Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
After pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the college football season (a win over the #11 Oklahoma State Cowboys), our Mountaineers head to Waco to take on the Baylor Bears. And no, ladies and gentlemen, the Mountaineers will not have that high flying offense they showed off last year against the Bears, in a 70-63 ‘Eer win.
Baylor, on the other hand, now has built was is being called the nation’s best offense. 3 players stick out in my mind when I think about Baylor’s offense.
Quarterback Bryce Petty: Only the most underrated quarterback in these blessed United States of America. Petty is now the monarch of Waco, the third star quarterback in 3 years at Baylor. Although his stats are inflated due to weak competition, they are nonetheless insane.
| Opponent |
PassingRateRushingWofford (W 69-3)19-of-24, 312 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT215.93 car, 3 ydsBuffalo (W 70-13)13-of-16, 338 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT300.02 car, 8 ydsLouisiana-Monroe (W 70-7)18-of-27, 351 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT224.85 car, 26 ydsTOTALS:50-of-67, 1,001 yds, 8 TD, 0 INT246.910 car, 37 yds
Yeah. He’s the real deal. West Virginia’s stout defense will be his first major test, however, and it will be intriguing to see the results.
Running Back Lache Seastruck: The former Oregon Duck has a legitimate Heisman trophy campaign going on. Touted as the new best back in the country Seastrunk has 417 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns on the season in three games. Once again, he will be tested against WVU’s stout run defense.
Wide Receiver Tevin Reese: The third cog in the Baylor triumvirate offense may be the biggest NFL prospect. Reese has big play potential seeping out of his veins, shown by his stats through the first three games. Reese has had longs of 44, 61, and 47 for each game in order. Be monitoring how many receptions Reese gets in this game.
Now for the defense. The corp has given up 23 points total through 3 games (!!!). Although that may show more about the weakness of their opponents then the defense itself, there is no question there are some great players making tackles on the field. 3 stand out to me as the leaders, especially their star safeties.
Safety Ahmad Dixon: Although he is categorized by some as a goon (he was arrested recently for misdemeanor assault), he is rated as one of the best safeties in the nation, and a top NFL prospect. Dixon is a beast, and is a workhorse in the gym, so his potential is through the roof. However, there are certain holes in his game, especially when it comes to tackling. He is strong and can make an impact hit, but he lunges far too much and relies on shoulder bombs too often. For Saturday night, he will have to be at his best to stop WVU’s strong running game, with Charles Sims and Co. already having an impressive season.
Safety Sam Holl: Holl has been impressing many to start this season, showcasing his excellent range, and his ability as a strong tackler. He has 2.5 sacks through 3 games on the season. Holl and Dixon switched sides at safety earlier this year, and that switch has really helped both reach their fullest potential.
Linebacker Bryce Hager: The middle linebacker led the Big 12 in tackles last year, with a whopping 124 tackles. Hager is lightning quick for a linebacker, and has big play potential. Undervalued in some mock drafts as an NFL prospect, this is Hager’s junior year. Hager has 22 tackles so far on the 2013 season.
Although Baylor is obviously a great team, there are chinks in their armor, and we hope our Mountaineers will be able to take advantage of them.