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West Virginia Football: Top 5 spring 2022 breakout candidates

By Daniel Walsh

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 31: Sam James #13 of the West Virginia Mountaineers signals first down during a game against 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: Sam James #13 of the West Virginia Mountaineers signals first down during a game against 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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COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 07: Wide receiver Sam James #13 of the West Virginia Mountaineers in action against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019, in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 07: Wide receiver Sam James #13 of the West Virginia Mountaineers in action against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019, in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

5. Sam James

Sam James is the player that instantly comes to mind when thinking of one to have a breakout season. Or at least he comes to my mind. Austin Kendall, Jack Allison (kind of), Jarret Doege, and a tiny bit of Garrett Greene. Those are the quarterbacks that James has run routes for since coming to West Virginia, and all of them are lackluster at best. But despite all of the inconsistency and poor play from his signal-callers, James has put together some solid seasons.

During James’ first full season in 2019, he hauled in 69 receptions for 677 yards, and two touchdowns. James was the clear-cut WR1 for the Mountaineers in 2019 and was looking to take another leap in 2020. Well, that didn’t happen (in part to a shortened COVID season). Then last year, he still wasn’t to make an impact like he did in 2019, yet James set a career-high in touchdowns with 5.

Enter WVU’s new offensive coordinator, Graham Harrell. Neal Brown relinquished his play-calling duties and brought in a guy who knows how to run an offense. An explosive, air-raid offense. A possession receiver who can be moved around the field like James should only flourish and thrive in this new system. And dare I say breakout?

This season I’m putting all my belief in James not only to get back to the production he saw in 2019 but take a step beyond that to become a receiver the rest of the country notices. It doesn’t hurt that he’ll have someone experienced like J.T. Daniels throwing him the ball.

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