Early look: What to like about No. 23 West Virginia in 2017
Each week, USA TODAY Sports will give a more detailed look at the teams listed on our early top 25 for the 2017 college football season.
Up next: No. 23 West Virginia. At worst, the Mountaineers’ 10-3 record in 2016 hands Dana Holgorsen some much-needed job security. At best, the third-place finish in the Big 12 Conference — even if the season ended with a brutal bowl loss to Miami (Fla.) — might represent a breakthrough for the program leading into Holgorsen’s seventh season.
Why No. 23?
1. Defensive system. Take a look at the Mountaineers’ past two seasons: WVU ranked second in the Big 12 in scoring and yards allowed per game in 2015 and 2016, and no lower than fourth in the conference in yards allowed per play. It’s pretty clear, based on this recent growth, that the program and its coordinator, Tony Gibson, have found a system tailored to match wits with the league’s high-powered offenses. Not many others can say the same.
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2. Deep at the skill positions. There’s some major talent on the outside in senior receivers Ka’Run White and Shelton Gibson (22.1 yards per catch in 2016), not to mention a loaded offensive backfield: Justin Crawford (1,184 yards) returns, along with sophomores Martell Pettaway and Kennedy McKoy. The Mountaineers’ new starting quarterback will have weapons at his disposal. Speaking of the new starter …
3. Quarterback in waiting. Skyler Howard was underrated as a senior, as he was as a junior. His replacement, former Florida transfer Will Grier, might not have Howard’s running ability — he notched 16 rushing touchdowns in his final two seasons — but Grier can sling it, as seen during a brief stint at Florida in 2015.
Why not higher?
1. Defensive personnel. Gibson’s scheme stands on its own, but there’s nonetheless no overlooking the Mountaineers’ offseason losses on the defensive side of the ball. The entire starting defensive front is gone; the three primary backups combine to bring one career start into 2017. The linebacker corps is in better shape, minus the loss of Justin Arndt, the starter on the strong side. But the biggest losses are felt in the secondary, which loses four of five starters, highlighted by All-America cornerback Rasul Douglas.
2. Offensive line in flux. There’s reason to feel positive about the right side of the line, where both starters return, and some optimism about overall tackle play, with two fairly experienced options at the staff’s disposal. But there’s no sugarcoating the holes up front: WVU is going to struggle attempting to replace center Tyler Orlosky, for one. And as a unit, this line must improve its performance in the red zone.
3. Non-home schedule. The season opener against Virginia Tech comes at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., a site that will draw its fair share of WVU faithful but should lean in the Hokies’ direction. There are another four potential toss-up games that come away from home: TCU, Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma, the latter pair in November. It’s as difficult a road slate as you’ll find in the Big 12.
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Biggest games
►At TCU, Oct. 7
►Vs. Oklahoma State, Oct. 28
►At Oklahoma, Nov. 25
Three players to know
1. RB Justin Crawford. The reigning Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year averaged 7.26 yards per carry during his first season on campus.
2. OG Kyle Bosch. The new leader for the Mountaineers’ offensive front earned honorable mention all-conference honors in 2016.
3. LB David Long. He was a nice surprise as a freshman starter on the weak side of the second level.
PROJECTING THE PRESEASON TOP 25 FOR 2017
