West Virginia football: 5 breakout players to watch in 2018
By Phil Poling
“Kennedy McKoy?!” you say. “Hasn’t he played the last two seasons?” You’re absolutely right, but he’s never been the feature back of a Dana Holgorsen rushing attack. Justin Crawford led the Mountaineers in carries and yards last season, while Crawford, Rushel Shell and quarterback Skyler Howard received the bulk of the carries in 2016.
This season will be different for McKoy, though. With Crawford’s departure, he now becomes the No. 1 option out of the backfield. He’s recorded double-digit carries in eight of his 23 career games, so he’s no stranger to being a workhorse, but the Mountaineers will likely use a combination of others to spell the junior.
McKoy fits in perfectly with what West Virginia wants to do offensively, too. He’s got enough speed to break off the long runs, but his physicality on contact is unmatched. He’s not afraid to pass protect either, an absolute necessity for a running back who plays for Holgorsen.
Check out this video from McKoy’s freshman season. All he does is catch a check-down swing pass, break a tackle and gain 8 yards, but the crowd goes wild, his teammates are visibly amped. To quote the commentator, “This is how you earn your stripes as a freshman running back!” Many knew McKoy would be a good player, but in 2018, he’ll blossom into a star.