WVU Football’s fall camp begins Wednesday, but few points are cause for uncertainty.
After posting a 9-4 season in 2023 including a 6-3 Big 12 record and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory over North Carolina, the Mountaineers starting on the field against Penn State on August 31 will be largely the same as last year’s. As such, the group is expected to pick up right where it left off.
Time has run its course for center Zach Frazier and cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., who are looking to start professional careers with the Pittsburgh Steelers this fall, but the remainder of the roster is largely in tact.
Current projections for WVU’s depth chart have just three newcomers taking starting roles, those being junior transfers Jaden Bray from Oklahoma State at wide receiver and Ayden Garnes from Duquesne at left cornerback and senior Northwestern transfer Garnett Hollis Jr. at right cornerback.
Those three additions in particular add a great deal of speed, energy, and awareness, while others, such as T.J. Jackson, the top-graded Big 12 defensive tackle by PFF College, provide veteran experience, size, and versatility necessary for a more polished team. As for the program’s expectations, though, the reasons for most fans hope ends with the new additions and starts with what is sticking around.
Head coach Neal Brown, who has been on and off the hot seat several times in his last five seasons at the Mountaineers’ helm, has been trusted for the long-term, as he was signed this offseason through 2027. Brown and his coaching staff have earned high praise from WVU players over the past year, and with a clear team identity established, that coaching makes WVU appear to be more of a winning program than ever before.
One tweak to that identity that will be debuted this year is the new uniform approach to the defensive secondary. Rather than hiring individual coaches for safeties and cornerbacks, WVU opted to unite the two under new secondary coach ShaDon Brown, who has been with the Mountaineers since 2021 and has been a specified coach for both positions across a 22-year career.
Buying into WVU’s approach is a slew of returning players, which, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, includes veterans with up to six years of experience in the program.
Three returners are on the watch list for major positional awards this season, those being offensive tackle Wyatt Milum, who is bidding for the Outland Trophy, long snapper Austin Brinkman for the Patrick Mannelly Award, and quarterback Garrett Greene, who made the watch list for the Maxwell Award, awarded to the best all-around player in college football.
After Zach Frazier’s second round selection in this year’s NFL Draft, Milum is making headlines as someone who may go even higher, projected to go as early as the first round. Milum will be staying put at offensive tackle as sixth-year senior Brandon Yates takes over Frazier’s position as the leader of the offensive line.
Greene, along with 2023 Freshman All-American running back Jahiem White, will be making use of those offensive linemen, who are looking to make their line the best in WVU history in 2024.
Garrett Greene, who will be in the running to cement himself among the greatest quarterbacks in WVU history this season, demonstrated a lot of growth, maturity, and versatility this offseason in workouts at the Manning Passing Academy and at Big 12 Media Days. Greene was one of the largest rushing threats from the quarterback position in 2023.
With familiar faces and a polished look at the forefront, WVU’s football team will be full speed ahead starting Wednesday at fall camp. The Mountaineers will debut at home on Aug. 31 against Penn State.
