MORGANTOWN — There were a lot of issues for West Virginia football’s 2025 4-8 season, and one of the biggest was the offensive line. The Mountaineers’ lineman allowed the second-most sacks in the Big 12 last season (38), just behind Colorado, who was one of the two conference wins for WVU.
Rich Rodriguez said the struggles weren’t entirely the line’s fault, but he did say they needed improvement in that area. Most of the line from 2025 won’t be back, which is a plus, and Rodriguez didn’t renew offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr.’s contract, and instead hired veteran line coach Rick Trickett.
Not every piece of last year’s offensive line is gone. Veteran offensive lineman Nick Krahe is one of the few players returning for the Mountaineers.
“Yeah, Nick last year was probably our most productive and best offensive lineman,” Rodriguez said.
Krahe started in all 12 games at tackle and was used on a team-high 873 offensive snaps in 2025, his redshirt junior year. He allowed 17 quarterback pressures and just one sack on almost 400 pass plays.
Krahe fits the description of the new type of lineman for Rodriguez. Rodriguez wants more size everywhere, but especially on the offensive line, so the team doesn’t take multiple plays to get just a yard, like against Arizona State. He’s 6-foot-6, 316 pounds, according to his bio. Krahe is tied for the third tallest, and is the second heaviest on the team.
Krahe was one of the bright spots, so him returning was a big boost for the offense.
Like last season, WVU had a lot of roster turnover. The Mountaineers brought in almost 50 players through the recruiting class and then numerous players in the transfer portal. Half the roster will be new players. Krahe has a year under Rodriguez’s system, and knows the hard edge, so not only will he be helpful on the field, but off the field, getting everyone on the same page as a leader.
Rodriguez looks at Krahe as a leader on the team and selected him as one of the three players to represent the Mountaineers at the Big 12 Media Day.
“He knows the system,” Rodriguez said. “He’s kind of the leader up front. I don’t need rah-rah leaders. Nick is not that guy. But from his work ethic, from his talent, the way he represents our program, he’s everything we want and leading the guys up front.”
Rodriguez brought in a lot of veteran players to play alongside Krahe, including Wyoming redshirt senior transfer Wes King, Jacksonville State senior Cam Griffin, UConn redshirt junior Carsten Casady and Kansas State redshirt junior Devin Vass. There are some other younger linemen who could also start.
With all the additions in the portal, Krahe could be shifted around to get him on the field and could play guard, and that’s where Trickett was working him out this spring.
“Nick had played tackle, but when we brought in Coach Rick Trickett, a new O-line coach, he wanted to try him at guard,” Rodriguez said. “He thought that would be Nick’s natural position. He had a great spring at guard. But he could play guard. He could play tackle.”
If the offensive line wants to improve from last year, Krahe is going to play a big role in that, through his play on the field and teaching and leading a new-look offensive line. Krahe wasn’t named to the preseason Big 12 team, but Rodriguez expects he could be after the season is over.
“I think Nick will be one of the best linemen in our league this year,” Rodriguez said. “He’s still getting better. With Coach Trickett’s coaching and with Nick’s ability and work ethic, I think he’s an all-conference guy.”
