WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS PREVIEW 2024 Head coach Neal Brown finally had his breakthrough campaign after four seasons of battling. The pieces were in place, the formula started to work, and it should all keep on going even if the schedule is a tad tougher overall.2023 was the first season with more than eight wins since 2016 and just the third since 2007, but they caught a break that Pitt, TCU, UCF, Cincinnati, and Baylor were all down.They can’t count on that this time around, but everyone else can’t count on the Mountaineers going back to just being average.This is a good, sound veteran team with a terrific backfield, strong enough receivers, and one of the best offensive lines in the new Big 12 this side of Utah. If that all works again, and the defense can simply hold serve – West Virginia was 9-0 when allowing fewer than 38 points, 0-4 when it didn’t – it’ll be another great season, even if the record doesn’t quite reflect it. WEST VIRGINIA PREVIEW 2024: OFFENSE – Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line. Why did West Virginia start to turn it around last year? The O line was terrific. It allowed just ten sacks, the ground game finished third in the nation, and the team usually dominated the time of possession battle. Around LT Wyatt Milum and C Brandon Yates, the front five should be a force again for …- The running backs – they’re going to shine. Smallish speed back Jaheim White turned into a find late in his freshman year – finishing with 842 yards and four scores – but it’s 6-2, 238-pound CJ Donaldson who’s the tone-setter. He’s a basher with 19 touchdown runs in his first two seasons, and …- QB Garrett Greene can move. Leading receiver Devin Carter is gone, but the passing game should be good enough with Oklahoma State transfer Jaden Bray coming in and tight end Kole Taylor – who led the team with 35 catches – back. Greene ran for 772 yards and three scores, and as long as he’s keeping the mistakes to a minimum – he threw just four picks – the O will go. WEST VIRGINIA PREVIEW 2024: DEFENSE
