West Virginia Football: 5 takeaways from 2017 regular season

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MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 04: Will Grier #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers takes the field against the Iowa State Cyclones at Mountaineer Field on November 04, 2017 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

2. Will Grier was worth all the hype

The two most hyped transfer quarterbacks, by far, entering the 2017 campaign were Grier and Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Grier’s arm strength and underrated athleticism allowed him to fit with the West Virginia offensive scheme perfectly.

He helped Mountaineers fans forget about the departure of an experienced former starting quarterback in Skyler Howard very quick. And, Grier’s stat line show what he was really able to do in his first season with this program.

Even while missing the bulk of the final two games of the regular season, Grier totaled 36 touchdowns and amassed nearly 3,500 passing yards. If the interception numbers drop next year, he could be the nation’s most efficient quarterback.

Getting Grier back for the bowl game would be a huge swing in West Virginia’s chances to overcome Utah. Backup quarterback Chris Chugunov was thrown into the fire and has not gotten into a good grove yet. Grier could also be a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2018.

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