MORGANTOWN- This preview feature has been fun and has also made time go really, really fast.
We are officially in Mountaineer game week when WVU takes the field against Robert Morris this Saturday at 2:00 PM at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown.
So, with that being said, the linebackers preview–that’s this one– and the defensive backfield and special teams previews will be short, sweet, and to the point.
Right now, the biggest concern with the linebacking corps among the fans, maybe not necessarily the coaches, is, “can they run and are they fast enough?”
The exact position each linebacker will play is still anyone’s guess as well, but the Mountaineers do have options. The biggest thing for the linebackers will be communication amongst a bunch of new players that have never played together and the speed in which they do it.
Short and sweet, see?
Here is what the majority of projected depth charts look like when listing the linebackers with their stats from the 2024 season:
Bandit:
Braden Siders- transfer from Wyoming- 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks
Curtis Jones, Jr.- 1 tackle at WVU in 2024
MarShon Oxley- 2024 JUCO all-American, 2023 played at Colorado State- 26 tackles, 4 sacks, 5.5 TFL
Mike:
Chase Wilson- transfer from Colorado State- 98 tackles, 3 TFL
Reid Carrico- at WVU in 2024- 54 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 4 QB hurries
Ben Cutter- at WVU in 2024- 39 tackles
Will:
John Lewis- transfer from Mississippi State- 21 tackles
Ben Bogle- transfer from Southern Illinois (FCS)- 87 tackles, 16.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks
Ashton Woods- transfer from North Carolina- redshirted in 2024
On paper, this a solid looking group. If Chase Wilson and Braden Siders can be productive and lead the group, the younger players, plus guys like Carrico and Cutter, can come along nicely. The coaching staff likes their LB unit. Now, it’s just about proving it on the field.
