MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen projects as many as 10 true freshmen could see action this season, and he’s not panicked about it.
Running backs Kennedy McKoy and Martell Pettaway, receivers Marcus Simms and Steven Smothers, linebackers Zack Sandwisch and Adam Hensley, safeties Dylan Tonkery and Jovanni Stewart, and defensive end Reese Donahue are the prominent rookie candidates. Specialist Jonn Young also could be used if walk-on punter Billy Kinney falters.
From that group, Pettaway, Smothers and Sandwisch remain if-necessary policies who could redshirt.
Pettaway is currently the fourth-team running back after missing a chunk of the preseason with a leg injury. Smothers arrived this summer weighing 143 pounds and could benefit physically from a developmental year. Temporarily running No. 2 at Sam linebacker, Sandwisch figures to slip a notch when Xavier Preston returns from his opening-game suspension.
If another six junior-college signees contribute as expected, 16 newcomers from this year’s 28-member signing class will see action, though only Spur safety Kyzir White is cast as a starter. (Two juco signees, offensive lineman Craig Smith and Brandon Lawless, are not with the team.)
“None of those guys I mentioned have to start, OK,” Holgorsen said. “If we’re having to start a bunch of freshmen, if we’re having to start a bunch of first-year junior college guys, then I would be a little nervous about that.”
Appropriately, Holgorsen delineates between playing freshmen and having to play them. From a class Rivals ranked 38th nationally and fourth-best in the Big 12, the Mountaineers appear to have a stable mix of game-ready and developmental players.
“All these new guys were recruited to add depth, which is what they are,” he said. “A lot of those true freshmen coming in, I think our recruiting has been pretty good and those guys are going to be able to do a lot of special teams work and just add depth where you need it.”