WVU football’s offensive line feeling more ‘confident’ heading into Game 1 than in 2025
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football's offensive line received a complete rebuild this offseason. From the coach of the room to the players.
It needed work. The Mountaineers were one of the worst units in the Big 12, and Rich Rodriguez has admitted they weren't very good at that spot.
Rodriguez picked up a lot of portal linemen and added exciting true freshmen to hopefully put up somewhat of a fight in conference play. Looking at the depth chart and the roster, WVU is going to run into a similar problem it had before last season: It's an entirely new line that hasn't played together as one unit.
Despite having a new line, the energy around the line feels different. Rodriguez and the staff have a lot more confidence in this group. The confidence comes from all the work and connecting the team has done through the spring, summer and now fall. Especially since most of the line arrived in the spring, and there isn't a second portal after the spring, so the players are still here as Game 1 approaches.
"Just going through fall camp practices, summer, winter, just kind of gelling together with one another, getting to know each other, getting to know how we all play, I think that’s the biggest thing," Krahe said. "We’re definitely comfortable."
Another reason this line is different is because its definitely bigger, and it's a line that's played a lot of college snaps. Unlike last year, Coastal Carolina won't be their first game starting. Redshirt center Wes King had 33 starts at Wyoming; Amare "Bubba Grayson started 22 games at Jacksonville State; Carsten Cassady started 14 games at UConn; and Krahe started 12 last year for WVU. The four of them have tallied just under 5,500 snaps.
That's a lot more experience than the line last year, who most of them hadn't even started.
"It’s big because we all have experience," Krahe said. "It’s different things that we all see at different levels. Bringing all those thoughts and ideas together as one can really help us come together and perform out there."
The Mountaineers could have a player or two start who hasn't ever played a college football game before. 4-star freshman Kevin Brown flashed in the spring and summer, and has a real chance to start and make his college football debut against Coastal Carolina. He has the size at 6-foot-6, but doesn't have the experience.
Luckily, Brown has a bunch of players around him who have a ton of experience and know what it's like to start for the first time. Krahe started for the first time in 2025, and he's handed out advice.
"Just kind of soak it all in," Krahe said. "I remember when I first walked into the stadium, saw all the fans out there, I was nervous. But we’ve been playing football our whole lives. We grew up playing this sport, so it’s nothing different. It’s just a higher level. Just kind of going out there and soaking it all in, and just playing the game you love.”
WVU also has long-time and great offensive line coach Rick Trickett to ensure they’re solid come Coastal Carolina. Trickett is older, but the players respect him, and he's made technical tweaks to a lot of returning players, like Krahe.
"We’re still running the same offense, all that stuff," Krahe said. "I’d say just technical stuff. Getting the technique down, whether it’s pass or run."
When you combine Rick Trickett, 5000-plus snaps and more size, it should be a recipe for success at offensive line. That's what the staff and players think. But only how they perform on the field will tell if it tastes as well as it looks.
It might take a little bit to figure that out since Week 1 is hard to tell and the Chanticleers are rebuilding, but signs are pointing to the line being better.
"I think the offensive line is doing really well," Krahe said. "We got a bunch of guys that came in, got some freshmen that are good, and then some guys returning, obviously. I think the experience is a big thing for us, and we’re coming together good. We’re just ready to go out there Saturday."