COMMENTARY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — William Crest arrived at West Virginia as a hyped-up quarterback, then suffered a jacked-up shoulder, and now will end up somewhere else.
A member of the Rivals top 250 national recruits in 2014, Crest never started a game for the Mountaineers and plans to transfer for his final two seasons.
Coach Dana Holgorsen issued the announcement Monday, describing Crest as “an outstanding young man who always represented the Mountaineer football program well and was a great teammate.”
That wasn’t merely a courtesy goodbye from Holgorsen, who raved about Crest’s energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the program even as he struggled to develop into the offensive leader fans envisioned.
Barring an NCAA waiver, Crest would be forced to sit out next season at an FBS school and would have only one year of eligibility left in 2018. He could drop down to an FCS program and be eligible immediately, maybe as a quarterback if that aspiration lingers. He’s too enticing an athlete not to function somewhere.
“My experience at West Virginia University has been nothing but enjoyable,” Crest said. “I loved my time in Morgantown, at West Virginia and with my teammates. The fans have been nothing but supportive of me at all times. I wish nothing but the best for the Mountaineer football program as I move on with this new chapter of my life.”
Rivals rated Crest its No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2014, and in Week 2 as a true freshman he led two touchdown drives in mop-up duty against Towson. The 54-0 blowout became his only action in a season that produced a medical redshirt after Holgorsen said Crest suffered from a shoulder that was “jacked up.”
The kid dubbed “Little Geno” at Dunbar High in Baltimore soon found himself backing up Skyler Howard, a virtual no-name from the juco ranks. Howard leaves third on West Virginia’s career yardage list and ranking second with 60 touchdown passes.
Crest never threw a single one.
But neither did he throw shade.
As Howard’s backup in 2015 he saw spot action in 11 games, finishing 11-of-25 passing for 124 yards with an interception, along with 20 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. Crest also began dabbling at receiver, making four catches for 29 yards.
On occasions when the offense lurched under Howard (like the Oklahoma State loss of two years ago), some fans took to chanting “We want Crest!” But he never approached being a viable option at quarterback — the touch missing from his passes; the tempo missing from his direction.
This past season, Crest played one series in the opener against Missouri, losing a fumble as he reared back to throw a deep ball. His fourth-quarter appearance the following week against Youngstown State was his last as a quarterback. By midseason Crest ceded the backup role to Chris Chugunov and was contributing on coverage units and taking practice reps at safety.
Even before Florida transfer Will Grier revealed plans to enroll at WVU last April — presumably becoming the future face of the offense for 2017 — Crest discussed the urging from people in Baltimore that he too seek playing time at a new school.
“Some people blow it out of proportion,” he said. “They say ‘But you’re a quarterback, you’re a quarterback,’ and yeah, I am. But if I can change the game and help the team out, that’s what I’ve got to do.
“I’m not going to sit around here and be selfish and say they’re not giving me what I want.”
That answer, rational and unassuming, explains why coaches will recall Crest as a superb teammate even though his quarterbacking never approached that level.