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West Virginia football: 5 breakout candidates for 2021 season

By Phil Poling

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 31: Wide receiver Reese Smith #15 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs the ball for a two-point conversion in the second half against the Army Black Knights at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on December 31, 2020 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Mountaineers defeated the Black Knights 24-21. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 31: Wide receiver Reese Smith #15 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs the ball for a two-point conversion in the second half against the Army Black Knights at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on December 31, 2020 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Mountaineers defeated the Black Knights 24-21. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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It happens every single season, guys who were previously unknown or unheralded burst onto the scene and turn heads. Winston Wright and Akheem Mesidor did it last season for West Virginia. The former led the West Virginia football in catches and receiving yards, while the latter tallied a team-high in sacks. They both return for the 2021 season.

A lot can contribute to a player’s breakout campaign, though. For Wright, it happened out of need. The Mountaineers needed somebody, anybody, to step up and be a consistent threat in the passing game. Mesidor was an afterthought as a freshman with Dante and Darius Stills along the defensive line. However, he took advantage of every game rep and carved out a role for himself; he’ll start in 2021.

West Virginia head coach Neal Brown’s shown he’s not afraid to play young guys, and there’s plenty of youth on our list of breakout candidates. Before attacking it, though, here are a few honorable mention breakout candidates for the upcoming season that didn’t quite make the final cut.

  • Lance Dixon, Linebacker
  • Tony Mathis Jr., Running Back
  • Kaden Prather, Wide Receiver
  • Scottie Young Jr., Safety

Dixon is a Penn State transfer with multiple years of eligibility, but due to his offseason arrival, he might need more than just the spring and summer to get comfortable.

Mathis is a relief-runner for Leddie Brown, so his impact is a toss-up, but the potential is there. Prather, a true freshman, is 6-foot-4 and will provide major matchup issues if he’s able to see the field. Young is a former three-year starter at Arizona but played just two games last season after transferring. This group of players is extremely talented, but opportunity will likely dictate their impact.

The five breakout candidates we’ll (eventually) reveal and discuss all have one thing in common, though: they weren’t starters for West Virginia last year. In fact, two weren’t even Mountaineers yet. The other three have been with the West Virginia football program, but 2021 could be their opportunity for a breakout campaign. Are you ready for the future of West Virginia football?

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