MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) 鈥 West Virginia University football coach Neal Brown has named current assistant coach Chad Scott as the program鈥檚 new offensive coordinator.

鈥淐had knows what our strengths are, and he has earned this opportunity. I have coached with him for 13 years, and I trust him and the positive energy he brings every day to our team,鈥 Brown said. 鈥淐oach Scott has been a part of elite offenses in the past at Troy, Texas Tech and North Carolina and that experience has prepared him for this leadership role. The fact that he has built strong relationships with our players and is a tremendous teacher of the game will have a positive effect on our entire offensive unit.鈥

Scott is set to enter his fifth season on Brown鈥檚 coaching staff at West Virginia, coaching the running backs in the four previous years. Additionally, Scott was the co-offensive coordinator for his first three years at West Virginia before serving as the run game coordinator in 2022. Scott will continue to lead the running backs in addition to his new duties as offensive coordinator.

Under Scott, West Virginia鈥檚 running game averaged 171.5 yards per game in 2022 as he built a unit strong of depth and consistency. Running backs Tony Mathis, Justin Johnson, CJ Donaldson and Jaylen Anderson combined for 1,793 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Mountaineers have had a 1,000-yard rusher twice in Scott鈥檚 four years as position coach.

鈥淚 appreciate Coach Brown鈥檚 confidence in me to take this next step in my coaching career and become the offensive coordinator of the Mountaineers,鈥 Scott said. 鈥淲e have a strong nucleus returning, and we know what we need to do to be successful on offense. It鈥檚 time to get to work.鈥

Prior to 成品人视频, Scott worked with Brown during three different coaching tenures: Kentucky (RB/2013-14), Texas Tech (RB/2010-12) and Troy (RB/2007-09). He also was a teammate with Neal Brown at Kentucky. He came to Morgantown after serving as the tight ends and hybrids coach at North Carolina from 2016-18.

Scott will enter his 18th season as a collegiate coach that has included stops at Troy, Texas Tech, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville and West Virginia. He also spent time in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.

A native of Plant City, Florida, Scott began his collegiate playing career at Kentucky before transferring to North Carolina, where he lettered in 2003 and 2005. He earned first-team All-ACC honors from ESPN.com after rushing for 796 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior, which including a career-high 175 yards and two touchdowns in a Tar Heel victory over No. 4 Miami.

He graduated from UNC in 2004 with a degree in sociology. He is married to the former Brica Jones and the couple have a daughter, Kori, and a son, Jakobe.

In the end, the babies helped them finish strong.

With the Mountaineers trying to close out to their 2022 football season on a positive note, they turned to redshirt freshman running back Jaylen Anderson and true freshman quarterback Nicco Marchiol.

The youngsters helped deliver West Virginia a 24-19 victory at Oklahoma State Saturday, snapping 成品人视频鈥檚 seven-game losing streak to the Cowboys.

Anderson did much of the major damage for the Mountaineers, rushing for a career-best 155 yards on 15 carries. The 5-foot-11, 214-pound back from Perry, Ohio, broke off two long touchdown runs in the third quarter 鈥 a 54-yarder and a 57-yarder 鈥 to give West Virginia a lead it would not relinquish against the Pokes.

鈥淭heir interior is very good, but I just found a little hole and was able to pop through and was able to take it to the house,鈥 explained Anderson.

His longest run at 成品人视频 prior to his explosions in Stillwater had been a 23-yarder last week against Kansas State. He more than doubled that not once but twice against OSU, as after he creased the Cowboy defensive front, he had nothing but green turf in front of him.

鈥淚鈥檝e been waiting to see that for a long time, so it was a dream come true,鈥 beamed the running back of getting so much daylight.

Anderson wasn鈥檛 the only happy Mountaineer to see him break free. In fact, Marchiol seemed more thrilled than Jaylen.

鈥淚 was just out of breath,鈥 chuckled Anderson about his excitement level after scoring.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 my guy,鈥 Marchiol added of Anderson. 鈥淲e spent a lot of time together this season in what we call developmental lifts and developmental practices. We spent a lot of time together after practice, as well, putting work in. It showed; what鈥檚 done in the shadows comes out when it matters.

鈥淚鈥檓 so happy that Jaylen got his chance, and he performed once he got that chance.鈥

Anderson hadn鈥檛 gotten many chances since he arrived at West Virginia in the fall of 2021. A four-star prospect coming out of Perry (Ohio) High School, he didn鈥檛 get enrolled at 成品人视频 until later than his other classmates, so he redshirted last year. Then to start 2022, he was fourth on the Mountaineer running back list behind Tony Mathis, C.J. Donaldson and Justin Johnson. Each of those three performed well 鈥 Mathis had two 100-yard games, including a 163-yard performance this season against Baylor; Donaldson amassed four 100-yard efforts in seven games before being sidelined by a leg injury; and Johnson had totaled 419 yards on 95 carries 鈥 but the long campaign began to take its toll on West Virginia鈥檚 backfield depth.

Anderson saw limited time in the first two-thirds of the season (39 yards on eight carries), but without Donaldson and with Mathis and Johnson both battered and bruised, 成品人视频 turned to Anderson more and more as of late. He had four carries for 12 yards in the win over Oklahoma and then had a solid performance against K-State with 69 yards on seven attempts.

At Oklahoma State, it all came together for the young back.

鈥淢entally it was tough, seeing other guys in front of me,鈥 Anderson admitted. 鈥淭hose guys did do a good job of mentally keeping me above water. They told me my time would come, and they were the reason I was ready.鈥

He was definitely ready when called upon in Stillwater. He became the first Mountaineer in over a decade to break two runs of 50+ yards in the same game.

鈥淲e were running outside zone, so I was just looking for any hole, and I found the right ones,鈥 Anderson acknowledged.

It鈥檚 all been part of a learning process.

鈥淚 think I was a little sped up earlier in the year,鈥 he said. 鈥淐oach (Chad) Scott did a great job all year of telling me to stay ready. Everything slowed down for me, and I felt like I could take whatever the defense gave me.鈥

Marchiol, who enrolled at 成品人视频 last January, also had seen very little game action until Saturday. He had gotten in for a couple of series early in the year in a blowout win over Towson State, but he kept learning while watching from the sidelines throughout the fall.

He completed just two of nine passes for 29 yards against the Cowboys (7-5), but head coach Neal Brown praised him for the way he was able to manage West Virginia鈥檚 offense.

鈥淏eing a young guy coming into college football, things are moving a thousand times faster than high school,鈥 said the product of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. 鈥淏ut the more the weeks went along, I was able to process the game better. I could see how the speed of the game went. I also got to watch how the quarterbacks in front of me handled the different situations, the good and the bad, and that helped me get to this moment. I think it was good for me to sit back and spectate for a little bit, but I was glad to get my chance.鈥

Marchiol got his initial chance against Oklahoma State in the opening half, when coaches used him in the third series of the game. Because he hadn鈥檛 been used in more than four games this season, he able to play this week and still redshirt.

Marchiol took over controls at quarterback against OSU full-time early in the second half after starting QB Garrett Greene took a blow to the head and was forced to leave the contest.

鈥淚 just wanted to get the job done,鈥 said Marchiol of his mindset when he entered amidst a heavy rain with 成品人视频 trailing 10-7. 鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 ideal conditions for a quarterback, but whenever it matters, it matters.

鈥淚 knew I had to come in and get the job done and get the ball to the playmakers like Jaylen. He had a big night for us, and Bryce (Ford-Wheaton) had a big third-down catch.鈥

The Mountaineers completed 2022 with a 5-7 record, which is short of what they had hoped for, but they were able to finish strong down the stretch with victories over Oklahoma (23-20) and Oklahoma State.

鈥淪omething Coach (Neal) Brown preached to us all week was, 鈥楾hey always remember how you finish.鈥 That鈥檚 been a mentality I鈥檝e kept, as well,鈥 stated Marchiol. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what the conditions are, who is around you, all that matters is getting the job done and finishing strong.鈥

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. 鈥 In the end, the babies helped them finish strong.

With the Mountaineers trying to close out to their 2022 football season on a positive note, they turned to redshirt freshman running back Jaylen Anderson and true freshman quarterback Nicco Marchiol.

The youngsters helped deliver West Virginia a 24-19 victory at Oklahoma State Saturday, snapping 成品人视频鈥檚 seven-game losing streak to the Cowboys.

Anderson did much of the major damage for the Mountaineers, rushing for a career-best 155 yards on 15 carries. The 5-foot-11, 214-pound back from Perry, Ohio, broke off two long touchdown runs in the third quarter 鈥 a 54-yarder and a 57-yarder 鈥 to give West Virginia a lead it would not relinquish against the Pokes.

鈥淭heir interior is very good, but I just found a little hole and was able to pop through and was able to take it to the house,鈥 explained Anderson.

His longest run at 成品人视频 prior to his explosions in Stillwater had been a 23-yarder last week against Kansas State. He more than doubled that not once but twice against OSU, as after he creased the Cowboy defensive front, he had nothing but green turf in front of him.

鈥淚鈥檝e been waiting to see that for a long time, so it was a dream come true,鈥 beamed the running back of getting so much daylight.

Anderson wasn鈥檛 the only happy Mountaineer to see him break free. In fact, Marchiol seemed more thrilled than Jaylen.

鈥淚 was just out of breath,鈥 chuckled Anderson about his excitement level after scoring.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 my guy,鈥 Marchiol added of Anderson. 鈥淲e spent a lot of time together this season in what we call developmental lifts and developmental practices. We spent a lot of time together after practice, as well, putting work in. It showed; what鈥檚 done in the shadows comes out when it matters.

鈥淚鈥檓 so happy that Jaylen got his chance, and he performed once he got that chance.鈥

Anderson hadn鈥檛 gotten many chances since he arrived at West Virginia in the fall of 2021. A four-star prospect coming out of Perry (Ohio) High School, he didn鈥檛 get enrolled at 成品人视频 until later than his other classmates, so he redshirted last year. Then to start 2022, he was fourth on the Mountaineer running back list behind Tony Mathis, C.J. Donaldson and Justin Johnson. Each of those three performed well 鈥 Mathis had two 100-yard games, including a 163-yard performance this season against Baylor; Donaldson amassed four 100-yard efforts in seven games before being sidelined by a leg injury; and Johnson had totaled 419 yards on 95 carries 鈥 but the long campaign began to take its toll on West Virginia鈥檚 backfield depth.

Anderson saw limited time in the first two-thirds of the season (39 yards on eight carries), but without Donaldson and with Mathis and Johnson both battered and bruised, 成品人视频 turned to Anderson more and more as of late. He had four carries for 12 yards in the win over Oklahoma and then had a solid performance against K-State with 69 yards on seven attempts.

At Oklahoma State, it all came together for the young back.

鈥淢entally it was tough, seeing other guys in front of me,鈥 Anderson admitted. 鈥淭hose guys did do a good job of mentally keeping me above water. They told me my time would come, and they were the reason I was ready.鈥

He was definitely ready when called upon in Stillwater. He became the first Mountaineer in over a decade to break two runs of 50+ yards in the same game.

鈥淲e were running outside zone, so I was just looking for any hole, and I found the right ones,鈥 Anderson acknowledged.

It鈥檚 all been part of a learning process.

鈥淚 think I was a little sped up earlier in the year,鈥 he said. 鈥淐oach (Chad) Scott did a great job all year of telling me to stay ready. Everything slowed down for me, and I felt like I could take whatever the defense gave me.鈥

Marchiol, who enrolled at 成品人视频 last January, also had seen very little game action until Saturday. He had gotten in for a couple of series early in the year in a blowout win over Towson State, but he kept learning while watching from the sidelines throughout the fall.

He completed just two of nine passes for 29 yards against the Cowboys (7-5), but head coach Neal Brown praised him for the way he was able to manage West Virginia鈥檚 offense.

鈥淏eing a young guy coming into college football, things are moving a thousand times faster than high school,鈥 said the product of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. 鈥淏ut the more the weeks went along, I was able to process the game better. I could see how the speed of the game went. I also got to watch how the quarterbacks in front of me handled the different situations, the good and the bad, and that helped me get to this moment. I think it was good for me to sit back and spectate for a little bit, but I was glad to get my chance.鈥

Marchiol got his initial chance against Oklahoma State in the opening half, when coaches used him in the third series of the game. Because he hadn鈥檛 been used in more than four games this season, he able to play this week and still redshirt.

Marchiol took over controls at quarterback against OSU full-time early in the second half after starting QB Garrett Greene took a blow to the head and was forced to leave the contest.

鈥淚 just wanted to get the job done,鈥 said Marchiol of his mindset when he entered amidst a heavy rain with 成品人视频 trailing 10-7. 鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 ideal conditions for a quarterback, but whenever it matters, it matters.

鈥淚 knew I had to come in and get the job done and get the ball to the playmakers like Jaylen. He had a big night for us, and Bryce (Ford-Wheaton) had a big third-down catch.鈥

The Mountaineers completed 2022 with a 5-7 record, which is short of what they had hoped for, but they were able to finish strong down the stretch with victories over Oklahoma (23-20) and Oklahoma State.

鈥淪omething Coach (Neal) Brown preached to us all week was, 鈥楾hey always remember how you finish.鈥 That鈥檚 been a mentality I鈥檝e kept, as well,鈥 stated Marchiol. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what the conditions are, who is around you, all that matters is getting the job done and finishing strong.鈥

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. 鈥 West Virginia head football coach Neal Brown started his weekly press conference on Tuesday on an extremely sad note 鈥 Kim Gmiter, the mother of 成品人视频 offensive lineman James Gmiter, passed away suddenly on Sunday.

鈥淎ll Mountaineers will be thinking of James and his family and praying for them,鈥 said Brown.

The 52-year-old Kim (Beeson) Gmiter was a registered nurse, who lived with her husband in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

* * * * * *

Obviously, any other news from Mountaineer football pales in comparison to Kim Gmiter鈥檚 passing, but Brown did go into detail on 成品人视频鈥檚 increasing injury problems.

It starts with James Gmiter, who missed the past couple of games with an injury that will likely force him to sit out the rest of the season.

Freshman running back C.J. Donaldson will also miss the rest of the season after suffering a lower leg injury against TCU. He had surgery Monday to repair his injury.

Without Donaldson and other injuries to 成品人视频 ballcarriers, West Virginia鈥檚 running back room has become very thin. Tony Mathis, normally the starter, missed Saturday鈥檚 game, and his status for Iowa State is questionable. 鈥淭ony will be kind of a later-in-the-week decision,鈥 said Brown.

Backup running back Justin Johnson, who had 10 carries for 36 yards against Texas Christian, also is dealing with an injury. 鈥淛ustin played Saturday, though he was banged up and only practiced one day last week,鈥 explained Brown. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to practice this week with the hope of playing (at Iowa State).鈥

Redshirt freshman Jaylen Anderson, who finished with three carries for six yards against TCU in just his second career college game, will have to be ready to step up at running back, if necessary, said 成品人视频鈥檚 coach, and walk-on running back Markquan Rucker will also travel to Iowa State to provide additional depth in the backfield.

鈥淲e have to be creative as coaches, too, to create some carries,鈥 Brown said cryptically about the running back situation. 鈥淚t rolls on. Trust me, I wish we had C.J., Tony, all of them. We鈥檝e run the ball pretty well, but we鈥檝e also run it well regardless of who has been back there. So, if it鈥檚 Jaylen, J.J, Rucker, whoever it is, we鈥檝e got to block, they鈥檝e got to make the right read and then be able to break some tackles.鈥

Both of the Mountaineers鈥 top spear linebackers, Lance Dixon and Davis Mallinger, are also dealing with injuries. 鈥淒avis Mallinger will miss this week. How long he鈥檒l be out, I鈥檓 not sure,鈥 said Brown. 鈥淎s for Lance, there is a chance (he could play this week), but I鈥檇 say it鈥檚 very doubtful for Dixon.鈥 True freshman Raleigh Collins and walk-on Naim Muhammad got a bulk of the work this past Saturday after Mallinger鈥檚 injury.

There is some positive news for 成品人视频 on the injury front, though. Starting offensive guard Doug Nester is expected to return to action this week after missing the contest against Texas Christian.

Rashad Ajayi, who had been starting at cornerback for 成品人视频 until sitting out this past Saturday鈥檚 game with an injury, is on the mend as well. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to run today and practice tomorrow, so I would say he鈥檚 probable,鈥 explained Brown of Ajayi.

Freshmen defensive backs Jacolby Spells and Mumu Bin-Wahad both were unable to go against the Horned Frogs, but Brown called each 鈥減robable鈥 for this coming week.

Cornerback Charles Woods, who saw his most extensive action of the year this past Saturday, playing every defensive snap, after suffering an injury in the season opener, should be able to go against Iowa State as well. 鈥淚 thought he played well (against the Horned Frogs). If you ask him, he鈥檒l tell you he鈥檚 not 100%, but I thought he played really well,鈥 noted Brown of the senior cornerback. 鈥淧art of the reason we played better (defensively) in the second half is because we could do some things coverage-wise we hadn鈥檛 been able to do because we felt good about Charles in one-on-ones.鈥

* * * * * *

West Virginia is coming off a 41-31 loss to Texas Christian at Mountaineer Field.

成品人视频 had chances to pull off the upset of the No. 7 Horned Frogs (8-0), trailing by just one score throughout much of the contest until the final seconds, but West Virginia came up empty on multiple opportunities in the second half when it had a chance to take the lead.

鈥淚 said after the (TCU) game, and I feel the same way after watching the video, is our guys competed and fought,鈥 said Brown, whose club fell to 3-5 after the loss. 鈥淭hey played the game the way it was supposed to be played on Saturday. At the end of the day, though, we just didn鈥檛 make enough plays at winning time. It wasn鈥檛 the outcome of what we wanted, but the standard of how we play was met.

鈥淚t was a big missed opportunity,鈥 continued the head coach. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get many opportunities to play a top 10 team, an undefeated team here at home. So, it was a big missed opportunity.

鈥淒efensively, the first half that absolutely can not happen, but the second half I thought (the defense) gave us a chance to win,鈥 said Brown, whose Mountaineers trailed TCU 28-21 at the midway point. 鈥淥ffensively we statistically did some really good things, but we just didn鈥檛 make enough plays at winning time. Two missed opportunities in the redzone after the takeaway on the (muffed TCU) punt were huge, and having the ball third-and-goal at the four and not being able to score (hurt). The last (offensive) drive was extremely disappointing. That鈥檚 what you want; you want your offense with a chance to go win the game, and we had that chance but didn鈥檛 take advantage of it.

鈥淣ot the outcome we wanted, but I thought our guys competed. I was proud of how we played but disappointed with the outcome.鈥

* * * * * *

The Mountaineers now turn around and head to Iowa State this weekend for a contest with the 3-5 Cyclones in Ames (Saturday, Nov. 5 at 3:30 p.m., in a broadcast that will be streamed on ESPN+).

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the toughest venues to play,鈥 Brown said of ISU鈥檚 Jack Trice Stadium. 鈥淚 have a lot of respect for (Iowa State head coach) Matt Campbell and his staff and what they鈥檝e built there.

鈥淏oth teams come into this game needing a win; it鈥檚 pretty simple 鈥 by any means necessary,鈥 concluded 成品人视频鈥檚 coach.

There weren鈥檛 many good moments for the Mountaineer football team Saturday night at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, but the best of those came about 10 minutes after West Virginia coach Neal Brown and players Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Justin Johnson finished their postgame press conference.

At that point, a 成品人视频 sports department official returned to the interview room and told to the media members present, 鈥淐.J. (Donaldson) has been medically cleared and will return with the team tonight (on its charter flight back to West Virginia).鈥

It was a ray of sunshine in an otherwise very frightening moment.

The contest itself hadn鈥檛 gone well for the Mountaineers, as they were trampled by Texas, 38-20.

But what is really important was brought to a glaring light when Donaldson went down after a second-half run into the middle of the Longhorn line 鈥 and failed to get up.

鈥淚鈥檒l start with the most important information, and that is C.J. is at the hospital,鈥 said Brown to open his press conference shortly before he learned that the injured running back had been medically cleared and would return home with the team. 鈥淎 member of our medical team is with him. He鈥檚 alert, stable and has movement in his extremities. He鈥檚 awaiting further testing.鈥

Those tests came back with good news for all involved.

鈥淥ur thoughts and prayers since that happened have been with him,鈥 continued 成品人视频鈥檚 fourth-year head coach. 鈥淭hat was scary. That鈥檚 the first time I鈥檝e ever had that while I鈥檝e been a coach on the field. Credit to our medical team, and I appreciate UT鈥檚 medical team for assistance as well.鈥

Both medical teams worked intently on the true freshman running back who was prone on his back 鈥 and was not moving. The medical staffs cut off his jersey and shoulder pads so he could lay flat on the backboard that they slid under him. From there they loaded him onto a cart, which took him to an ambulance and from there to a nearby hospital.

鈥淚t was terrifying honestly,鈥 said Ford-Wheaton, who along with all the Mountaineers and Longhorns took knees while the medical personnel attended to Donaldson. 鈥淛ust to be playing with him one snap and the next moment he鈥檚 being taken off on a stretcher, that鈥檚 scary. But that鈥檚 the game we play. My prayers are with him. I know the whole team is praying for his speedy recovery.鈥

Donaldson was West Virginia鈥檚 leading rusher through its first four games of the year with 380 yards and six touchdowns. He was limited to just nine yards on four attempts by the Longhorns on Saturday before he was injured.

鈥淚t was scary, but I鈥檓 just praying for the best. That鈥檚 my bother,鈥 said Johnson, a fellow running back who had a team-high 42 rushing yards Saturday night. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough sport, and we try to keep things like that out of our minds.鈥

Brown said he would call Donaldson鈥檚 mother at her home in Miami, Florida, immediately after the press conference.

鈥淚t was scary,鈥 said a still flustered 成品人视频 coach. 鈥淚鈥檓 sitting there as a father of three, and all I could think about was his mom, who wasn鈥檛 here.

鈥淗e was responding,鈥 noted Brown. 鈥淲e鈥檙e encouraged by how he鈥檚 doing. This is entertainment, and there is a lot of pageantry and tradition that goes with it, but it鈥檚 not about getting kids hurt.

鈥淚t was tough to go coach and tough to go play after that,鈥 Brown admitted after his club dropped to 2-3 on the season following its loss to Texas.

Fortunately for all involved an incredibly scary moment doesn鈥檛 appear to have turned out as badly as it initially appeared when Donaldson鈥檚 neck was being stabilized and a backboard was being slid under him.

  • Updated

AUSTIN, TEXAS 鈥 There weren鈥檛 many good moments for the Mountaineer football team Saturday night at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, but the best of those came about 10 minutes after West Virginia coach Neal Brown and players Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Justin Johnson finished their postgame press conference.

At that point, a 成品人视频 sports department official returned to the interview room and told to the media members present, 鈥淐.J. (Donaldson) has been medically cleared and will return with the team tonight (on its charter flight back to West Virginia).鈥

It was a ray of sunshine in an otherwise very frightening moment.

The contest itself hadn鈥檛 gone well for the Mountaineers, as they were trampled by Texas, 38-20.

But what is really important was brought to a glaring light when Donaldson went down after a second-half run into the middle of the Longhorn line 鈥 and failed to get up.

鈥淚鈥檒l start with the most important information, and that is C.J. is at the hospital,鈥 said Brown to open his press conference shortly before he learned that the injured running back had been medically cleared and would return home with the team. 鈥淎 member of our medical team is with him. He鈥檚 alert, stable and has movement in his extremities. He鈥檚 awaiting further testing.鈥

Those tests came back with good news for all involved.

鈥淥ur thoughts and prayers since that happened have been with him,鈥 continued 成品人视频鈥檚 fourth-year head coach. 鈥淭hat was scary. That鈥檚 the first time I鈥檝e ever had that while I鈥檝e been a coach on the field. Credit to our medical team, and I appreciate UT鈥檚 medical team for assistance as well.鈥

Both medical teams worked intently on the true freshman running back who was prone on his back 鈥 and was not moving. The medical staffs cut off his jersey and shoulder pads so he could lay flat on the backboard that they slid under him. From there they loaded him onto a cart, which took him to an ambulance and from there to a nearby hospital.

鈥淚t was terrifying honestly,鈥 said Ford-Wheaton, who along with all the Mountaineers and Longhorns took knees while the medical personnel attended to Donaldson. 鈥淛ust to be playing with him one snap and the next moment he鈥檚 being taken off on a stretcher, that鈥檚 scary. But that鈥檚 the game we play. My prayers are with him. I know the whole team is praying for his speedy recovery.鈥

Donaldson was West Virginia鈥檚 leading rusher through its first four games of the year with 380 yards and six touchdowns. He was limited to just nine yards on four attempts by the Longhorns on Saturday before he was injured.

鈥淚t was scary, but I鈥檓 just praying for the best. That鈥檚 my bother,鈥 said Johnson, a fellow running back who had a team-high 42 rushing yards Saturday night. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough sport, and we try to keep things like that out of our minds.鈥

Brown said he would call Donaldson鈥檚 mother at her home in Miami, Florida, immediately after the press conference.

鈥淚t was scary,鈥 said a still flustered 成品人视频 coach. 鈥淚鈥檓 sitting there as a father of three, and all I could think about was his mom, who wasn鈥檛 here.

鈥淗e was responding,鈥 noted Brown. 鈥淲e鈥檙e encouraged by how he鈥檚 doing. This is entertainment, and there is a lot of pageantry and tradition that goes with it, but it鈥檚 not about getting kids hurt.

鈥淚t was tough to go coach and tough to go play after that,鈥 Brown admitted after his club dropped to 2-3 on the season following its loss to Texas.

Fortunately for all involved an incredibly scary moment doesn鈥檛 appear to have turned out as badly as it initially appeared when Donaldson鈥檚 neck was being stabilized and a backboard was being slid under him.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. 鈥 Four games into the 2022 football season, the Mountaineer offense is displaying exceptional balance.

Averaging 217.5 rushing and 272.5 passing yards per game, 成品人视频 is in the top five in the Big 12 Conference in each of those categories. Its 490.0 yards of total offense per game is fourth in the league, as is its scoring (42.9 points per game).

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 fair,鈥 said Neal Brown when asked if this is the most balanced offense he鈥檚 had in his four seasons as West Virginia鈥檚 head coach. 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e gotten better at what our answers are, too.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to have a runner (at quarterback) to be able to run the football, but besides having a strong offensive line where you can create edges, you have to have things in the screen and RPO game, you have to be proficient in the play-action game, and you have to have skill players. I think that matters.鈥

In Brown鈥檚 time leading the Mountaineers, their offense has usually been proficient at throwing the football, averaging over 245 yards per game in each of the past three seasons, but their rushing attack has almost always been a struggle. 成品人视频 averaged 72.2 yards per game on the ground in 2019, 135.1 ypg in 2020 and 121.5 in 2021. So far this season, though, its low mark was 146 rushing yards against Kansas, and it went for 190 or more in each of the other three games of 鈥22, including 218 last Thursday in the 33-10 win at Virginia Tech.

Certainly, the development of West Virginia鈥檚 offensive line has played a big role in that improved ground game.

鈥淲e went in on the development, and we took some lumps when we were young,鈥 admitted Brown in terms of progress 成品人视频鈥檚 o-line has made from 2019 to today. 鈥淒uring some of those lumps, we had growth, and now we鈥檙e reaping those benefits.

鈥淚t鈥檚 gone from a weakness to where we feel that鈥檚 a real strength of ours,鈥 he continued on the Mountaineers鈥 offensive line, which returned all five starters from last season. 鈥淲e felt like that was going to be the case going into the year, and that鈥檚 how it鈥檚 played out. Now, we have to continue that as we get into the heart of our conference schedule.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not to the finish line yet, though,鈥 added Brown about the offensive front. 鈥淥ur depth is not where we want it to be. We鈥檙e probably a year away from that, but we feel good about the progress we鈥檝e made.鈥

Running backs C.J. Donaldson (95.0 rushing yards per game), Tony Mathis (68.0 ypg) and Justin Johnson (36.3 ypg) have taken advantage of that improved play up front, which has allowed 成品人视频 to average 5.37 yards per rushing attempt. Last season that average was 3.5 yards per rushing attempt.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to play all three. We鈥檝e been intentional about playing all three,鈥 stated Brown of Donaldson, Mathis and Johnson. 鈥淲e鈥檒l continue with that. We may even look at some multiple running back packages down the road, especially if all three continue to run the ball effectively.鈥

The 2-2 Mountaineers will need all facets clicking if they are to pull out a win this Saturday at 2-2 Texas (7:30 p.m. on FS1). Besides beating Louisiana-Monroe, 52-10, and UTSA, 41-20, the Longhorns lost a 20-19 heartbreaker to Alabama in the second game of the season and then fell in overtime, 37-34, at Texas Tech this past Saturday.

鈥淚f we hold on to the football, stop the run and can run the football, we have a chance against most anybody we play,鈥 noted Brown, whose Mountaineers defeated Texas last year, 31-23, in Morgantown. 鈥淭hat will be the case this week and really every week. Our league is tough. If you look at the Big 12, one through 10, there are no layups on that card. Anybody has an opportunity to beat anybody.

鈥淔or us, it is going to be about turnover margin, winning that, being able to run the football, which we鈥檝e done, and being able to stop the run. If we can do those things, then we feel good about it.鈥

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In terms of injuries, Brown said his club is in pretty good shape, other than cornerback Charles Woods, who remains out after suffering a foot/ankle injury at Pitt.

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West Virginia鈥檚 award winners for the Virginia Tech game were:

Special Teams Player of the Week 鈥 placekicker Casey Legg

Offensive Player of the Week 鈥 running back C.J. Donaldson

Defensive Player of the Week 鈥 cornerback Jacolby Spells

Offensive Lineman of the Week 鈥 center Zach Frazier

Blue Collar Award 鈥 offensive lineman Doug Nester and nose tackle Jordan Jefferson

Juice Award 鈥 safety Raleigh Collins

Scout Team Players of the Week 鈥 wide receiver C.J. Cole, tight end Victor Wikstrom and defensive lineman Harry Hilvert

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. 鈥 Mountaineer football coach Neal Brown made news on Monday by what he did not say 鈥 as he did not reveal West Virginia鈥檚 starting quarterback for its Sept. 1 season opener at Pitt.

成品人视频鈥檚 fourth-year head coach didn鈥檛 go into much detail about other starting positions either, though he did provide his thoughts on a lot of individuals who will likely see action in the Sept. 1 Backyard Brawl at Acrisure Stadium.

Brown noted that he expected four true freshmen to be utilized in the opener, and they will probably have a consistent game role on the club throughout the season.

鈥淐.J. Donaldson has proven he鈥檚 ready to go. We鈥檒l continue to prep him,鈥 the coach said of the 6-foot-2, 240-pound running back from Miami. 鈥淗e鈥檚 probably got more live action than our other running backs (in preseason camp) and more carries versus our first-team defense than the other running backs. So, we鈥檝e got a pretty good view of how he鈥檚 handled that. Do I know how it鈥檚 going to go on Thursday? No, but he鈥檚 proven himself in practice. The thing we want to do with him is grow his role as we go through. Going into it, will he be in a featured role? I don鈥檛 know, but he鈥檚 going to play. I feel really confident in telling you he鈥檚 going to play, and his role is going to increase as he has success and gains some experience.

鈥淒efensively, Asani Redwood (a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman) is someone I really like his ability. He鈥檚 going to make a bunch of plays here this year and moving forward.

鈥淛acob Spells (a 5-11, 180-pound cornerback), we鈥檝e talked about him. Raleigh Collins (a 6-3, 196-pound spear safety) is someone I think is going to make an impact on special teams.

鈥淭hose are the main guys in terms of true freshmen who have stuck out over the last week or two.鈥

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Donaldson has turned heads during the preseason after originally being projected as a tight end when he arrived at 成品人视频 this summer.

The true freshmen from Guliver (Fla.) Prep is finding a role at running back, though Tony Mathis and Justin Johnson still are regarded as the top two at that position.

Mathis (5-11, 207 lbs., Soph.) rushed for 312 yards last season as the main backup behind Leddie Brown, who is now trying to make the Los Angeles Chargers鈥 roster. Johnson (5-11, 198 lbs., Soph.) also saw duty in 2021, gaining 90 yards on 24 carries as a true freshman. 成品人视频鈥檚 head coach has seen improvement out of the St. Louis native in his second collegiate season.

鈥淛ustin is stronger this year. He鈥檚 put on some good weight. I also think he鈥檚 gotten faster,鈥 said Brown. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a guy, who going back to the winter and then this summer, was really good and was competitive. He鈥檚 taking advantage of his opportunity.

鈥淲e liked him in high school, and sometimes it takes a guy a while,鈥 the coach added. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 do many good things offensively in the bowl game, but I thought he did some nice things (35 yards on five carries). The bowl prep was good for him. He鈥檚 a guy who is going to get some carries and will be ready to play. I think he鈥檚 going to surprise some people.鈥

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West Virginia鈥檚 running backs 鈥 Mathis, Johnson, Jaylen Anderson (5-11, 214 lbs., RFr.) and Donaldson 鈥 will be depending on a 成品人视频 offensive line that returns all five starters from the latter half of the 鈥21 season.

Brown鈥檚 plan is for all five of those returning o-linemen 鈥 Wyatt Milum (6-6, 307 lbs., Soph.), James Gmiter (6-3, 310 lbs., r-Jr.), Zach Frazier (6-3, 306 lbs., Soph.), Doug Nester (6-7, 320 lbs., Jr.) and Brandon Yates (6-4, 308 lbs., r-Soph.) 鈥 to see action in the Sept. 1 opener along with Jordan White (6-2, 298 lbs., r-Fr.) and Ja鈥橯uay Hubbard (6-5, 318 lbs., r-Soph.), who will be part of the o-line rotation as well. Most of those seven are versatile enough to play multiple offensive line positions if necessary.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to go into week one playing seven. We鈥檝e already made that determination,鈥 explained Brown. 鈥淛ordan White can play both guards and center. Brandon Yates can play both tackle spots. Ja鈥橯uay Hubbard can play guard and tackle. Doug Nester can play guard and tackle. We鈥檝e gotten them a bunch of reps in all of those areas.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to play seven. They all deserve to play. They鈥檒l play in week one.鈥

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The Mountaineers also plan on utilizing their defensive line depth against Pitt and during the season as a whole.

成品人视频 figures to start Dante Stills (6-4, 290 lbs., Sr.) at defensive tackle, Jordan Jefferson (6-3, 310 lbs., Jr.) at nose tackle and Taijh Alston 6-4, 255 lbs., Sr.) at defensive end, but it has as many as seven other defensive linemen who will likely see game reps in the opener.

One of those is Hammond Russell (6-3, 300 lbs., RFr.), who saw action against Long Island and Minnesota last season but was still able to redshirt. A first-team all-Ohio selection while a senior at Dublin Coffman High School, Russell figures to be a solid contributor for West Virginia this season, according to Brown.

鈥淗e鈥檚 progressing,鈥 成品人视频鈥檚 coach said of the defensive lineman, whose sister Imarianah Russell is a freshman guard for the Mountaineer women鈥檚 basketball team. 鈥淗e鈥檚 heavy-handed and does a really good job of playing off double teams. He鈥檚 going to be in the d-line rotation. He had a little bit of an injury that limited his conditioning this summer, missing about six weeks. So, he鈥檚 playing himself back. He鈥檒l be in the mix.鈥

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West Virginia will rotate extra offensive and defensive linemen next Thursday, but usually there鈥檚 not much substitution at punter. The guy who wins the job normally will do the kicking the entire game, and to this point, Brown hasn鈥檛 decided who that will be.

鈥淚t is a battle between Kolton McGhee and Oliver Straw,鈥 stated the coach. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to let that play out, and it may play out through our last full-speed practice (on Aug. 29).鈥

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There are still some positions to be sorted out in the days leading up to the season-opening Backyard Brawl at Acrisure Stadium.

Overall, though, the Mountaineers are excited to get the 2022 season underway, particularly against a rival they haven鈥檛 faced in over a decade.

鈥淲hen you open up against a really good opponent, and you factor in that it鈥檚 a rivalry game, too, so there is going to be a lot of emotion, it makes it difficult,鈥 admitted Brown. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a really big moment. College GameDay is there, and it鈥檚 nationally televised (7 p.m. on ESPN).

鈥淭here is a little bit more to this game than your normal opener. I think you have to take that into account as far as getting guys ready to play,鈥 the coach continued. 鈥淵ou are never going completely mimic the atmosphere that is going to be there a week from Thursday, but you want to see if guys are ready for the moment. You put them in pressurized situations in front of their teammates to see if they鈥檙e going to perform or not. It鈥檚 an inexact science, but that鈥檚 how we do it.鈥

Ready or not, it鈥檚 about time to Brawl.

Herd That made the necessary plays in crunch-time to earn a 77-71 win over Founding Fathers in the first round of The Basketball Tournament on Sunday evening at Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Justin Johnson led the way with 17 points while James Kelly added 16, including the game-ending 3-pointer.