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Neal Brown reveals depth chart ahead of Saturday’s game against James Madison

The Mountaineer head coach released the two-deep earlier this morning, and there are a few key takeaways.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 06 Kansas at West Virginia Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

West Virginia head coach Neal Brown released the first official depth chart of the 2019 season earlier today and, while a lot of it looks similar to what was released to the media during Big 12 Media Days in July, there are a few things that stick out as interesting.

  • TJ Simmons moves inside to the slot receiver position, and Temple transfer Sean Ryan takes his previous spot as the starter in the X receiver role. Brown noted that Ryan maintained that spot as the starter through fall camp, despite his eligibility resting in the hands of the NCAA.
  • Redshirt freshman Mike O’Laughlin moves up from third string to starter. Jovani Haskins was previously listed as the starter, but has been dealing with a minor injury through fall camp.
  • Four of the five roles on the offensive line have been locked down with a starter, but the right guard spot is still a toss-up between Chase Behrndt and JUCO transfer John Hughes.
  • At the defensive end position, we have a trio of Jeffrey Pooler, Taijh Alston and Michigan transfer Reuben Jones. We’re likely to see all three cycle through that position in a situational basis.
  • JUCO transfer cornerback Dreshun Miller is absent from the depth chart and will not be available to play against the Dukes on Saturday due to an injury. Backing up veterans Hakeem Bailey and Keith Washington will be true freshmen Nicktroy Fortune and Tae Mayo.
  • As expected, LSU transfer Josh Growden will serve as the starting punter for the Mountaineers in 2019, and will also serve as the holder on field goal attempts.

West Virginia Depth Chart - 2019 Week One

Position First String Second String Third String
Position First String Second String Third String
QB Austin Kendall Jack Allison Trey Lowe
RB Kennedy McKoy Martell Pettaway Leddie Brown OR Alec Sinkfield
FB Logan Thimons Jackson Knipper
LT Colton McKivitz Junior Uzebu
LG Michael Brown James Gmiter
C Josh Sills Briason Mays OR Adam Stilley
RG John Hughes OR Chase Behrndt Briason Mays
RT Kelby Wickline Tyler Thurmond
WR (X) Sean Ryan Bryce Wheaton
WR (H) Tevin Bush
TE (Y) Mike O'Laughlin Jovani Haskins OR T.J. Banks
SL T.J. Simmons Randy Fields Jr.
WR (Z) Sam James George Campbell
DT Reese Donahue Dante Stills Stone Wolfley
NT Darius Stills Brenon Thrift Jordan Jefferson
DE Jeffery Pooler Jr. OR Taijh Alston OR Reuben Jones
BANDIT Quondarius Qualls Zach Sandwisch Jared Bartlett
WLB Josh Chandler Exree Loe Damonte Lindsay
MLB Dylan Tonkery Jake Abbott OR Shea Campbell
SPEAR JoVanni Stewart Kwantel Raines OR Dante Bonamico
LCB Hakeem Bailey Tae Mayo Devan Wade
FS Josh Norwood Kerry Martin Jr.
CS Sean Mahone Tykee Smith Noah Guzman
RCB Keith Washington Jr. Nicktroy Fortune
PK Evan Staley Casey Legg
H Josh Growden Trey Lowe
KO Evan Staley Casey Legg
P Josh Growden Kolton McGhee
LS Rex Sunahara Kyle Poland
PR Alec Sinkfield
KOR Sam James Keith Washington Jr. Kennedy McKoy