West Virginia football: 3 breakout candidates for Mountaineers in 2020

It’s been a number of years since the Mountaineers have had a truly dominant player at the running back position, but all that could change in 2020. Tony Mathis Jr., the redshirt freshman out of Cedartown, Ga., has the potential to fill that void.

As a recruit, 247Sports rated Mathis as a three-star prospect, but he still managed to collect 17 scholarship offers. Those offers accumulated over the course of his junior and senior seasons, as Mathis combined for over 2,000 rushing yards and 50 total touchdowns. He ultimately picked West Virginia over Iowa State, Louisville, Purdue and Wake Forest, among others.

During his true freshman campaign with West Virginia, Mathis saw action in just four games, retaining the year of eligibility. He carried the ball four times totaling 14 yards, while also making three catches for 16 yards and a score against Texas Tech.

This versatility will be welcomed in the Mountaineers’ backfield, but it’ll be interesting to see how Neal Brown weaves Mathis into the fold. With his potential, though, it’ll be hard not finding a role for him. Expect to see him on the field when the season resumes.