MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia has released its official depth chart for its Week 1 game against James Madison.
Notably, junior offensive lineman Josh Sills is officially WVU’s starting center. Sills was an all-conference guard last season, but was moved to center in the middle of training camp.
Coach Neal Brown said the battle to determine Sills’ replacement at right guard will carry over into Week 1. Either John Hughes or Chase Behrndt will get the start, but both will play against the DUkes.
Receiver Sean Ryan, who received his immediate-eligibility waiver from the NCAA on Friday, will also be in the starting lineup.
“We’ve gone on the hope he would be ruled eligible. We’ve practiced him with the ones all fall camp,” Brown said. “We would have been in a little bit of a bind if he was ineligible. He’s a guy that has good length. He’s got experience and played well down the stretch for Temple last year. He’s been very productive in fall camp.”
The presence of Ryan allows the Mountaineers to move T.J. Simmons into the slot. Speedster Sam James is the other starting outside receiver.
The biggest name missing from the depth chart is junior cornerback Dreshun Miller. Brown said Miller has been ruled out this week due to injury.
“He’s to be determined moving forward,” Brown said.
Miller was one of the top-rated junior college cornerbacks in the country last year, picking West Virginia after decommitting from LSU.
Redshirt freshman Mike O’Laughlin will start at tight end.
“He’s been a better blocker than I anticipated, to be honest,” Brown said. “He’s extremely intelligent. His background is playing receiver, so he’s a threat in the pass game. I’m excited about his future here.”
Brown said junior Jovani Haskins has been medically cleared to play and will be available for the game, but did not indicate if Haskins is still facing punishment for his July arrest for three misdemeanor traffic violations.
OFFENSE
WR (X)
Sean Ryan
Bryce Wheaton
WR (H)
Tevin Bush
LT
Colton McKivitz
Junior Ubezu
LG
Mike Brown
James Gmiter
C
Josh Sills
Briason Mays OR Adam Stilley
RG
John Hughes OR Chase Behrndt
Briason Mays
RT
Kelby Wickline
Tyler Thurmond
TE
Mike O’Laughlin
Jovani Haskins OR T.J. Banks
Slot
T.J. Simmons
Randy Fields
WR (Z)
Sam James
George Campbell
QB
Austin Kendall
Jack Allison
Trey Lowe
RB
Kennedy McKoy
Martell Pettaway
Leddie Brown OR Alec Sinkfield
FB (S)
Logan Thimons
Jackson Knipper
DEFENSE
DT
Reese Donahue
Dante Stills
Stone Wolfley
NT
Darius Stills
Brenon Thrift
Jordan Jefferson
DE
Jeffrey Pooler OR Taijh Alston OR Reuben Jones
Bandit
Quondarius Qualls
Zach Sandwisch
Jared Bartlett
Will LB
Josh Chandler
Exree Loe
Deamonte Lindsay
Middle LB
Dylan Tonkery
Josh Abbott OR Shea Campbell
Spear
JoVanni Stewart
Kwantel Raines OR Dante Bonamico
Left Cornerback
Hakeem Bailey
Tae Mayo
Devan Wade
Free Safety
Josh Norwood
Kerry Martin Jr.
Strong (Cat) Safety
Sean Mahone
Tykee Smith
Noah Guzman
Right cornerback
Keith Washington
Nicktroy Fortune
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK
Evan Staley
Casey Legg
Holder
Josh Growden
Trey Lowe
Punter
Josh Growden
Kolton McGhee
KO
Evan Staley
Casey Legg
LS
Rex Sunahara
Kyle Poland
Kickoff Return
Sam James
Keith Washington
Kennedy McKoy
Punt Return
Alec Sinkfield
