West Virginia Football: 5 most underrated Mountaineers in 2021
By Phil Poling
Left tackle. Sophomore. Brandon Yates. 50. 877. Pick Analysis. player. Scouting Report
Brandon Yates is another Mountaineer lineman people are overlooking and underrating. He took over for Junior Uzebu at left tackle early last season and isn’t expected to relinquish the starting job any time soon. With sophomores Yates and Zach Frazier as staples along the offensive line, there’s no telling where the Mountaineer offense can go.
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Before getting too far ahead of ourselves, though, Yates played with the consistency you’d expect from a freshman offensive lineman in 2020. He was on more of an island at left tackle than a young guard or center would be, but he did enough during the season to keep the job and maintain it through the spring.
At 6-foot-4 and 297 pounds, Yates is a bit light for an offensive tackle. This should help him in containing edge rushers, especially since Neal Brown enjoyed spreading out his skill position players forcing lineman into plenty of 1-on-1 situations.