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West Virginia Football: 5 bold predictions for 2017

By Matthew Bartlett

MORGANTOWN, WV - DECEMBER 03: Marvin Gross #18 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs up field after intercepting a pass by Zach Smith #4 of the Baylor Bears in the first quarter during the game at Mountaineer Field on December 3, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - DECEMBER 03: Marvin Gross #18 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs up field after intercepting a pass by Zach Smith #4 of the Baylor Bears in the first quarter during the game at Mountaineer Field on December 3, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

3. Two Mountaineers surpass 1,000 yards receiving

The air raid is alive and well in Morgantown. The Mountaineers have what many consider a plug-and-play offense It doesn’t matter who lines up in the gun or who he’s throwing to they are going to move down the field with relative ease and put points up on the board.

That’s important because West Virginia has to replace its two leading receivers from a year ago. Both Shelton Gibson and Daikiel Shorts have moved on which leaves a void of receiving yards up for grabs. To be precise, the Mountaineers will have to find someone (or someones) to replace 106 receptions, 1,845 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns vacated by Gibson and Shorts.

Read Also: 2017 West Virginia projected depth chart

They have an ample stable of pass catchers that could do so. The offensive staff will continue to tinker with who lines up where until the combinations start to click, but whomever ends up taking charge of the starting jobs is in for a big season.

If I had to pick two candidates to lead the way, I’d go with senior Ka’Raun White and junior slot receiver Gary Jennings. The Mountaineers leading two receivers finished a hair shy of 2,000 total yards last season. If both these guys can catch 65 to 75 passes and keep a decent target share they’re almost locks to each pass the thousand yard mark in 2017.

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