West Virginia Football: 3 ways to improve from 2017

The offensive prowess of West Virginia football head coach Dana Holgorsen should put the Mountaineers in the national picture come the 2018 season.

West Virginia football took a decline in the production that the Mountaineers saw in 2016. Head coach Dana Holgorsen had his best individual result, since West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, with 10 wins in 2016. However, a few key injuries caused the Mountaineers to finish up with seven wins in 2017.

The injury to star quarterback Will Grier was a tough one to deal with for the Mountaineers offense, causing the Heart of Dallas Bowl loss to the Utah Utes, out of the PAC-12. Backup quarterback Chris Chugunov does not measure up to the production level that Grier provides.

All in all, West Virginia still had a successful 2017 campaign. The Mountaineers went bowling for the fourth consecutive season. And, West Virginia enters 2018 with a bright future ahead, depending on how long Grier decides to stay with the program.

There are some key areas where West Virginia has to replace departing starters. Notably, running back Justin Crawford, wide receiver Ka’Raun White, linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton, and safety Kyzir White, all run out of eligibility. The secondary has the most losses to replace.

West Virginia promises to be a contender to win the Big 12 in 2018. The top three teams from 2017, the Oklahoma Sooners, TCU Horned Frogs, and Oklahoma State Cowboys, all lose key quarterbacks that will be tough to replace. Baker Mayfield, Kenny Hill, and Mason Rudolph were three of the most productive and successful quarterbacks in the conference.

Here’s three ways the West Virginia Mountaineers can improve from 2017, entering 2018.