Know Your Foe: West Virginia Brings Dynamic Ground Attack Into Big 12 Opener

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Oklahoma State's first Big 12 test of the Eric Morris era comes against one of the conference's early surprises.

West Virginia enters Saturday night's matchup in Morgantown at 3-0 for the first time since 2018, fresh off a 38-27 upset of then-No. 25 Virginia. The Mountaineers received 93 votes in the latest AP poll and sit just outside the Top 25.

For a team that went 4-8 last season, Rich Rodriguez's second year back at West Virginia has already taken a much different direction.

Here's what Oklahoma State will be dealing with Saturday.

Michael Hawkins Jr. Has Been One of the Country's Most Dangerous Quarterbacks

Everything starts with Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins Jr. Hawkins was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for all five West Virginia touchdowns against Virginia. He completed 10-of-17 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns while adding 123 yards and three scores on 18 carries.

Through three games, Hawkins has completed 26-of-38 passes for 477 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He's been even more dangerous on the ground, rushing for 322 yards and six touchdowns.

His 18.3 yards per completion leads the FBS, while West Virginia says his 217.3 passing efficiency and 12.6 yards per attempt lead the Big 12.

Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris knows the danger of committing too many defenders to Hawkins' legs.

“Once you bring those safeties down, it opens up some seams,” Morris said this week.

Cam Cook Gives WVU Another Running Threat

Containing Hawkins won't be enough. Senior running back Cam Cook has rushed for 317 yards on 70 carries through three games. Against Virginia, he matched Hawkins with 123 rushing yards while carrying the ball 30 times.

The combination has helped West Virginia average 281.3 rushing yards per game, sixth-best nationally. The Mountaineers have surpassed 247 rushing yards in each of their first three games.

OSU safety Mose Phillips III specifically pointed to Cook's ability to run through contact as something the Cowboys must account for.

“Cam Cook is a good back,” Phillips said. “He deserves a lot of respect. Great contact balance getting downhill. Knows how to take a hit and shrug people off.”

That makes swarm tackling essential against an offense capable of creating an extra runner with Hawkins.

Don't Forget the Receivers

West Virginia's passing volume isn't overwhelming — the Mountaineers average only 177 passing yards per game — but the threat is still there.

DJ Epps demonstrated that against Virginia, catching three passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring receptions of 29 and 21 yards. Jaden Bray also delivered a 38-yard reception during a fourth-quarter scoring drive.

Phillips believes the receiving corps creates problems even when it isn't catching the football.

“They have a good receiving corps that blocks really hard,” Phillips said. “They know to position block. They know what to do to create seams in their scheme and on the perimeter block good as well.”

That's an important component of a Rodriguez offense designed to force defenders to make decisions in space.

West Virginia's Defense Has a Vulnerability

The matchup flips when Oklahoma State gets the football. West Virginia allows 365.7 total yards per game, ranking 94th nationally, while its 246.7 passing yards allowed per game ranks 114th.

That's an intriguing matchup for Drew Mestemaker and an OSU offense averaging 306.3 passing yards and 528 total yards per game.

The Mountaineers have improved defensively since allowing Coastal Carolina to move the football through the air in the opener. They held UT Martin to 170 passing yards before limiting Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula to 197. West Virginia also sacked Pribula three times and held Virginia to 6-of-16 on third down.

Morris expects defensive coordinator Zac Alley to create pressure from numerous areas.

“Coming from everywhere, and we'll have to do a good job of identifying fronts,” Morris said. “Be able to communicate in a hostile environment.”

The Bottom Line

West Virginia isn't complicated to understand, even if Rodriguez's offense can be difficult to defend.

The Mountaineers want to run. Then run some more. And once a defense begins committing extra bodies toward Hawkins and Cook, West Virginia has shown it can punish that decision through the air.

It's a fascinating challenge for an Oklahoma State defense allowing just 267.3 total yards and 100 rushing yards per game.

The Cowboys can't simply stop Hawkins. They have to account for Hawkins, Cook, the blocking around them and the explosive passes Rodriguez can manufacture once defenders begin creeping toward the line of scrimmage.

Welcome to Big 12 play.

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