Hail WV
Fansided

5 Storylines To Watch For the 2017 WVU Football Team

By Phil Poling

Nov 7, 2015; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Jovon Durante catches a pass before going out of bounds during the first quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Jovon Durante catches a pass before going out of bounds during the first quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Oct 25, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers safety Dravon Henry (6) runs in an interception for a touchdown against Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. West Virginia won 34-10. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers safety Dravon Henry (6) runs in an interception for a touchdown against Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. West Virginia won 34-10. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

Returning Players

Just like in 2015 when the Mountaineers lost Karl Joseph to injury, 2016 began with Dravon Askew-Henry going down with an ACL tear. Expecting to be the glue for a team that lost 20 seniors, Askew-Henry was also the returning leading-tackler. With No. 6 flying around in deep center field next season, expect the play of those around him to rise, Kyzir White in particular. White’s first year for WVU was exciting from a fan perspective, but will dramatically improve with the help of Askew-Henry behind him. Having a player back you up with 26 career starts is a good feeling, and White will end up playing more freely because of it.

Brendan Ferns, one of the teams biggest recruits in 2016, tore his ACL prior to the season and missed the whole year as well. Before the injury, Ferns was making strides as a true freshman and garnering second-team snaps on defense. Ferns was Ohio’s Division IV Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and still has four years of eligibility left, redshirting after his injury.

Running back Kennedy McKoy will surely make an impact in his sophomore season for West Virginia, but fellow classmate Martell Pettaway could discover a bigger role within the backfield for an offense undergoing transition.

Graduation and injuries play a big part in any program’s success, but was especially important this past year for WVU. Besides losing Askew-Henry and Ferns, WVU lost their staple at left tackle to injury, Yodny Cajuste. Cajuste started six games as a freshman in 2015 before getting hurt, and was hoping for a breakout year in 2016. With his return, and another year of experience for players like Marcell Lazard and Elijah Wellman, the Mountaineers have a solid core of veteran players to build around.

Home/West Virginia Mountaineers