The West Virginia offense has gotten off to an efficient start to the 2022 season, averaging 42.8 points per game across four games.
While a lot of that success can be accredited to stars such as JT Daniels, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, and CJ Donaldson, nothing could get done without the men in the trenches.
The WVU offensive line is big and experienced, featuring center Zach Frazier, guards James Gmiter and Doug Nester, and tackles Wyatt Milum and Brandon Yates. Also, in the rotation on the line is Ja’Quay Hubbard and Jordan White, who is coming off an injury.
Three of the five lineman stem from West Virginia roots, with Frazier coming from Fairmont Senior High School and Nester and Milum coming from Spring Valley High School.
Gmiter and Frazier lead the way for the Mountaineers, as the two have combined for 51 starts over the years. Nester also brings a level of experience to the table, as he has played three seasons at the Power 5 level, with two of those being at Virginia Tech. Milum and Yates have also seen action for the Mountaineers coming into the 2022 season, so nobody is unfamiliar with the system.
On Tuesday, Gmiter spoke on the trust these linemen have in each other
“We all know the calls and know what we should do on the play,” Gmiter said. “We trust each other. We don’t have to communicate as much as much, so we can locate the defense faster.”
Part of locating the defense early for the offensive line includes picking up blitzes to protect quarterback JT Daniels in the passing game.
Through four games, the Mountaineer offensive line has allowed just five sacks through four games, compared to eight sacks in the first four games last season.
With the help from the men in the trenches, Daniels has had time to convert 56 first downs through the air alone and throw nine touchdowns.
“I think across the board, pass protection has been good,” Gmiter said. “The biggest key for that is staying square.
Gmiter also gave some insight on how the line prepared and succeeded in WVU’s 33-10 victory over Virginia Tech last Thursday.
“We really focused last week on tendencies they (Virginia Tech) had, and they gave away a lot of their stuff,” Gmiter said. “We spent the whole week game-planning it and picking up on those tendencies. A lot of that came to play during the game.”
Along with protecting JT Daniels in the passing game, the offensive line has been opening up holes for the running backs.
The Mountaineers are averaging 217.5 yards per game on the ground so far, and the trio of CJ Donaldson, Tony Mathis, and Justin Johnson Jr. have combined for 11 touchdowns in four games.
“Having the change of pace is really nice because we rush for 218 (yards) a game, they’re (the defense) going to fill the box and that opens up the deep pass, so there’s a lot more options there,” Gmiter said.
While players like Daniels, Ford-Wheaton, and Donaldson may make the most eye-catching plays, watch for the men up front and see who opens up these gaps as the season progresses.
Photo by Dale Sparks, All Pro Photography
