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MORGANTOWN -- It didn't take new offensive line coach Matt Moore very long to figure out that redshirt senior Colton McKivitz and redshirt junior Josh Sills would become the anchors of a West Virginia offensive front that will enter the spring without All-Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year Yodny Cajuste and starting center Matt Jones.
"I've watched a lot of film on both of them," Moore said following first-year head coach Neal Brown's introductory press conference. "And, I liked what I saw from each of them.
"(Josh) Sills can play anywhere. And, I've already moved Colton (McKivitz) to left tackle."
Sills, the Sarahsville native, capped off his third season with the Mountaineers with a selection to the All-Big 12 second team by the coaches. The two-year starter at guard has played in 24 games since coming to Morgantown with 20 starts.
McKivitz -- the Jacobsburg native who was known more for his play on the basketball court than on the football field at Union Local High School -- earned All-Big 12 honorable mention for the second year in a row.
The 300-pounder has seen action in 38 games during his stay at WVU and has 35 starts under his belt -- seeing his first action as a replacement for Cajuste in WVU's season opener against Missouri in 2016.
"Both of those guys are doing it the right way," said Moore, whose primary recruiting territory will be Morgantown, Fairmont, Beckley, and Bluefield in West Virginia as well as Roanoke, Va. "The biggest task I am facing this spring is finding a center since Jones has decided to leave and his main backup -- Jacob Buccigrossi -- had shoulder surgery after the bowl game.
"Right now, I'm working with a redshirt freshman and that's it."
But that won't be a problem if Moore's past successes at recruiting talented players continues during his tenure in the Mountain State.
"Sometimes, they're four stars. Sometimes they are long enough and fast enough, and they fit in. Sometimes, they're not. Sometimes, they're guys that you see that something in them, and you have to figure out how good they are and how good they can be. That's coaching. That's what we have to do is we have to get in here and coach them to how good they can be."
Fans will get their first look at Moore's new offensive front when the Annual Gold-Blue Scrimmage takes place on Saturday, April 13, at Mylan Puskar Stadium beginning at 1 p.m.