This update comes courtesy of the fact that it’s Saturday in June more than anything else, but Dana Holgorsen has released WVU’s post-spring depth chart -- his first move as the new head coach of West Virginia that doesn’t involve him plummeting toward the Earth.
And there a couple of surprises that support Holgorsen’s previous claims that “all positions are up for grabs”.
Redshirt junior walk-on Ryan Nehlen -- the grandson of former WVU coach Don Nehlen -- has been listed as the starting (Z) receiver. Nehlen’s backup is senior Brad Starks, who suffered a shoulder injury during spring drills. Once Starks recovers from his injury, that order could obviously change.
Freshman running back Vernard Roberts, an early enrollee out of high school, has been listed as the starter at the “A-Back” spot over returning backs Trey Johnson and Daquan Hargrett. Sophomore running back Ryan Clarke is listed as third on the depth chart at the “B-Back” position. Clarke ran for nearly 300 yards and eight touchdowns for WVU last season, but had trouble holding on to the ball (kind of important).
Redshirt freshman Quinton Spain has been penciled in as the starter at right tackle for an offensive line that has truly been offensive the past couple of seasons.
One position that stayed the same is quarterback; returning starer Geno Smith is clearly the guy for the Mountaineers this fall.
Holgorsen, like practically every coach who is new to a program, came in to West Virginia claiming all spots on the offense were open t0 competition. That’s due in part because Holgorsen doesn’t have any allegiance to anyone on the offense, although there’s a little bit of motivation thrown in to the “all jobs open” philosophy, too.
Either way, Holgorsen is at least partially true to his words.
Living proof: receiver Ivan McCartney, a four-star prospect who was highly recruited out of high school, has been listed as third on the depth chart behind Nehlen and Starks.
