Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
8 4 A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Penn State hasn't visited Mor- gantown since 1992, but it's surely no more hospitable now than it was back when a young quarterback named Kerry Collins, making his first career start, threw for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns to lift the Nittany Lions to a 40-26 victory in their final season as a football independent. While the border rivalry went on hiatus after the Lions joined the Big Ten, it was revived last year and got a little heated after the hosts tacked on a touchdown with six seconds remaining in a 38-15 victory in Bea- ver Stadium. Mountaineers coach Neal Brown said afterward he wasn't bothered by the late score but added that "what goes around comes around. At some point, it'll come back around. I don't know when." If it does come back around, it'll probably have to be on Aug. 31, be- cause the series appears destined for another lengthy hiatus after this year's game. Fortunately for Brown, West Vir- ginia appears capable of exacting its re- venge. The Mountaineers return 14 starters from a team that went 9-4 last year with a 30-10 rout of North Carolina in the Dukes Mayo Bowl, earning Brown a one-year contract extension that takes him through the 2027 season. West Virginia's breakout offensive star last year was running back Jahiem White. The 5-foot-7, 195-pounder from York, Pa., totaled 842 yards and 4 touchdowns on only 109 carries (7.7 yards per attempt) as a true freshman. He didn't see ac- tion against Penn State but played in the Mountaineers' remaining 12 games and topped 100 yards in four of them. West Virginia also brings back senior quarterback Garrett Greene, who was re- cently listed by Pro Football Focus as the top returning quarterback in the Big 12 with a 90.9 offensive grade. Last year, Greene completed 53.1 per- cent of his attempts for 2,406 yards, with 16 touchdowns and 4 intercep- tions. A true dual-threat quarter- back, he also was third on the team in rushing with 772 yards and 13 scores. The Mountaineers used the trans- fer portal to boost their receivers room, landing Jaden Bray in Janu- ary and Justin Robinson in May. Bray previously spent three seasons at Oklahoma State, catching 30 passes for 382 yards as a redshirt sophomore last year. Robinson started out at Georgia before heading to Mississippi State, where he caught 51 passes for 583 yards over the past two seasons. The two new pass catchers will be looking to help answer the Moun- taineers' biggest lingering question this fall. On defense, one of West Virginia's top priorities has been to solidify its second- ary following the departure of All-Amer- ica cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. Transfer Garnett Hollis Jr. was a nice pickup. Hol- lis started at Northwestern in 2023 and brings a wealth of Power Five experience. He'll join senior safety Aubrey Burks, a do-it-all player whose statistical port- folio last year included 48 total tackles (seventh on the team), 4 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups and 2 intercep- tions. — Matt Herb A U G . 3 1 | N O O N | F O X | M I L A N P U S K A R S T A D I U M | M O R G A N T O W N , W . V A . Pro Football Focus recently labeled senior Garrett Greene the top returning quarterback in the Big 12 this year. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL GAME 1 WEST VIRGINIA 2024 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2023 Result Aug. 31 Penn State L, 38-15 Sept. 7 Albany — Sept. 14 at Pitt W, 17-6 Sept. 21 Kansas — Oct. 5 at Oklahoma State L, 48-34 Oct. 12 Iowa State — Oct. 19 Kansas State — Oct. 28 at Arizona — Nov. 9 at Cincinnati W, 42-21 Nov. 16 Baylor W, 34-31 Nov. 23 UCF W, 41-28 Nov. 30 at Texas Tech W, 20-13 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Penn State leads 49-9-2 Last Meeting: Drew Allar threw for 325 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first career start, and the Nittany Lions defeated visiting West Virginia, 38-15, on Sept. 2, 2023 Head Coach: Neal Brown (31-29 in five seasons at West Virginia; career coaching record: 66-45) 2023 Record: 9-4, 6-3 Big 12 Returning Starters: 14 (7 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists) RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Jahiem White (842 yards, 4 TD) Passing: QB Garrett Greene (2,406 yards, 16 TD) Receiving: TE Kole Taylor (444 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: S Anthony Wilson Jr. (80) Sacks: DE Sean Martin (4) Interceptions: S Aubrey Burks (2) BEST-CASE SCENARIO The Mountaineers ranked third in the FBS in rushing last season at 228.9 yards per game, and they figure to be potent again this fall. An effective ground-control offense should be West Virginia's ticket to a bowl game for the fourth time in five seasons. WORST-CASE SCENARIO West Virginia's defense has questions in the secondary and linebacker corps. If the Mountaineers don't find some answers, they could have trouble matching last year's 9-4 record.