College Football Rankings 2018: Alabama, Clemson top way-too-early Top 25

The 2017 season did not end on a high note for the West Virginia Mountaineers. New quarterback Will Grier led the squad to a 7-3 start, with all three losses and two victories coming against ranked teams. Unfortunately, Grier suffered an ugly hand injury against Texas that ended his season. With their best player sidelined, the Mountaineers lost their final three games (twice to unranked foes), none of which were particularly close.

Strengths:

Regardless of how the season ended, optimism is high in Morgantown. The injury to Grier might have been a blessing in disguise. After passing for 3,490 yards and 34 touchdowns in 11 starts, the rising senior signal caller decided to return to school for his second year in Dana Holgorsen’s offense instead of rehabbing his injury while auditioning for NFL scouts in preparation for the draft.

David Sills V, a pleasant surprise who tied for the FBS lead with 18 touchdown catches, is also back, as is leading receiver Gary Jennings, who caught 97 passes for 1,096 yards a year ago. Grier also has the benefit of four starters returning on the offensive line (a unit that was not responsible for the QB’s injury since Grier was hurt diving for extra yardage on a bootleg).

With an explosive offense, a handful of key starters returning on defense, and a schedule set up for WVU to be favored in at least its first eight games, the Mountaineers look like Big 12 title contenders.

Weaknesses:

Life can be hellish for Big 12 defenses, and West Virginia must replace its two tacklers from last season in all-around playmakers Al-Rasheed Benton and Kyzir White, as well as its top two corners, Elijah Battle and Mike Daniels.