With football season right around the corner, it is only a few days until Neal Brown and his team take the practice field to prepare for the Backyard Brawl on September 1st. Understandably, while much of the attention is going to incoming transfer quarterback JT Daniels and other skill position players, the offensive line will go largely unrecognized even though they are fundamental to the success of the offense entering the 2022 campaign.
Under offensive line coach Matt Moore, this unit looks to improve upon Leddie Brown’s 1,000-yard rushing campaign from a season ago. With all five starters from last season returning, this unit’s continuity will prove helpful given the time it takes for the lineman to build chemistry with one another. If West Virginia wants to take a step forward on offense next season, this unit will be a big part of that. West Virginia gave up 38 sacks last year which was the most in the Big 12, and ranked 111th out of 130 teams.
The Projected Starters
West Virginia is in the rare position where they are one of seven schools in the entire FBS to return all five starters from last season. One such starter and the mainstay of the offensive line, James Gmiter, has started games for the Mountaineers since Neal Brown took over in 2019. Gmiter was not highly recruited out of high school, earning just two offers from Wisconsin and West Virginia. However, the redshirt junior from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is now the elder statesman of the starters and looks to take on a leadership role mentoring the younger players on the unit. Last season, Gmiter started all thirteen games and was a significant reason Leddie Brown rushed for 1,000 yards.
Doug Nester is the only other junior who will be a starter going into the season this year. The right guard began his career at Virginia Tech, choosing the Hokies after de-committing from Ohio State. After starting two seasons in Blacksburg, the 6’7″ Kenova, West Virginia, product transferred back to his home state. Starting all 13 games for the Mountaineers last season, Nestor earned an All-Big 12 team selection according to PFF College. The guard looks to continue his success by anchoring the interior offensive line and paving the way for the West Virginia running backs.
The final interior starter, Zach Frazier, has been shifting around the offensive line since his freshman year. After choosing West Virginia over Louisville and Stanford, Frazier earned the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team selection in 2020. The Fairmont, West Virginia, product started at left guard and was the first true freshman to start for the Moutainnerrs in 40 years. Frazier took his play to another level his sophomore season, earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors by PFF College and All-American Second Team honors by AFCA and Walter Camp. In addition, his natural leadership abilities and familiarity with the other starters allow Mountaineers fans to be optimistic about their center’s play in 2022.
When Neal Brown took over for the Mountaineers in 2019, his objective was to recruit talented offensive linemen and build the team from the inside out. For the left tackle position, the most prominent role on the line, a stable and consistent player is almost a must to protect the quarterback. Brown has undoubtedly found these qualities in Wyatt Milum. The 6’6″, 308-pound tackle grew up in Kenova, West Virginia, with fellow starter Doug Nester. While it is not typical for a West Virginia product to receive national attention, Milum decided to stay home and pick the Mountaineers over Alabama, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Georgia. As a true freshman, Milum started eight games at right tackle while also earning selections to the Freshman All-American Team from The Athletic and On3. Based on Milum’s talent and ability, coach Moore will likely move Wyatt to left tackle to start the 2022 season.
While most starters are from West Virginia and the northeast, Brandon Yates choose West Virginia from the West Coast. The three-star Las Vegas product has been in the program since 2019. While the tackle started eight games in 2020, Yates became a full-time starter in 2021 and anchored the left tackle position. With the emergence of Wyatt Milum, Yates may start at the right tackle position when the Mountaineers take the field against Pittsburgh.
Returning Members
Although we are seeing Neal Brown’s long-term plan unfold with recruits turning into prominent starters, the offensive line will also have much-needed depth if a starter goes down due to injury. Backing up Brandon Yates at right tackle, Ja’Quay Hubbard played in five games at left tackle last year and did not allow a sack. The redshirt sophomore from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, could see action if Yates’ play declines or he goes down with an injury. Nick Malone also backs up the left tackle position on the opposite side of the line. The redshirt junior grew up in Morgantown and saw action in all thirteen games last season, including a start against Oklahoma State. Chris Mayo, a redshirt sophomore from New Jersey, also provides extra depth at the tackle positions.
Coach Brown has done an excellent job not only stacking talent at the tackle positions but also for the interior of the offensive line. While Tomas Rimac, a redshirt freshman from Brunswick, Ohio, is the second string for both guard positions, Jordan White is slotted to back up Zach Frazier at center. Although White used his redshirt year in 2021, he saw a season-high 57 snaps against the 2021 Big-12 Champions; Baylor.
Redshirt sophomore Tyler Connolly, redshirt sophomore Sawn See, redshirt sophomore Donavan Beaver, redshirt freshman Dylan Ray, redshirt freshman Bryce Biggs, and redshirt freshman Jackson Oxley round out the unit.
Newcomers
Coach Neal Brown emphasized adding young talented offensive linemen when he first stepped onto the West Virginia campus. However, even with sixteen promising linemen on the roster, it is still essential to have an influx of new talent every season. Although they will likely not see game action this year, three freshman linemen have joined the West Virginia program this offseason. The highest-rated recruit out of these three is Landen Livingston. The offensive tackle received an 87 overall rating from 247sports and chose West Virginia over Michigan State, Iowa, and Cincinnati. Livingston is 6’4″, 290 pounds, and could display his promising athletic ability down the road for the Mountaineers.
Sullivan Weidman is the tallest lineman out of the three freshmen at 6’6″ and 315 pounds. The Franklin, Massachusetts native was the 6th recruit coming out of state last season and the 22nd guard in the class of 2022, according to Rivals. Weidman ultimately chose the Mountaineers over Pittsburgh, Michigan State, and Minnesota.
The final freshman in this year’s class is Charlie Katarincic out of Pittsburgh. While Katarincic primarily plays offensive tackle, he does have experience moving inside throughout his high school career. The lineman went to high school in Connecticut and was the number 4 recruit in the state. While Katarincic may not see the field this year, his high upside could see him cracking the starting lineup sooner rather than later.
Photo by Ben Queen, USA Today Sports
