West Virginia football: Studs and duds from the 2019 season
By Phil Poling
Stud No. 3: Sam James, Wide Receiver
Through the first couple games of the 2019 season, the Mountaineers’ offense looked like it had that typical big-play ability that the previous regime was known for, but it just wasn’t happening with consistency. The one thing that was working, though, was freshman wide receiver Sam James.
The 6-foot redshirt freshman was getting his first real taste of college football and was performing well. During West Virginia’s 3-1 start, James hauled in 26 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown as an integral part of the offense. He also got involved in the run game (eight carries) and the return game ((eight kick returns). And while this role might’ve come too soon, James grew into it. He dealt with drops all season, even visiting the program’s sports’ psychologist, but routinely was able to bounce back and make the next play.
James led the Mountaineers in both receptions (69) and receiving yards (677). He caught 32 more passes and racked up 208 more yard than his teammates at No. 2, respectively. He finished third on the team with just two receiving touchdowns, though, something he’ll undoubtedly improve on in the future. As the focal point for both the offense and opposing defense, this is a solid season to build on as a freshman. Nobody has a higher ceiling on the WVU football team than James.
Stud No. 2: Dante Stills, Defensive Line
Many expected the defensive line for West Virginia to be improved from the 2018 season. Very few, if any, expected them to dominate the line of scrimmage in 2019, though. The numbers wouldn’t speak to their dominance, but those factor in the ineptitude of the offense. Place a competent unit on that side of the ball, and the 2019 WVU defense plays their way into a nice bowl game.
Dante Stills, a sophomore from Fairmont, paced the Mountaineers with team-highs in tackles-for-loss (14) and sacks (8). This production freed teammates up to get in on the action, too, but it was Stills who stood out.
At 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, Stills certainly has NFL-size. With another (or a couple, for you WVU dreamers), year(s) of production for the Mountaineers, Stills could play himself into the early rounds of the NFL Draft. NFL defenses love size, but coupled with the pass rush get-off Stills’ displayed as a sophomore? At the very least, Stills should dominate again in the Big 12 in 2020 and improve upon his All-Big 12 second-team honor.