MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Injured quarterback Will Grier will accompany West Virginia to its game at No. 4 Oklahoma on Saturday, a means of supporting first-time starter Chris Chugunov.
“I rarely take injured players on road trips, but he’ll be going,” coach Dana Holgorsen said Tuesday. “He wants to support his guys and help be a coach on the sidelines. That’s the kind of kid we’re dealing with.
“We all know what kind of teammate Will is. It will probably be comforting to Chugs to have him there.”
Grier underwent surgery on his throwing hand in North Carolina on Sunday, the day after being injured against Texas. He returned to campus Monday, intent on digging into film on the Sooners.
“He’s anxious to find out what the game plan is and watch practice and be there as another set of eyes,” Holgorsen said.
Grier’s 34 passing touchdowns are the second-most by a West Virginia quarterback, and he was in striking distance of the single-season school record (42) set by Geno Smith in 2012. That pursuit, and the remainder of Grier’s season, was cast in doubt when he lunged for the pylon and broke his right middle finger.
“He was pissed off that he didn’t score more than anything,” said offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who welcomes Grier’s presence this week.
“He wants to be there for Chugs and the rest of the offense. We all love Will and they all look up to him, so it will be good for him to be down there and create some energy.”
QB contingency
Sophomore David Isreal, who was not in uniform against Texas, will take the second-team practice reps this week in anticipation of being Chugunov’s backup at Oklahoma.
A summertime junior college signee with dual-threat capabilities, Isreal was designated as a redshirt candidate since arriving in August, but Holgorsen said “we’ll burn his redshirt year if he needs to go in.”
Sills on Biletnikoff
Though he didn’t score against Texas, David Sills remains the FBS leader in touchdown catches by a comfortable margin. His 18 are five more than Anthony Miller of Memphis, and the primary reason why the junior is a Biletnikoff finalist.
Two seniors, Oklahoma State ‘s James Washington and Colorado State’s Michael Gallup, will accompany Sills to Atlanta for the college football awards show Dec. 7.
Three months ago, when Sills was trying to earn a starting job, he never imagined becoming West Virginia’s third Biletnikoff finalist since 2012, following Stedman Bailey and Kevin White.
“Nope, never would have thought that, but God does everything for a reason,” Sills said Tuesday. “I’m on His path and His plan and just trying to follow it.”
With 57 catches for 903 yards overall, Sills brushed off awards speculation in lieu of the regular-season finale.
“Very excited and happy I was chosen, but right now my focus is on Oklahoma,” he said.
Quotable
Tony Gibson challenged his defense as preparations began for the Sooners, who lead the nation at 588 yards per game: “If you want to be relevant in college football again, go beat ’em.”