2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football
Conference Big 12 Conference
Ranking
Coaches No. 6
AP No. 6
2018 record 5–1 (3–1 Big 12)
Head coach Dana Holgorsen (8th season)
Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital (2nd as coordinator, 4th overall season)
Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson (5th as coordinator, 12th overall season)
Home stadium Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium (60,000)
2018 Big 12 football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 7 Texas  4 –0     6 –1  
No. 13 West Virginia  3 –1     5 –1  
No. 9 Oklahoma  2 –1     5 –1  
Texas Tech  2 –1     4 –2  
Baylor  2 –2     4 –3  
Iowa State  2 –2     3 –3  
TCU  1 –2     3 –3  
Kansas State  1 –3     3 –4  
Oklahoma State  1 –3     4 –3  
Kansas  0 –3     2 –4  
Championship: December 1, 2018
As of October 16, 2018; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mountaineers play their home games at the Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium, in Morgantown, West Virginia, and compete in the Big 12 Conference. They are led by eighth-year head coach Dana Holgorsen.

Previous season

The Mountaineers finished the 2017 season 7–6, 5–4 in Big 12 play to finish in a four-way tie for fourth place. They were invited to the Heart of Dallas Bowl where they lost to Utah.

Preseason

Quarterback Will Grier received numerous accolades prior to the commencement of the 2018 season.

First team All-Americans

Quarterback Will Grier and wide receiver David Sills were named to numerous preseason All-America teams by various media outlets.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Chuck Bednarik Award[8] David Long LB JR
Maxwell Award[9] Will Grier QB SR
David Sills WR SR
Davey O'Brien Award[10] Will Grier QB SR
Fred Biletnikoff Award[11] Gary Jennings, Jr. WR SR
David Sills WR SR
Jim Thorpe Award[12] Dravon Askew-Henry S SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[13] Dravon Askew-Henry S SR
David Long LB JR
Outland Trophy[14] Yodny Cajuste OL SR
Paul Hornung Award[15] Marcus Simms WR/KR JR
Wuerffel Trophy[16] Will Grier QB SR
Walter Camp Award[17] Will Grier QB SR
David Sills WR SR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[18] Will Grier QB SR
Manning Award[19] Will Grier QB SR

Big 12 media poll

The Big 12 media poll was released on July 12, 2018 with the Mountaineers predicted to finish in second place.[20]

Media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Oklahoma509 (46)
2West Virginia432 (2)
3TCU390 (1)
4Texas370 (1)
5Oklahoma State300
6Kansas State283 (2)
7Iowa State250
8Texas Tech149
9Baylor125
10Kansas52

Coaching staff

Name Position Joined Staff
Dana HolgorsenHead Coach2011
Doug BelkCornerbacks2017
Marquel BlackwellRunning Backs2018
Matt CaponiSafeties2016
Tyron CarrierReceivers2017
Dan GerberryTight Ends/Fullbacks2018
Tony GibsonDefensive Coordinator/Linebackers2013
Mark ScottLinebackers/Special Teams2015
Jake SpavitalOffensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks2017
Bruce TallDefensive Line2015
Joe WicklineOffensive Line2016

Roster

Position key

Back B Center C Cornerback CB Defensive back DB
Defensive end DE Defensive lineman DL Defensive tackle DT End E
Fullback FB Guard G Halfback HB Kicker K
Kickoff returner KR Offensive tackle OT Offensive lineman OL Linebacker LB
Long snapper LS Punter P Punt returner PR Quarterback QB
Running back RB Safety S Tight end TE Wide receiver WR
2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 1 T. J. Simmons  So
QB 3 Trent Jackson Fr
RB 4 Leddie Brown Fr
RB 6 Kennedy McKoy Jr
QB 7 Will Grier  Sr
WR 8 Marcus Simms Jr
QB 10 Trey Lowe III Fr
WR 12 Gary Jennings Jr. Sr
WR 13 David Sills Sr
RB 14 Tevin Bush So
WR 16 William Crest Jr.  Sr
QB 17 Jack Allison  So
WR 19 Druw Bowen  So
RB 20 Alec Sinkfield  Fr
WR 22 Anthony Delpercio  Fr
WR 24 Roman Hawkins Fr
WR 27 Kwincy Hall Fr
WR 29 Chase Riley  Fr
RB 32 Martell Pettaway Jr
RB 33 T. J. Kpan  Fr
RB 34 Lorenzo Dorr  So
RB 35 Brady Watson  Jr
WR 36 Ricky Johns  Fr
WR 37 Kolby Mack Fr
TE, FB 41 Elihaj Drummond  So
FB, TE 42 Logan Thimons  So
TE, FB 47 Joseph Turner  Fr
OL 53 Colton McKivitz  Jr
OL 54 Eric Sjostedt  Fr
OL 55 Yodny Cajuste  Sr
OL 57 Michael Brown  Jr
OL 58 Joe Brown  Jr
OL 60 Noah Drummond Fr
OL 62 Zach Davis  So
OL 62 Garrett Smyton Fr
OL 65 Isaiah Hardy Sr
OL 66 Adam Stilley  Fr
OL 68 Briason Mays Fr
OL 69 Blaine Scott Fr
OL 70 Tyler Thurmond  So
OL 71 Junior Uzebu Fr
OL 72 Kelby Wickline  Jr
OL 73 Josh Sills  So
OL 76 Chase Behrndt  So
OL 78 Jacob Buccigrossi  So
OL 79 Matt Jones  Jr
TE, FB 80 Jesse Beal Fr
WR 82 Dominique Maiden Sr
WR 83 Bryce Wheaton Fr
TE, FB 84 Jovani Haskins  So
TE 85 T. J. Banks Fr
WR 85 Sam James Fr
WR 86 Randy Fields Jr. Fr
TE 87 Mike O'Laughlin Fr
TE 88 Trevon Wesco  Sr
WR 89 Dillon Spalding Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 1 Derrek Pitts Jr. So
S 2 Kenny Robinson So
S 3 Toyous Avery Jr.  Sr
S 4 Josh Norwood  Jr
DL 5 Ezekiel Rose Sr
S 6 Dravon Askew-Henry  Sr
LB 7 Brendan Ferns  So
S 8 Kwantel Raines Fr
S 9 Jovanni Stewart Jr
CB 10 Dylan Tonkery  So
S 11 Chase Hill Fr
LB 11 David Long  Jr
DL 13 Jeffrey Pooler Jr.  So
LB 17 Exree Loe  Fr
LB 18 Charlie Benton  So
CB 18 Jaelen Gross  Fr
CB 19 Barry Moreland  Jr
CB 22 Jake Long  So
CB 23 Jordan Adams  Jr
CB 24 Hakeem Bailey  Jr
S 25 Osman Kamara  So
S 26 Deamonte Lindsay  Jr
S 27 E. J. Brown  Fr
S 28 Rashon Lusane  So
CB 28 Keith Washington  Jr
CB 29 Sean Mahone  So
LB 31 Zach Sandwisch  So
LB 32 Vandarius Cowan So
LB 33 Quondarius Qualls Sr
LB 34 Shea Campbell  Jr
LB 35 Josh Chandler Fr
S 39 Dante Bonamico  So
LB 39 Henry Cook  Fr
DL 40 Kenny Bigelow Jr.  Sr
LB 45 Adam Hensley Jr
DL 46 Reese Donahue Jr
DL 49 Nick Rush Fr
DL 50 Jabril Robinson  Sr
LB 51 Jake Abbott  Fr
DL 55 Dante Stills Fr
DL 56 Darius Stills So
DL 57 Nate Green  So
LB 59 Luke Williams  So
DL 67 Josh Ritchie Fr
DL 74 James Gmiter Fr
DL 77 Daniel Buchanan  Fr
DL 87 Stone Wolfley  Jr
DL 90 Brenon Thrift Sr
TE, FB 91 Matt Bezjak  So
DL 91 Tavis Lee Fr
DL 92 Dalton McDaniels Fr
DL 97 Connor Barwis  Fr
DL 98 Tyrese Allen Fr
DL 99 Sam Cookman  Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P, K 16 Billy Kinney  Sr
P 23 Evan Matthews Fr
K 30 Evan Staley  So
K, P 31 Casey Legg Fr
K 43 Luke Hogan  So
K 48 Skyler Simcox  Jr
LS 51 Kyle Poland  So
LS 52 J. P. Hadley Fr
LS 52 Rex Sunahara  Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Doug Belk - Cornerbacks
  • Marquel Blackwell - Running Backs
  • Matt Caponi – Safeties
  • Tyron Carrier – Receivers
  • Dan Gerberry - Tight Ends/Fullbacks
  • Tony Gibson – Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers
  • Mark Scott – Linebackers, Special Teams
  • Jake Spavital - Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
  • Bruce Tall – Defensive Line
  • Joe Wickline – Offensive Line
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 22, 2018

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 13:30 p.m.vs. Tennessee*No. 17
CBSW 40–1466,793
September 86:00 p.m.Youngstown State*No. 14
AT&TSN PittW 52–1758,446
September 15 3:30 p.m. at NC State *No. 14
 ESPNU Cancelled[lower-alpha 1]
September 223:30 p.m.Kansas StateNo. 12
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
ESPNW 35–659,245
September 2912:00 p.m.at No. 25 Texas TechNo. 12
ESPN2W 42–3455,283
October 612:00 p.m.KansasdaggerNo. 9
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
ESPN2W 38–2257,419
October 137:00 p.m.at Iowa StateNo. 6
FS1L 14–3056,629
October 257:00 p.m.Baylor
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
FS1
November 3at Texas
November 10TCU
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
November 17at Oklahoma State
November 238:00 p.m.Oklahoma
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
ESPN
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time
Schedule Source:[22]
  1. ↑ This game was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence.[21]

Game summaries

vs. Tennessee

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 17 Mountaineers 10 3 20 7 40
Volunteers 0 7 7 0 14
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

Youngstown State

1 2 3 4 Total
Penguins 0 7 10 0 17
No. 14 Mountaineers 7 14 21 10 52
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0 2016 WVU, 38–21

Kansas State

1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 0 3 3 6
No. 12 Mountaineers 7 14 14 0 35
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–5 2017 WVU, 28–23

West Virginia had originally planned to have a game the previous week against North Carolina State, but it was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence. The team and coaches began preparations against Kansas State early. Mountaineer Coach Dana Holgorsen said, "Kansas State's a tough outfit that we've got to prepare for."[21]

Both teams started conference play with this game. Kansas State entered the game with a record of 2–1[23] where West Virginia had already secured victories against Tennessee (40–14) and Youngstown State (52–17)."[21] This game is the ninth meeting between the two teams with the Wildcats holding a 5–3 overall lead. The teams have split the four games played at West Virginia.[24]

West Virginia managed to take control of the game mid-way through the second quarter after Kansas State failed to convert on fourth down. West Virginia ended ahead at the half 21–0. Kansas State made two field goals and additional scores by the Mountaineers put the game to a conclusion of West Virginia's victory 35–6.[25]

at Texas Tech

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 12 Mountaineers 28 7 0 7 42
No. 25 Red Raiders 7 3 7 17 34
Overall record Last meeting Result
5–2 2017 WVU, 46–35

Kansas

1 2 3 4 Total
Jayhawks 7 0 7 8 22
No. 9 Mountaineers 14 7 7 10 38
Overall record Last meeting Result
6–1 2017 WVU, 56–34

at Iowa State

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 6 Mountaineers 0
Cyclones 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
5–1 2017 WVU, 20–16

Baylor

1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 0
Mountaineers 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
4–2 2017 WVU, 38–36

at Texas

1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 0
Longhorns 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
4–3 2017 TEX, 28–14

TCU

1 2 3 4 Total
Horned Frogs 0
Mountaineers 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–4 2017 TCU, 31–24

at Oklahoma State

1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 0
Cowboys 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
4–5 2017 OKST, 50–39

Oklahoma

1 2 3 4 Total
Sooners 0
Mountaineers 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–8 2017 OU, 59–31

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 17 14 14 12 12 9 6  
Coaches 20 17 15 13 12 8 6  
CFP Not released Not released

References

  1. ↑ "ESPN College Football 2018 preseason All-America Team". August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Love, Oliver, Grier lead AP Preseason All-America team". August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  3. ↑ "The Athletic's 2018 preseason college football All-America teams". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  4. ↑ "The Athletic's 2018 preseason college football All-America teams". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  5. ↑ "SI's 2018 Preseason All-America Teams". August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  6. ↑ "USA TODAY Sports' preseason college football All-America team". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Sporting News 2018 college football preseason All-Americans". July 3, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  9. ↑ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Davey O'Brien Award Watch List includes 26 players". July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  13. ↑ "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  14. ↑ "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  15. ↑ "43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  17. ↑ Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List"". Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018". August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  20. ↑ http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211734508
  21. 1 2 3 Green, Arne (September 17, 2018). "Kansas State notebook: West Virginia makes best of bye week". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  22. ↑ "2018 West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  23. ↑ Bragg, Tom (September 18, 2018). "WVU football: 'Aggressive' Kansas State defense will challenge Grier, Mountaineers". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  24. ↑ "No. 12 West Virginia looks to stay on track against Kansas State". CBS Sports. September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Grier throws 5 TDs, No. 12 WVU rocks Kansas State 35–6". ESPN. September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
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