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Grier Credits Offensive Line for His Success

West Virginia quarterback Will Grier (7) attempts a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against TCU, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)

MORGANTOWN-Ask redshirt senior quarterback Will Grier what the primary reason is for his success this season and he will quickly point to the guys who line up in front of him – the offensive line.

“Outstanding job,” Grier said. “I’m really proud of them. That group from the beginning has worked really hard and tried every day to get better, and it’s showing.

“They’ve persistently tried to get better in practice and ask questions. It’s something they take a lot of pride in. I’m really proud of those guys. The way they’ve worked together and continued to improve is now showing.

“There’s still, obviously, things, like I said, that we have to clean up, but they’ve come a long way and will continue to get better. They’ve gotten better individually, but also as a unit – making calls and working with each other to pass things off, and it shows on film. They’re doing a really, really good job, and we have to continue to challenge that group and continue to get the leadership out of some of those guys up front to finish the season off strong.”

Headlining the group is tackles Yodny Cajuste and Jacobsburg (Ohio) native Colton McKivitz.

Cajuste was one of four Mountaineers to earn Preseason All-Big 12 honors while McKivitz earned Offensive Player of the Week honors at least once this season.

Joining that duo on the front is senior Isaiah Hardy and redshirt sophomore Josh Sills at the guards and redshirt junior Matt Jones at center.

Adding to the talent possessed by that fivesome is the play of redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco.

“I don’t know,” replied Wesco to what makes him such a physical player. “I guess the long journey that I’ve had. The work that I put in for my body, I guess you could say I can play physical.

“In high school, I played quarterback, I go to receiver, I go back to quarterback, go to tight end, go back to quarterback my senior year. I’m only 212 pounds. Then I can’t come to West Virginia, then I go to JUCO. Then, I’m 230 pounds. Then, I get to 260. Then I come here, I’m 260. Then, I gain 10 more pounds a couple years later. It’s just a long journey.”

A journey which paid off during WVU’s 47-10 win over TCU last Saturday when the Martinsburg-native hauled in a Grier pass for a 32-yard score – the first of the year for the former-Mussleman Appleman and the second of his career in Morgantown.

The challenge this week?

Keeping their Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback upright against an OSU defensive front that is among the best in the country at getting to opposing signal-callers.

“I don’t know how else to explain it – they create chaos with how they line up, and then they have the athletic, freakish bodies that can come off the ball and defeat blocks and get to the quarterback,” head coach Dana Holgorsen said. “(Calvin) Bundage and No. 94 (Jordan) Brailford, they’re long, and they’re athletic, and they’re explosive, and they’re fast, and they do a good job of coming off the ball and coming up field.

“They mix fronts and you just don’t know what they’re going to be in, which has caused people a lot of problems. When I talk about ID’ing it, who needs to block who, we need to be on-point to make sure we get it ID’ed the right way, and then we have to hold up with what they’re doing. I think their coverage plays a role in it, too. Their corners are good, and they have a couple of young safeties that are continuously getting better. Their coverage has been good; they play a lot of man coverage, and they’re solid with their zone coverage. You have to have somebody to throw to or people are going to get there eventually. They do a nice job.”

That unit was particularly success a year ago in Morgantown as it harassed and hurried WVU’s Grier into four interceptions and a lost fumble.

Should the Mountaineers’ front five – six if you include Wesco – keep that from happening this Saturday, then fans could witness a battle for the Big 12 regular season title when WVU plays host to Oklahoma at 8 p.m. next Friday.

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