10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

Freshman running back itching to contribute if injuries require

West Virginia freshman running back Martell Pettaway, yet to see action this season, remains a contingency plan as the top three tailbacks deal with injuries.

 

COMMENTARY

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Rushel Shell hobbled off, destined to exchange his helmet for an ankle wrap throughout the second half.

Justin Crawford’s right ankle already sported thick folds of tape from an awkward takedown two weeks previous.

Kennedy McKoy dashed and darted recklessly, only to grimace at the end of each run when his tender left shoulder absorbed a hit.

West Virginia’s running backs may have averaged 6.6 yards per carry against Oklahoma State, though what a bumpy, battered ride it became. A position that inevitably thins out this time of year left assistant Ja’Juan Seider temporarily assessing Plan D: True freshman Martell Pettaway.

“He’s ready,” Seider told me. “He knows he’s the next man up.”

Seven games in, preference dictates that Pettaway continue on his redshirt path. Injuries could alter that plan, obviously, especially if West Virginia — No. 20 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings — remains in the mix for the Big 12 title.

“This ain’t about trying to save something because we’ve got a lot to play for,” Seider said. “We’re in a situation where we’ve got a chance to win out and be somewhere at the end of the year.”

A rare Michigan recruit for the program, Pettaway’s speed surprised coaches during preseason camp, at least until a leg injury sidelined him for two crucial weeks and moved him to the back of the rotation. Since then he has performed scout-team work during the week and taken an if-necessary posture on game days.

“Martell’s attitude’s been great. I’ve been bringing him along all year like we thought we would,” Seider said. “He’s a lot like Kennedy — he’s not afraid of the show.”

The Mountaineers (6-1, 3-1) are overwhelming favorites this week against Kansas (1-7, 0-5), which hasn’t won a conference road game since Pettaway and McKoy were sixth-graders. If ever there was a Saturday where WVU could overcome limited running back depth, this is likely it. The Jayhawks join Texas Tech and Iowa State as the only Big 12 defense yield 5 yards or more per rush.

Should injuries flare up again, Pettaway told Seider he’s itching to contribute, though West Virginia also has the short-term option of moving junior fullback Elijah Wellman to tailback.

“It would be fun,” said the Spring Valley High School product, who has averaged 4.3 yards on 20 career carries. “I know all the stuff, all the formations and plays, so it wouldn’t be that hard.”

The 240-pound blocking back takes practice reps with the tailbacks just in case of such emergencies and shows good receiving skills when split into the slot. Wellman’s versatility means a brief stint as the featured back would not require West Virginia to drastically tamp down its offense.

“You probably wouldn’t run many outside plays with him, but you can run everything in between the tackles because he gets downhill,” Seider said.

Shell’s status won’t be known until Thursday at the earliest. Feeding off back-to-back 100-yard games, the senior started fast in Stillwater, gaining 38 yards on seven carries. On a 15-yard run he flattened Cowboys cornerback Ramon Richards but was injured in a pileup with 9 minutes left in the half.

“He was playing determined, playing like a big-time back,” Seider said. “He’ll bounce back. Hell, we might even have him for this Kansas game knowing that kid. He’s doing everything he can for treatment.”





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