After one of the worst defensive performances in the Todd Orlando era, Texas will have to turn around and play one of the most explosive offenses in the Big 12. West Virginia boasts NFL talent at several different positions that will serve as another test of the Longhorns ability to make adjustments from week-to-week. The Mountaineers will feature a similar offense to Oklahoma State, stretching the field vertically in the passing game while pounding the ball between the tackles. Let’s take a look at what to expect from the West Virginia offense:
Quarterback
Will Grier does not need an introduction. Grier is widely considered the top senior QB in the country, and the NFL will come calling in April. Grier possesses an excellent arm and can make throws to pretty much anywhere on the field. Through 7 games, Grier has thrown for 2272 yards and 25 touchdowns compared to just 7 interceptions. His toughest game came against Iowa State 2 weeks ago when the Cyclones held Grier 100 yards on 11 of 15 passing. The Cyclones dropped defenders into coverage all night long and dared the Mountaineers to run the ball. The Mountaineers quickly fell behind and were forced to play catch up for most of the night. The Longhorns would be smart to implement a similar strategy, although the West Virginia offensive staff is probably watching film of the Oklahoma State game and seeing the success the Cowboys had on the ground, particularly in the first half.
Running Back
Junior Kennedy McKoy is in his first year as a full-time starter, but received plenty of playing time during his first two years on campus. McKoy is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, but is also ceding carries to Martell Pettaway and fast-rising freshman Leddie Brown. Brown has really come on of late, and leads the team in rushing touchdowns with 4.
Wide Receiver
Texas fans better hope the Longhorn secondary has a short memory, because the most talented receiving group in the country is coming to Austin. David Sills and Gary Jennings have both combined for 17 (!) touchdowns and each have surpassed the 500-yard mark for the season. Sills stands at 6’4 and is a matchup nightmare. Kris Boyd and Davante Davis will have to show they can hold up in man coverage. Offensive Coordinator Jake Sapitval has access to film, so it won’t be surprising to see him move Sills around to try to get him matched up on PJ Locke or an inexperienced safety like BJ Foster or Caden Sterns.
Even if the Longhorns bottle up Sills and Jennings, they will still have to worry about Marcus Simms, who has over 500 yards receiving himself on the year and is averaging a whopping 17.6 yards per reception.
Offensive Line
Texas fan favorite Joe Wickline coaches an offensive line that is massive. Starting tackles Colton McKivitz and Yodny Cajuste stand at 6’7 and 6’5, respectively. Josh Sills and Isaiah Hardy hold down the guard spots, and both players stand 6’6. The unit is in the middle of the pack of most statistical rankings, but their play on the field is above average. McKivitz and Cajuste will test the length of Charles Omenihu and Breckyn Hager. All 5 linemen do an excellent job of moving bodies in the running game, similar to what Texas faced last weekend against Oklahoma State, except with a little more talent. The defensive line for Texas will have to settle in a faster than last Saturday and win at the point of attack.
