MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A few storylines to ponder as football camp opens at West Virginia today:
1. Would a No. 6 finish in the Big 12 be enough? That’s where the media picked West Virginia last month, and while it’s not the loudest endorsement, the team that finishes in that spot typically goes bowling (as WVU did last year). Would another seven-win season resulting in a trip to a bowl sponsored by Zaxby’s, or AdvoCare or Cactus solidify Dana Holgorsen’s job or keep him in limbo?
He is signed only through the 2017 season, and that 11-16 record in Big 12 games doesn’t scream “extension.” What’s more, even including the final Orange-Bowl-champions year in the Big East, Holgorsen’s in-conference record is still sub-.500 (16-18).
2. What about these tackles? Marquis Lucas, a senior looking to improve on a nondescript career, is the cream of the West Virginia offensive tackles. Redshirt freshman Yodny Cajuste appears to hold the edge at left tackle. These are question marks … big, important question marks.
Skyler Howard joked this summer that he learned to run “because I had to” playing behind a mediocre high school offensive line. Let’s see how often these Big 12 edge rushers keep him agile this season.
3. Is the defensive hype to be believed? Tony Gibson is amped over having 10 starters back and KJ Dillon is simply amped like always.
Because West Virginia hasn’t returned anywhere near this much experience in years, the optimism appears justified. Just don’t look at that defense’s last performance, when it allowed 529 yards and 45 points to Texas A&M in Memphis.
4. Which signees will be arriving late vs. not arriving at all? The “pending” cue is highlighted by a pair of four-star defensive backs—Miramar’s Tyrek Cole, who wasn’t necessarily counted on to play as a freshman, and juco standout Rasul Douglas, who was. Or is, depending on how qualifying goes.
Also yet to join the roster are three-star athlete Jacquez Adams, whose brother Jordan has enrolled. Then there’s three-star junior college defensive end Xavier Pegues and two-star Martinsburg High safety Deamonte Lindsay.