WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS NEWS

West Virginia dismantles LIU, 66-0, for first win of the season MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- A game that appeared like a colossal mismatch on paper proved to be just that Saturday on the turf of Milan Puskar Stad...

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Doege, Greene, Wright shine, WVU trounces Long Island 66-0

Jarret Doege threw three touchdown passes, Winston Wright returned a kickoff for another score and West Virginia beat Long Island 66-0

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sam James - Two scores vs. Sharks James caught three passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 66-0 win over Long Island University.

Impact James recorded multiple touchdowns in the same game for the first time in his career as West Virginia racked up 555 yards of total offense against the Sharks. James now has eight catches for 120 yards and the two scores through two games. West Virginia has a much tougher test when hosting Virginia Tech next week.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Winston Wright - Returns kickoff for touchdown Wright pulled down three catches for 59 yards and returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in Saturday's 66-0 win over Long Island University.

Impact Wright is a dynamic player as it was just a week ago when he set a school-record with 217 kickoff return yards against Maryland. He also had a team-high 11 targets in that game which shows you that he can handle a busy workload. Against the Sharks, he started with a bang, taking the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Against a tough Virginia Tech squad next week, Wright could be targeted early and often.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sean Ryan - Grabs TD in blowout win Ryan hauled in three catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 66-0 win over Long Island University.

Impact Ryan has been active in each of the first two games this season with a combined six catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. He'll likely need to be targeted once again when West Virginia has a tough match-up against Virginia Tech next week.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

A'Varius Sparrow - Adds TD vs. LIU Sparrow rushed for four yards and a touchdown on three carries in Saturday's 66-0 win over Long Island University.

Impact Sparrow notched his first collegiate touchdown as he saw some playing time with the Mountaineers racking up 555 total yards against the Sharks. West Virginia will play Virginia Tech next week.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Leddie Brown - Finds end-zone twice Brown rushed for 23 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries while also reeling in two passes for 14 yards in Saturday's 66-0 win over Long Island University.

Impact Brown has accumulated five total touchdowns in the Mountaineers' first two games. That's a good thing as he's been rather inefficient on carries while averaging just 3.0 YPC on 32 totes. Nonetheless, Brown should continue to see volume which makes him a necessary start each and every week. That shouldn't change against Virginia Tech next week.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Garrett Greene - Adds two rushing scores Greene completed four of seven passes for 67 yards while racking up a team-high 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in Saturday's 66-0 win over Long Island University...

Impact Greene was able to record his first collegiate touchdowns as starter Jarret Doege was able to rest after tossing three touchdowns early against the Sharks. Doege should go the distance against Virginia Tech next week.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jarret Doege - Tosses three scores Doege completed 14 of 22 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's 66-0 win over Long Island University.

Impact Doege and the Mountaineers had no problems with Long Island as they racked up 555 total yards of offense. The starting quarterback was able to throw for three touchdowns for the 11th time in his career before allowing back-ups Garrett Greene and Will Crowder to play. West Virginia has a much tougher opponent in Virginia Tech next week.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mike O'Laughlin - Officially ruled out O'Laughlin (lower leg) has officially been ruled out of Saturday's game against LIU, Ryan Pritt of the Charleston Gazette-Mail reports.

Impact O'Laughlin wasn't seen for warmups and initially was ruled doubtful coming into Saturday. He suffered a lower leg injury over the summer and has yet to return. It's unclear what his outlook will be for next week's big matchup against Virginia Tech.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mike O'Laughlin - Not warming up Saturday O'Laughlin (lower leg) was not spotted during warmups and is not likely to play against LIU on Saturday, according to Blue Gold News.

Impact O'Laughlin's absence from the warmups all but rules him out of this game Saturday, though this isn't entirely surprising given how the week happened in terms of his fitness. His next chance to feature would come on Sep. 18 at home against Virginia Tech.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tony Mathis - Taking part in warmups Mathis (undisclosed) is participating in warmups ahead of Saturday's clash with LIU, Blue Gold News reports.

Impact Mathis was hopeful to rejoin the backfield mix this week after sitting out the opener and appears to be on a path to do just that. He will likely serve as a distant No. 2 in the Mountaineers backfield to star back Leddy Brown.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mike O'Laughlin - Doubtful for Saturday O'Laughlin (lower leg) is doubtful for Saturday's game against LIU, Schuyler Callihan of Sports Illustrated reports.

Impact O'Laughlin missed some time during fall camp with a lower leg injury and doesn't look like he'll be ready to go for Week 2. Assuming he's out, his next chance to suit up would come Sept. 18 against Virginia Tech.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tony Mathis - Hopeful to play Head coach Neal Brown said earlier this week he's hopeful Mathis (undisclosed) will play Saturday, Schuyler Callihan of Sports Illustrated reports.

Impact Mathis was unable to go for last week's season opener after initially appearing on the depth chart. It's unclear what the 5-11 back is dealing with but his status for Saturday's game likely won't be known until shortly before kickoff.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Winston Wright's record-breaking opener could be a preview of what's to come for West Virginia MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The first thing Neal Brown noticed was the speed. Years ago, back when Brown was the head coach at Troy, he was attendin...

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

West Virginia's James focuses on mental health, solid 2021

West Virginia wide receiver Sam James used the offseason to focus on his mental health and put a bad 2020 season in the past

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Neal Brown: WVU needs to bounce back from poor performance at Maryland MORGANTOWN -- Football coaches always seem to have a quote to fall back on when his team faces adversity. For WVU head coach Neal Brown, he...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • DOMINIONPOST.COM

WVU receiver Sam James leaning on others, trying to bounce back from tough 2020 season MORGANTOWN -- A catch, a strip and a fumble are what likely pops into many minds when they think of WVU wide receiver Sam James' 2020 season...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • DOMINIONPOST.COM

West Virginia looks to fix mistakes after fading at Maryland

West Virginia’s Neal Brown went into the season opener with cautious optimism and returned home with a mess

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

WVU Football releases depth chart ahead of LIU game A look at the updated WVU Football depth chart.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Tagovailoa, turnovers lift Maryland over West Virginia 30-24

Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns, and Maryland topped turnover-prone West Virginia 30-24

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Casey Legg - Makes only FG attempt Legg connected on a 24-yard field goal in Saturday's 30-24 loss at Maryland.

Impact Legg was perfect against the Terrapins while connecting on all four of his kicks, including three extra-point attempts. This follows a 2020 season where he went 5-for-7 on field goal attempts. West Virginia will host Long Island next week.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sam James - Five catches in loss James pulled down five catches for 59 yards on seven targets in Saturday's 30-24 loss at Maryland.

Impact James recorded a team-high 59 receiving yards and tied for second in targets behind Winston Wright who commanded 12 targets in the passing game. West Virginia's defense struggled against Maryland which means that the James and the receivers could be busy in 2021. West Virginia will host Long Island next week.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Three catches vs. Maryland Ford-Wheaton nabbed three of six targets for 49 yards in Saturday's 30-24 loss at Maryland.

Impact Ford-Wheaton ranked fourth on the team in targets versus Maryland as Winston Wright (12), Sam James (7) and Leddie Brown (7) all had more than the junior receiver. He should continue to see targets most weeks as West Virginia's defense struggled against the Terrapins. West Virginia will host Long Island next week.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Winston Wright - Team-high 12 targets in loss Wright grabbed six catches for 42 yards on a team-high 12 targets in Saturday's 30-24 loss at Maryland.

Impact Wright commanded double-digit targets for the third time in his career. Both times he did this in 2020, he had 100-yard receiving games, so he likely underperformed against the Terrapins based on the volume of throws which went his way. He also had a lost fumble which was one of four turnovers for the Mountaineers. Wright should continue to receive a healthy amount of targets when West Virginia hosts Long Island next week.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE