West Virginia Football: 5 post-spring bold predictions for 2019 season
By Phil Poling
1. Defensive front will set tone for the season
The Mountaineers aren’t expected to field a top defensive front in 2019, but are they being underestimated? Vic Koenning’s defenses at Troy (2016-2018) allowed only 20.8 points-per-game (fourth among non-Power Five schools), and their ability to get after the passer is well-documented. Their three sacks-per-game ranked tenth in the FBS, tying Alabama and just edging out schools like Ohio State and Texas A&M.
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This track record of scheming pass rushers free should excite Mountaineer fans, especially with Dante and Darius Stills yearning for the spotlight. The brothers are well known among WVU football fans, but with an inspiring start this fall could become the most renowned siblings in all of college football.
Former JuCo players Taijh Alston and Quondarius Qualls also pose a threat rushing the passer, but Stone Wolfley emerged during the spring and looks to take advantage of the opportunity as a senior. He recorded two sacks in the Gold-Blue Spring Game and was a constant headache throughout the contest.
This is a deep position group, though, with Reese Donahue, Exree Loe, Jeffery Pooler, Jr., and Brenon Thrift all expected to get an opportunity to get after the quarterback. And in a conference like the Big 12, depth will go a long way in surviving down the stretch.
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The running backs are the deepest, most-talented position group for West Virginia. The secondary ranks just behind them, evidenced by No. 5 on our list. But the defensive line will dictate the early success — or lack thereof — by the 2019 WVU football team. If this unit is able to play in the backfield and wreak havoc, it’ll make things a whole lot easier for the rest of the program.