West Virginia University Opens Vs. James Madison University

Neal Brown Era kicks off Saturday

WHEELING -- Neal Brown was hired as WVU's head football coach in January. Since that time, he has been embraced by the Mountaineer Nation as he has exhibited a personality and character foreign to his predecessor, Dana Holgorsen.

But the affable Brown was hired to win football games, something he did with regularity at Troy, going 35-16 in four seasons, including three bowl victories.

Now the 39-year-old offensive wizard gets a chance to do the same in Morgantown, commencing Saturday when FCS power James Madison pays a visit to Mylan Puskar Stadium for a 2 p.m. kickoff. The game is a sellout.

The Dukes are coached by Curt Cignetti. He is a former WVU quarterback and is in his first season at James Madison after reviving the program at Elon.

Brown's maiden voyage with the Mountaineers may prove a challenging one. Much talent left with Holgorsen, either by graduation or transfer portal. WVU went 8-4 last season and has been picked to finish eighth in the 10-team Big 12.

The biggest hole to fill is at quarterback. Gone is talented Will Grier. The record-setting signalcaller was drafted by Carolina and is serving as Cam Newton's backup.

Filling Grier's big shoes will be Austin Kendall. He transferred in from Oklahoma. Kendall completed 28 of 39 passes for 265 yards and three TDs while backing up Heisman Trophy winner Kylar Murray in Norman last fall.

Kennedy McKoy leads the running back committee. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior rushed for 802 yards and eight TDs last fall. Martell Pettaway (5-9, 205) and Leddie Brown (5-11, 215) are also capable ball-toters.

Brown must rebuild a receiving corp which lost four quality pass-catchers. Wideouts David Sills (Buffalo), Gary Jennings (Seattle) and Marcus Simms (Jacksonville) are now on NFL rosters as is tight end Trevon Wesco (New York Jets).

WVU welcomes back just two receivers who caught more than two passes last year: T.J. Simmons (28 for 341 yards and a touchdown) and Tevin Bush (14 for 209 yards and a TD).

The Mountaineers' receiving corp received a potent shot-in-the-arm last week when the NCAA granted immediate eligibility to sophomore Sean Ryan. The Temple transfer appeared in six games for the Owls last year, landing 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.

The strongest area of the WVU offense -- if not the entire team -- is the offensive line, one featuring strong Ohio Valley flavor.

Union Local's Colton McKivitz is primed to launch his fourth year as a starting tackle, flipping from the right to left side. The 6-7, 312-pounder has already accumulated a plethora of accoladaes and is a likely high-round NFL Draft pick this coming April. He is the lone Mountaineer selected on the preseason All-Big 12 team.

McKivitz is joined on the O-line by Josh Sills. The former Meadowbrook All-Ohioan is a two-year starter at guard. The 6-6, 326-pound redshirt junior was named All-Big 12 second team by the coaches in 2018 and is projected as a high-round NFL Draft pick this year.

Both McKivitz and Sills made the Outland Trophy Watch List.

The balance of the line will be comprised by center Chase Behrndt, right tackle Kelby Wickline and left guard Michael Brown.

The WVU defense will be a work-in progress. It is spearheaded by veteran defensive lineman Darius Stills.

He will be joined as a starter on the defensive line with Taijh Alston and Reese Donahue. Alabama transfer VanDarius Cowan was ticketed to start at the bandit position, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end. However, he has been suspended by the NCAA for the first four games for eligibility issues. His spot will be taken by Quondarius Qualls.

The starting linebackers will be led by Bridgeport (W.Va) product Dylan Tonkery, Josh Chandler and Hakeem Bailey.

Josh Norwood and Keith Washington are the front-runners to be the starting corners, while Sean Mahone, Jake Long, Osita Smith, Tykee Smith and Jovanni Stewart could be in the mix at safety.

Evan Staley is the kicker.

"I will be able to tell you after the game," Brown said during Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconfence in regard to the current talent level of his team. "I don't know if you will find any coach that says they are happy with their talent level or that they want to hold steady. We're always trying to get better and that's the name of recruiting.

"I tell the kids that we're always trying to find somebody better than who is on our roster. That's not a knock on our guys, I just think that's the mentality you have to have in recruiting. I like the way our guys work. It's hard to evaluate players when you go against your own guys all the time so you need to play an opponent to find out where you're at."

James Madison will be no punching bag. The Mountaineers are listed as a touchdown favorite as the Dukes are coming off a 9-4 campaign, advancing to the FCS playoffs for a fifth straight season.

Things look even brighter this year for the Dukes as 19 starters (10 on defense) are back in the fold. In addition, Rashad Robinson, a 2017 All-American at cornerback, returns after missing all of last year due to a foot injury.

Ben DiNucci will be the starting quarterback for the Dukes. He is a Pitt transfer. DiNucci threw for 2,275 yards and 16 TDs last season. The Wexford, Pa. native also rushed for 433 yards and nine touchdowns.

His top returning target is Riley Stapleton. He caught 62 passes for 710 yards and seven TDs.

The Dukes' also have a standout linebacker in Dimitri Holloway. He recorded 127 tackles last season, 11 for losses.

"It is time to find out where we are at. Effort will not be an issue,"Brown said during Tuesday's weekly press conference. "The first game is always tough because there are so many unknowns. James Madison has a lot of quality players."

This marks the third meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.

In 2004, WVU prevailed by a 45-10 count in Morgantown while in 2012 the Mountaineers won, 42-12, at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. WVU is 19-0 against FCS level schools.

WVU will face a stiff test in Week 2, visiting highly regarded Missouri. The Mountaineers return home Sept. 14, hosting North Carolina State in a noon start.

James Madison, meanwhile, will host Saint Francis Sept. 7 before welcoming Morgan State Sept. 14.

WVU NOTES

∫ Brown is one of six active FBS coaches to win 10 or more games in three straight seasons.

∫ WVU is 89-33-4 all-time in home openers.

∫ The 2019 season marks the 128th year of WVU football.

∫ WVU is 118-44-8 against teams from the state of Virginia.