WVU football’s defense faces big test against No. 25 Virginia’s veteran offensive line
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MORGANTOWN -- Age is just a number, but for No. 25 Virginia football, the Cavaliers used it as a tool to create one of the best offensive lines in college football.
Virginia's offensive line consists of two seventh-year players, who are the last of their kind, two sixth-years and a fifth-year. The average age of the unit is 24, which is two years over the average graduating age. On the field, Virginia's offensive line has totaled over 11,000 snaps.
Now, West Virginia football gets a taste of all that experience when the Mountaineers head to Charlotte on Saturday.
"It's crazy," linebacker Ben Cutter said. "That's the best part of their team."
Virginia's almost done the impossible, putting this group of linemen together. The two seventh-year players gained the extra year for the pandemic, injuries and redshirting. The two sixth-years were in a similar boat.
What's even harder is keeping a line together. In this era of college football, there's the transfer portal and NIL money thrown around; it's hard to keep players from transferring.
"It’s amazing," Rich Rodriguez said. "They’ve done a great job of getting their guys in and retaining them and developing, and now they’re playing with a bunch of grown men... There won’t be nearly as many veteran teams like this in the future because of the 5-for-5 rule, right?"
The age has paid dividends. Three of Virginia's offensive linemen have been named to PFF's Week 2 ACC team of the week. The Cavaliers have allowed two sacks in two games, and have helped the rushing attack gain 247.5 yards per game and gain 5.2 yards per attempt. Head coach Tony Elliott takes full advantage of the line, and has run the ball over 47 times in two games.
"They work really well together," defensive coordinator Zac Alley said. "They’re talented. They’re obviously experienced. That probably plays into knowing what to do."
Part of the experience comes with not making mistakes. They don't allow free rushers, they pick up on pressure, and they know how to change to different fronts since they've played so much football.
"They challenge you that way because they are consistent, and you can tell that they’ve played a lot of snaps," Alley said. "They understand where things are going to come from and how they’re supposed to block it."
Alley and the defensive line have their work cut out for them. Virginia head coach Tony Elliot said the story of the game is going to be in the trenches. The Mountaineers’ defensive line, which has had its ups and downs, will go against the experienced Virginia line. It could be the difference-maker in the game.
WVU's defensive front has experience of its own, bringing in experienced defensive linemen and linebackers. They definitely have played 11,000 snaps, but the front seven isn't a bunch of freshmen.
The defense has been disruptive in the backfield. WVU has seven, which is tied for sixth in the FBS, and has 18 tackles for loss. The Mountaineers had even more pressures. The front has only allowed 100 rushing yards per game, too.
But WVU hasn't faced an offensive line like this. The Mountaineers racked up numbers against a Group of Six and FCS school. Now, it faces the first Power Four offensive line, which might be the best line in the country and definitely the most experienced.
To Cutter, age is just a number.
"I have faith in our D-line and backers to fit in the right gaps and make sure they're doing everything right," Cutter said. "I think as long as we're on point, and like I said earlier, if we're able to get our cleats in the ground, which we will be able to do, it shouldn't be a problem."