Morgantown, WV – Believe it or not, it has been more than half a decade since the Mountaineers last won 9 or more games. West Virginia has not tasted so many victories in a season since 2016. Last night, with a 30-10 win over North Carolina in the Mayo Bowl, Neal Brown finally achieved that feat in impressive fashion.
The foundation has been set for the Mountaineers to have future success. The talent is there, the team now has an identity, and Brown has WVU ready to hit the ground rolling in 2024.
Today, I am sharing my final five thoughts of the 2023 season.
- Beanie Bishop is special – To say that Bishop was the steal of the last transfer portal window would be an understatement. After putting together a Consensus All-American season, the Minnesota transfer put a bow on his 2023 season with a 78-yard punt return touchdown – the first of his career. He will be hard to replace in a defense that brings back a lot of talent.
- The offense should be elite in 2024 – With most of the production returning in 2024, WVU’s offense should take another step forward next season. Now that the team has found their identity, don’t be surprised if many outlets peg the Mountaineers as having one of the best units in the Big 12. If they can find replacements on the offensive line, look out.
- The defense still needs change – The Mountaineer defense put on a show last night. Holding the Tar Heels to 10 points and forcing 3 turnovers should be enough to retain the entire staff, right? Well, I think maybe not. No, I’m not calling for Lesley’s job, but this unit is seemingly one correct staff move away from being elite. I firmly believe the secondary needs new leadership, and I’ll continue to stand on that stance.
- Garrett Greene could be a Heisman contender – Call me crazy, but I think Greene could be in store for a historical 2024. If he can clean up his completion percentage, there is no doubt in my mind that he will be one of the best signal-callers in the nation next year. Don’t be surprised if his name is mentioned in Heisman talk at some point in 2024.
- 2023 will be remembered as the year the “Climb” began – I know many are sick of hearing about it, but the Mountaineers are climbing, folks. Securing 9 wins will go a long way in laying the foundation for future success. If Neal Brown can retain his top talent, this season will be seen as the official beginning of WVU’s “Climb” under Brown.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
