the West Virginia College Mountaineers and the College of Pittsburgh Panthers will rekindle the Yard Brawl to kickoff week 1 of the faculty soccer season, Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 pm EST and might be nationally televised on ESPN.

The 2 packages are coming off two completely totally different seasons however there are some similarities between the 2 heading into the 2022 season. On offense, each faculties return all 5 beginning offensive linemen, employed new offensive coordinators, and introduced in quarterbacks from the switch portal. Defensively, the 2 return the majority of their manufacturing on the line of defense however have questions throughout the linebackers and within the secondary.

Final season, Pitt claimed its first ACC title since becoming a member of the convention in 2013, additionally marking this system’s first convention championship since 2010 and the primary ten-plus win season in 40 years. Head coach Pat Narduzzi should defend their title with out All-American quarterback Kenny Pickett and Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison. Nevertheless, Panthers teaching employees wish to make the operating sport a precedence with newly employed offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., however the employees has additionally mentioned they have been in search of a extra balanced offense after main the ACC in passing yards a final yr. 

Narduzzi acknowledged within the midst of fall camp to anticipate a Panther operating again to hit the 1,000-yard barrier this season, a mark this system has not hit since 2018 the place Qadree Wilson and Darren Corridor each eclipsed the 1000-yard mark, however I’d be remiss to not point out the staff went 7-6 that season.

The Panthers’ three-headed speeding assault options Israel Abanikanda, Vincent Davis and Rodney Hammond Jr. The trio mixed for 1,748 yards and 16 touchdowns together with 379 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 55 receptions.

Now that Pickett is with the Pittsburgh Steelers, main the Panther passing assault in 2022 might be USC switch Kedon Slovis. He ended the 2021 season with a decrease leg damage, ending the yr with 2,158 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

His profession acquired off to a quick begin, garnering first staff Freshman All-America honors from the Soccer Writers Affiliation of America (FWAA) and was the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Yr and Related Press Pac-12 Newcomer of the Yr after tossing for 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019. Nevertheless, his growth slowed in 2020 on account of COVID-19 restrictions, solely showing in six video games however threw for 1,921 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Eradicating three video games from his resume the place he left two video games early with an damage and his first sport at USC he got here in for an injured JT Daniels within the season opener, Slovis is averaging 312.5 yards per sport for his profession.

Addison leaving the Pitt program for USC opens the chance for six-foot-three 210-pound senior receiver Jared Wayne and Akron switch Konata Mumpfield. Wayne was second on the staff in receptions (47) yard (658) and touchdowns (6). Of be aware, sophomore tight finish Gavin Bartholomew hauled in 28 passes for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Panthers deliver again arguably the perfect line of defense within the nation led by defensive finish Habakkuk Baldonado. He had a team-leading 9 sacks and was second on the staff with 11.5 tackles for a loss whereas his counterpart defensive sort out and first staff All-ACC choice Calijah Kancey led the staff in tackles for a loss with 13 and was second on the staff in sack with seven.

At linebacker, SirVocea Dennis is the lone returning starter throughout the room. He accrued a team-leading 87 tackles, together with 9.5 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks. He might be accompanied by Notre Dame switch Shayne Simon, who made 32 appearances, together with eight begins, totaling 27 tackles, three TFLs and 5 cross breakups.

The Panther secondary is highlighted by safeties Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett. The 2 mixed for 151 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 5 interceptions and 15 cross breakups. Returning cornerback Marquis Williams had one interception on the yr. Regardless of the expertise within the secondary, the unit was one of many worst within the nation final season, permitting 264.3 yard per sport by means of the air.

Prediction

This sport has the billing to be an immediate basic, and as if the Yard Brawl wanted any extra juice, as soon as former teammates Kedon Slovis and JT Daniels will sq. off with each other whereas their former offensive coordinator Graham Harrell has taken the reins of the Mountaineer offense and is offering Daniels the instruments to deliver offense again to Morgantown. In the meantime, it’s fascinating Narduzzi is veering away from the offense that introduced this system essentially the most success it had not seen in 4 many years.

Pitt begins the season inside the highest 20 after taking the 2021 ACC Championship however the lack of Pickett and Addison goes to be robust to beat to open the season. They do return all 5 starters alongside the offensive line, a bunch wanting to show they’ll pave the best way for a 1,000-yard rusher after rating 13^th within the ACC in common yard per carry (4.0 ypc) and 11^th in speeding yards per sport (149.2).

This might be a problem for a Mountaineer protection which ranked sixth within the Massive 12 in rush protection, permitting 130.9 yards per sport a season in the past.

Slovis is a gifted quarterback and if allowed, will be capable of sling the ball across the area whereas West Virginia has a number of new items within the secondary, accompanied by younger expertise, and the plan going into the season is play extra man protection to permit the line of defense time to get into the backfield. The Mountaineer secondary options 2022 Preseason All-Massive 12 Convention choice Charles Woods.

The Pitt protection is undoubtedly a handful particularly up entrance. West Virginia returns all 5 of its linemen however flipped tackles Wyatt Milum and Brandon Yates from proper to left. That is additionally a bunch wanting to show they’re one of many higher items throughout the league. They should play the video games of their lives towards this entrance however could have assist with tight finish Brian Polendey and operating again Tony Mathis Jr. in cross safety. Narduzzi’s protection does depart its corners on an island and giving Daniels time might be crucial to hit the massive play.

Explosives performs have eluded the Mountaineers offense since Neal Brown’s arrival, and a bit self-reflection following the 2021 season, the top man handed off play calling duties to Harrell. Together with the addition of Daniels, it will likely be a turning level for this system.

The West Virginia receiving corps has lacked consistency however putting in the AIR RAID offense could revitalize a unit which broke program information below the steering of former head coach Dana Holgorsen. I believe both Bryce Ford-Wheaton or Sam James could have turn out to be the primary 1,000-yard receiver within the Neal Brown period.

With the offensive spreading the sector, it ought to open up the operating sport spearheaded by Tony Mathis Jr, who has proven flashes whereas offering backing up Leddie Brown the previous two seasons.

Pitt profitable the ACC Championship final season has introduced life right into a fanbase anticipating to select up the place it left off, and the coaches stay assured in its roster regardless of the departures. The identical optimism is surrounding Morgantown as effectively with the addition of quarterback JT Daniels and Graham Harrell.

I believe the Mountaineers will come out on high. Pitt was not on the rise previous to the 2021 season, though Pickett could have had a greater 2020 (Together with so many others across the nation) had his growth not been disrupted by the pandemic. Nonetheless, the perfect yr in many years has a G5 blemish with the loss to West Michigan.

Pitt could have reloaded with Slovis however the change at offensive coordinator with a spotlight to run the ball, could also be detrimental if the offensive line can not stay as much as the expectations to run the ball. Nonetheless unsure why you’d change success (Some Jeff Mullens vibes). Regardless, the Mountaineer run protection ought to make a major bounce this season with the addition of center linebacker Lee Kpogba and WILL linebacker Lance Dixon has a productive offseason ought to fill the gaps behind robust line of defense highlighted by Dante Stills.

The secondary could have rising pains however fortuitously, the Pitt receivers will nonetheless be getting their ft moist, trying to exchange the manufacturing of Addison.

Will probably be a battle however I like West Virginia on this one, 27-23. 

You possibly can comply with us for future protection by following us on Fb & Twitter:

Fb – @WVUonSI

Twitter – @SI_WVU and Christopher Corridor @WVHallBilly