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West Virginia football season preview 2020: Record predictions, depth chart analysis, breakout players

By Nick Villano

MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Jarret Doege #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers throws a pass down field against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Jarret Doege #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers throws a pass down field against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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Tykee Smith #23 of the West Virginia Mountaineers (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Tykee Smith #23 of the West Virginia Mountaineers (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

West Virginia football breakout players to watch

The conversation for potential breakout players on this team starts with Jarret Doege. The West Virginia quarterback was a transfer from Bowling Green that was an afterthought because of Austin Kendall, but he looks like he is straight-up better right now. The best stretch of the Mountaineers’ season came in the three games Doege was under center.

He was wildly inconsistent last season, but when he was on it sure was pretty. Doege has the ability to make the highlight-reel plays. Now he has to learn how to make the smart plays. Every play doesn’t have to go for 30 yards. If he understands his role, then he can bring this team to impressive heights.

If the Mountaineers offensive line isn’t a complete terror, then Doege has a chance to be another Big 12 QB that becomes a star. That protection will allow those big plays to develop, and Doege can make a few things happen if the play breaks down.

Two other players to watch are on the defensive side. They are in wildly different positions in this scheme. Tykee Smith is about as locked in as anyone in the system. VanDarius Cowan is still fighting for a starting spot.

Starting with Smith, he could turn into the Big 12’s best safety. Trevon Moehrig currently holds the crown, and it’s not close. Smith has the skills to make it a conversation this season. He has a long hill to climb but look at all he does already. As a freshman, Smith was deflecting passes, causing turnovers, making big tackles, getting into the backfield, and even scored a touchdown against Iowa State. If just a few more things go right, he could be the centerpiece of this defense before you know it.

Cowan could literally be anything and one could believe it. He missed most of last season with a knee injury. This was after he was forced to sit out the 2018 season after transferring to West Virginia. Now, Cowan has one more chance to prove he’s not a wasted talent. The linebacker was once a top-100 recruit, and one of the best linebacker talents in the country. Then, he was arrested at a bar and was almost immediately dismissed from Alabama.

Cowan’s been called a physical freak, a man capable of making a lot of money playing football, someone with all the talent to become a star. He’s gone right from off-the-field issues to eligibility issues to injuries. Everything besides on-field play is keeping Cowan from dominating. Now, it all has to come together for him. This is the season to prove he’s the star he was meant to be four years ago.

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