:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61044715/usa_today_10964820.0.jpg)
West Virginia Depth Chart - Week One vs Tennessee
| Position | First String | Second String | Third String |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position | First String | Second String | Third String |
| QB | Will Grier | Jack Allison | Trey Lowe |
| RB | Kennedy McKoy or Martell Pettaway or Alec Sinkfield or Leddie Brown | ||
| FB | Logan Thimons | Elijah Drummond | |
| LT | Yodny Cajuste | Kelby Wickline | |
| LG | Josh Sills | Michael Brown | |
| C | Jacob Buccigrossi or Matt Jones | ||
| RG | Joe Brown or Isaiah Hardy | ||
| RT | Colton McKivitz | Chase Behrndt | |
| WR (X) | Marcus Simms | Dominique Maiden | |
| WR (Y) | Gary Jennings | William Crest Jr | |
| WR (Z) | David Sills | TJ Simmons | - |
| TE (H) | Trevon Wesco | Jovani Haskins | |
| DE | Ezekiel Rose or Reese Donahue | ||
| NT | Kenny Bigelow | Darius Stills | |
| DE | Jabril Robinson | Dante Stills | |
| SAM | Charlie Benton | Shea Campbell | |
| MIKE | Dylan Tonkery | Adam Hensley | |
| WILL | David Long | Josh Chandler | |
| LCB | Hakeem Bailey | Keith Washington | |
| RCB | Derrek Pitts or Josh Norwood | ||
| SPUR | Dravon Askew-Henry | Deamonte Lindsay | |
| BS | Toyous Avery | JoVanni Stewart | |
| FS | Kenny Robinson | Sean Mahone | |
| K | Evan Staley | Luke Hogan | |
| P | Billy Kinney | Evan Staley | |
| LS | Rex Sunahara | Kyle Poland | |
| H | Billy Kinney | Luke Hogan | |
| KO | Evan Staley | Skyler Simcox | |
| PR | Marcus Simms | David Sills | |
| KOR | Marcus Simms | Gary Jennings |
Just ahead of game week, the West Virginia Mountaineers have released their first official depth chart of the 2018 season. While a depth chart was released in the spring, Dana Holgorsen and the staff readily admit it is a “work-in-progress”.
Not one to play games at quarterback, Will Grier will obviously start at quarterback. Jack Allison by all accounts coming out of camp won the backup job and based on reports looks like a different player than the one who struggled to outplay Chris Chugunov, if internet rumors are to be believed, if Allison were eligible last year.
At running back, however, WVU has a four-headed monster in junior Kennedy McKoy and Martell Pettaway but also redshirt freshman Alec Sinkfield and true freshman Leddie Brown look like they will get touches.
No surprises at receiver as David Sills, Gary Jennings and Marcus Simms get the start. Expect TJ Simmons to be used often though. Apparently we also have two tight ends on the roster according to the depth chart. Rumors have it we might throw to them too.
It looks like the competition between Jacob Buccigrossi and Matt Jones will continue for the starting center spot. Reports out of camp had Buccigrossi with the lead but Jones was the starter last year.
There are less surprises on the defense other than the line. Ezekiel Rose, who supplemented Adam Shuler late in the season last year will rotate with Reese Donahue at one end spot while former Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Jabril Robinson will man the other end spot. Newcomer and former USC Trojan Kenney Bigelow, a former five-star prospect, will look to anchor the nose in Gibson’s 3-3-5 stack defense.
The linebackers are as expected with David Long as the WILL, Tonkery as the MIKE and Charlie Benton as the SAM. Backup ‘backer Adam Hensley moves to the MIKE and while Josh Chandler will now backup David Long.
Former Ohio State Buckeyes corner Josh Norwood has had a strong fall camp and will push Derrick Pitts for the starting right corner spot while Hakeem Bailey will hold down the left corner. The starting back end trio will be Kenny Robinson, Dravon Askew-Henry and Toyous Avery.