Trending
MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football's offensive line had a lot of problems in 2025. The Mountaineers allowed the second-most sacks in the Big 12 and tied the program single-game record for most sacks in a game against UCF. Rich Rodriguez spent the offseason doing his best to fix the offensive line, which included bringing offensive line coach Rick Trickett and multiple transfers from all different schools.
The only problem was that with so much change, there was a chance the offensive line played similar to last year because last year also had an offseason with new players and new staff.
This offensive line was a lot more experienced and more talented. They might not have started at WVU, but they have started somewhere. He wasn't really nervous because he knew Trickett would get them into shape, but Rodriguez was still a bit anxious about whether they could work together.
He couldn't tell too much immediately after the game; he needed to watch the film. Now, a few days after the Coastal Carolina game, Rodriguez could properly evaluate the offensive line.
"Thought they played hard," Rodriguez said. "There were a couple of missed assignments here and there. But for the first game together for all five of them or six of them, I thought it was a pretty solid effort. I think they'll grow from this one as well."
The offensive line, especially in the first half, was really dominant. The front five helped the Mountaineers rush for 281 yards and three touchdowns in the game. WVU allowed just one sack the whole game, too. There were times when quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. could get to multiple different reads. He wasn't hurried the entire game.
The most worrisome part was whether the offensive line was going to get on the same page with communication. The line needed to pick up free rushers and pull block when needed.
Prior to the game, the offensive line spent a lot of the offseason getting to know each other, so for the first game, the communication wasn't an issue.
"The communication was well," offensive lineman Amare "Bubba" Grayson said. "This is a different atmosphere from where everybody has been at, so there's a little communication issues at first, but we got better over time throughout the game."
In the second half, the front five was really tested. Coastal Carolina started to stack the box, meaning the offensive line was outnumbered. WVU definitely struggled creating holes and the rushing attack only picked up 58 yards.
Grayson said the Chanticleers loading the box wasn't overwhelming.
"Just do your assignment and get them out the box," Grayson said. "That's the biggest thing that you can do there. Just do your assignment."
The offensive line worked through all the issues, even with a true freshman offensive lineman starting at left tackle, which for a right-handed quarterback, like Hawkins, is the most important on the line.
Former 4-star Kevin Brown started at left tackle, making his debut for the Mountaineers. It’s a big moment in an important position against an FBS opponent. Rodriguez watched the tape and said there were freshman mistakes, but he said he was proud of him.
Grayson didn't feel like he was playing alongside a true freshman.
"Kevin Brown actually did great," Grayson said. "His intensity, like everything that we've been saying since summer in camp, it came out during the game. It was no nervousness, no inconsistency. He did what he was supposed to do."
This was only Week 1, and Coastal Carolina was a big underdog, so the road ahead, after U.T. Martin, will only get harder. Grayson said the next step in the line's progression is to stay consistent, especially with the communication.
But after Coastal Carolina, the offensive line is off to a good start.
"I feel like our offensive line did a great job," Grayson said. "We were very consistent, and I feel like throughout the course of the season, we're going to gel even more. It's going to be good."