West Virginia Mountaineers Roster 2019 Mountaineers Roster

Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen        2017 Salary: $3,075,000        Offensive Coordinator: Jake Spavital       Defensive Coordinator: Tony Gibson         

Stadium: Milan Puskar Stadium       Surface: Turf        City: Morgantown        State: West Virginia

While there is some speculation about the Mountaineers upcoming schedule, there is little to fuss about in terms of talent on the roster. Dana Holgorsen trots a very talented starting 22 onto the field this season. Will Grier takes a bulk of this hype at the quarterback position. The former Florida transfer had his season cut short last year, which took a massive toll on offensive production and consistencies. A return to the field marks a promising season for Grier, who has already appeared on a bevy of pre-season All-American lists. His Heisman campaign will be rivaled by the team's ability to remain healthy throughout the entire season. Additional question marks remain in terms of depth, something that will need to be silenced in a hurry.

Depletion and departure were the storylines for this offense the past year. The blows came hot and heavy in 2017, seeing both signal callers and receivers get snake bitten by injuries. The road to recovery has gone smoothly for the program, tipping the caps at a return of an almost complete offensive group. Some role reversals surround the replacement of top starters, which is something the team will have to continue to work with. The protectors of Grier are back to re-take Mountaineer Field, a blessing for keeping their top talent healthy. A duo of junior talents in the backfield will also force the hands of the defense. Martell Pettaway and Kennedy McCoy will share touches, a feature of team's offensive attack that was utilized heavily once Grier left the lineup last season. The hands team also returns most of the starters from last season, improving the solidarity this offense possesses. Limited reinforcements are still an issue for this squad, who will have true freshman and transfers backing most of their starters.

The case for depth concerns extends to the defense. The major shifting occurred via graduations and next level callings, leaving the defense in knots. Their recruiting class this off-season tout mainly defensive products and athletes, a promising feature for fostering growth and depth. Toyous Avery and Dravon Askew-Henry are the leading safety candidates. They created a force amidst the secondary last season, something the Mountaineers are anxious see carryover into this season. The safety position remains thick with playmakers, calling for position headings to be shifted amongst dime and nickel sets. The team has little to play with in terms of chancing their guys, which may lead to timid performance to start the season.

The schedule will be an uphill mountain climb for this team. The regular season offers some relief in the early going but thickens near the finale. The team will play Texas, TCU, and Oklahoma in a 4-week span. Texas is the only road contest, but each contest will put this team to the test. Does Will Grier have what it takes to live up to the hype and perform above the level of competition that continues to make the Big-12 a power conference? Making it to this point in the season will be the first step, with succession to follow.