West Virginia Football: 5 players to watch this Spring

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Marcus Simms #8 of the West Virginia Mountaineers waits to return a punt against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated West Virginia 59-31. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

The main focus of the running game for the Mountaineers falls on rising junior Kennedy McKoy this season. But, rising sophomore Martell Pettaway might be the biggest key to success for a balanced West Virginia offense in 2018.

Not too much of the offense can fall on the shoulders of McKoy this year. That’s what happened to Crawford and he suffered down the stretch, ultimately sitting out of their Heart of Dallas Bowl matchup against the Utah Utes.

Pettaway totaled just 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the third leading rusher behind McKoy and Crawford. His yards per carry, at 3.5, needs a boost at least above four. A bigger emphasis at key points of games could give him more confidence.

McKoy and Pettaway are the only two West Virginia running backs coming back to Morgantown with any sort of experience. Pettaway could be a great change of pace back as a shorter and more slippery rusher potentially than McKoy.

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