MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — On the Sunday before West Virginia faced Texas Tech, a teammate told Marcell Lazard to check the board in the offensive line meeting room.
“The coaches had a depth chart for the week and I saw my name up there,” Lazard said. “I was pretty surprised, I’m not going to lie.”
Some 32 games since arriving at West Virginia, the redshirt sophomore experienced his first start, and in truth, his first consequential playing time during a 31-26 win over Texas Tech. Lining up at right tackle, Lazard overcame pregame nerves as West Virginia played power football and reached the 300-yard rushing mark for only the fourth time in 59 games under Dana Holgorsen.
“I was telling my mom I haven’t played a legitimate football game since 2012, at least one where something actual mattered,” he said. “I got in a couple of garbage times, but that was it.
“When the first hit came (Saturday), I was like, ‘I got this.’ I didn’t want this opportunity to slip away, because I’ve been wanting it for such a long time.”
His debut transpired because of a foot injury to left tackle Yodny Cajuste, which led coaches to flip senior Marquis Lucas from right tackle. But Lazard, who signed with WVU over offers from schools in the SEC, ACC and Big Ten, held no delusions about his lack of previous playing time.
“I came in a pretty high recruit and didn’t really pan out the first couple of years,” he said. “I’m not go to lie: I was being very lazy, very lethargic, thought I was the man and all that stuff.”
So grateful for Saturday’s opportunity was Lazard that he promised Holgorsen before the game, “I’m going to earn your respect today.” Though coaches were reluctant to grade any lineman immediately after the game, their sense was Lazard looked comfortable against a Texas Tech defense that showed many looks to mask its vulnerabilities.
“He was excited and he’s been looking forward to this for a couple of years, but he had to go through the process and I’m happy to see him have a good day,” said offensive line coach Ron Crook. “This means a lot to him. Now it’s like, ‘Hey, here’s how you got here and here’s how you keep moving forward.'”
How about Lazard’s self-assessment before film study? “I’m going to be more critical of myself than the coaches are,” he said. “I’ve got to work on pass pro and got to do better on backside cutoffs, but I think I did OK.”
With tackle depth so thin that guard Grant Lingafelter began practicing at both positions last week, Lazard figures to remain in the lineup at least until Cajuste is healthy enough to return. Even then, Lazard may have earned more rotational snaps, considering he’s the projected replacement at right tackle in 2016 after Lucas graduates.
“I’m so proud of that kid,” Lucas said after the win. “I was in his ear all week and you could tell he was focused in and listening.”