West Virginia

Who Could Be West Virginia’s Next Offensive Coordinator?

Published

2 years ago

December 16, 2022

Who Could Be West Virginia’s Next Offensive Coordinator?

Graham Harrell is ready to go away West Virginia to turn out to be the following offensive coordinator at Purdue underneath new head coach, Ryan Walters. Harrell spent only one season in Morgantown the place the offense completed sixtieth within the nation in whole yards per sport (399.1) and 53rd in scoring (30.6 ppg).

So, with Harrell now out, who would be the subsequent play-caller at WVU? Listed below are my preliminary ideas on some names that might be within the combine.

Neal Brown – WVU head coach

Sure. Neal Brown might probably return to calling the performs in a 12 months the place he’s combating for his job. His time in Morgantown is just not assured past the 2023 season and he could really feel extra comfy calling the pictures on this scenario. Is it essentially the most ultimate situation? No.

Chad Scott – WVU working backs coach

Scott has been with Neal Brown for years. 12 years to be precise. Troy (2007-09), Texas Tech (2010-12), Kentucky (2013-14), and West Virginia (2019-present). This might be rewarding for Scott to be promoted to the OC place, particularly for what he has finished with the working again room and the job he has finished on the recruiting path. It did not matter if it was Tony Mathis, CJ Donaldson, Justin Johnson Jr., or Jaylen Anderson. Scott had his backs able to play, and each single certainly one of them confirmed they might be a starter at this degree. The one knock on Scott is that he would not have play-calling expertise on the collegiate degree, so this could doubtless imply Neal Brown would both take over the play-calling duties or help Scott to some extent.

Sean Reagan – WVU tight ends coach

Like Scott, Reagan has spent a number of years teaching alongside Neal Brown and has served as a co-offensive coordinator underneath him whereas at Troy in 2018. Reagan did not have full management of the offense as he, Matt Moore, and Neal Brown all had a hand in it, that means he too, has zero school expertise calling performs full-time. He does, nevertheless, have play-calling expertise albeit at the highschool degree; Chestatee HS (GA) 2004-05 and Monroe Space HS (GA) 2006-07). Contemplating Graham Harrell took over teaching the quarterbacks this previous season and that is a place they should fill, Reagan could also be extra of a candidate to return to that position, a bunch he was in command of at WVU from 2019-21.

Clint Trickett – Marshall offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach

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Followers have been eager to see the return of Trickett ever since he first stepped foot within the teaching trade again in 2015. He now has eight years of teaching expertise underneath his belt and oh yeah, his brother, Travis, can most likely put in a superb phrase for him. Travis was on Neal Brown’s employees at West Virginia from 2019-21 earlier than taking the offensive coordinator job at South Florida. In his first season because the OC at Marshall, he put an emphasis on working the soccer as Khalan Laborn rushed for 1,423 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a group, the Thundering Herd ran for two,467 yards on the season. Given the loaded working again room in Morgantown, it could make sense to have a coach that’s keen to decide to the bottom sport.

Mark Whipple – Nebraska offensive coordinator

Whipple and Brown have a relationship that dates again to Neal’s enjoying days at UMass from 2001-02. Whipple was the top coach of the Minutemen and as soon as Brown graduated, he gave him his first “teaching” job as a grad assistant. The 2 have not coached collectively since 2003 however that does not matter. Whipple has years of expertise calling performs and even had a number of stints within the NFL with the Steelers, Eagles, and Browns. Matt Rhule introduced in Marcus Satterfield to be Nebraska’s subsequent offensive coordinator, that means Whipple might be searching for a job.

Seth Littrell – Former North Texas head coach

Littrell was just lately fired at North Texas after seven years on the job however could be very well-respected within the teaching trade for his offensive success. Littrell is broadly often known as one other Air Raid man however his offenses at North Texas would not essentially stick with that identification. He labored a balanced offense that might at instances lean on the run sport. He had two 1,000-yard rushers throughout his time at UNT and three others that completed within the 900s. Plus, having that have as a head coach might assist Neal Brown really sit again and tackle a CEO position. The massive query is, what’s Littrell’s relationship like with new WVU AD Wren Baker?

Tommy Mainord – North Texas co-offensive coordinator/broad receivers coach

Mainord and Brown have some historical past working collectively as properly. They each had been on Tommy Tuberville’s Texas Tech employees from 2010-12 after which at Kentucky from 2013-14. Mainord has finished a wonderful job with the offense at North Texas averaging over 30 factors per sport in every of the final three seasons and has coached C-USA Participant of the Yr QB Mason Effective and WR Jaelon Darden who was named the C-USA MVP in 2020 after catching 74 passes for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns.

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West Virginia

West Virginia facing challenge in UCF rushing attack led by Harvey

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

West Virginia facing challenge in UCF rushing attack led by Harvey

If West Virginia is going to have success on the defensive side of the ball against UCF it starts with keeping their ground game under control.

And the centerpiece of that is senior running back RJ Harvey.

The Knights are second nationally and top all Power Four programs at 262 yards per game with Harvey playing a major role in that. The Orlando native has rushed for 1,328 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging almost 7 yards per carry on the season.

It’s no secret that keeping him in check will be critical.

“His ability to break tackles and once he does get past the defensive line and linebackers he gets going really fast,” defensive lineman TJ Jackson said.

Jackson compares Harvey to a bigger Devin Neal from Kansas in large part because of his ability to go from a jump cut to full speed. The running back is one of the most improved players in the country and is playing at an elite level according to head coach Neal Brown.

“Really tough to tackle, can make people miss. Has a great feel for their zone schemes,” Brown said.

UCF will utilize the same inside zone rushing scheme that Baylor was able to rush for 183 yards and it’s going to require some discipline out of the unit. The defense must attack the ball with leverage.

“You got to keep great edges on the defense. You have to keep technique all 11 guys across the board. If you’re the backside guy pursuing the ball then you have to keep technique and keep your shoulders square,” coordinator Jeff Koonz said. “He’s a threat to go anywhere, at any time. He understands blocking, he understands their scheme. It’s a great challenge for us.”

Where Harvey has created the most issues is when he is able to get the safeties and linebackers bottled up and then jump cuts to the outside and outruns the defense for big chunks of yards.

“The key is to contain him and not let him get on the perimeter for explosives,” Brown said.

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West Virginia

Predicting the winners of the 2024 West Virginia high school football playoffs first round

Published

9 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Predicting the winners of the 2024 West Virginia high school football playoffs first round

The West Virginia high school playoffs begin tonight with a full slate of games on the table.

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Hurricane

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Nitro

4:00 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Phillip Barbour

2024 WVSSAC Class AA high school football bracket

First-round matchups

(1) Tug Valley vs. (16) Tolsia

Score Predictions for West Virginia’s Senior Day Game vs. UCF

Published

19 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Score Predictions for West Virginia’s Senior Day Game vs. UCF

Picking up a win this weekend means the West Virginia Mountaineers are going bowling. It’s been an extremely disappointing season to this point, but WVU can put an end to their woes at home by taking down a UCF team that has lost six of its last seven.

Here is how we see this Saturday’s game going between WVU and UCF.

The challenge doesn’t get any easier this week for new WVU defensive coordinator Jeff Koonz, who will have to gameplan for the nation’s third-leading rusher, RJ Harvey. UCF is and always will be a run-first football team under Gus Malzahn, but they have found an answer at quarterback over the last couple of games with freshman Dylan Rizk, giving them more of a balanced approach.

For the most part this season, West Virginia has had success defending the run. They rank fifth in the Big 12 in run defense and 50th nationally in yards allowed per carry (4.0). Although Rizk opens up UCF’s offense, I still believe Malzahn will want to remain confident in his superstar running back and try to lean on WVU’s front. With less-than-ideal weather conditions expected to be in play, it should keep UCF from wanting to spin it a bunch, which is great news for a weak Mountaineer secondary.

Whether it was the season opener versus Penn State, the Backyard Brawl against Pitt, the Coal Rush game versus Iowa State, or another primetime game against Kansas State, WVU has not handled distractions all that well this season. Senior Day can certainly provide a lot of distractions with all of the emotions that go into it, but I believe Garrett Greene, Wyatt Milum, and Co. will walk out of Milan Puskar Stadium as winners.

I’m going with the Mountaineers in a high-scoring affair.

Prediction record: 6-4.

UCF may have found its footing with quarterback Dylan Rizk – the Knights’ fourth starting QB this season. Rizk has made the last two starts for a team looking to remain bowl eligible. The freshman threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start and nearly pulled off the upset at Arizona State in game two. He’s been efficient in his passes, completing 74.6% of his passes.

The Knights have leaned on an effective rushing attack, ranking third nationally, and lead all Power Four programs, averaging 262.8 rushing yards per game.

Leading the UCF ground game is RJ Harvey. The senior has rushed for 1,328, ranking third nationally, with 19 touchdowns and was named a Doak Walker Award semifinalist for the second consecutive season.

Statistically, the West Virginia defense has been formidable against the run and is second in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed per game at 126.8. However, last week against Baylor, the Mountaineers nearly allowed the Bears to reach their season average of 5.7 yards per carry, gaining 5.4 yards per rush. UCF is second in the country in runs of 10 yards or more with 86.

West Virginia was unable to keep pace with a surging Baylor offense last week at home and there is no indication they will be able slow the Knights down Saturday. The Mountaineers had an opportunity for a game turning interception against Baylor but what has occurred often with this unit, it was dropped. The defense will have to make plays for this team to win and they did it two weeks ago to steal a win in Cincinnati.

I’m reluctant to pick West Virginia for a multitude of reasons but what has been preached by the coaching staff since the arrival of Neal Brown, the lack of consistency in all three phases of the game, sums it up.

I’m going to go out on a shaky limb this week and pick the Mountaineers. It’s quarterback Garrett Greene’s last home game of his Mountaineer career and I think he will motivate and will this team to a win while the defense will dial up more pressure against a freshman quarterback and force mistakes, but it will not be easy.

West Virginia finds a way to win 27-24.

Prediction record: 6-4.