Cover Photo: WVU Athletics
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player every year and although it’s a bit of a reach to consider West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene as an early contender for the Heisman, he will certainly have every opportunity to compete for the honor.
Greene, who will be a 5th year senior next season, still believes he has a lot of room for improvement in his game. “I had a decent year this year, but it wasn’t up to my expectations nor to what I’m fully capable of, so just staying the course and finding those few things that really make the difference to becoming a better quarterback,” Greene said. “It all starts with my feet, especially throwing left,” Greene continued. “Being a shorter guy, sometimes I try and fight to get my release point high. I don’t really have a problem going to my right, but to my left, I try and lean to get it high and that leads to my inaccuracy. That’s the main one. The other is tying my feet and my eyes together. My eyes will be going through my progressions and then my feet will get stuck on my second read.”
Head coach Neal Brown agreed with Greene during his interview prior to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina. “He wasn’t ready until he was ready and now since he’s been ready, he’s been highly productive,” Brown said. “But he’s still got a lot of growth he can make in his game.”
Brown continued: “For him, it’s about accuracy in the intermediate throws, and we’ve got to do a much better job throwing the ball to our left,” Brown explained. “Then, some of his scrambles, being more accurate throwing the ball in those areas. Those are a couple of fundamental flaws he’s got to get fixed and once he does, then I think you are going to see his completion percentage go up as much as 8-10 percentage points.”
If Greene can polish his decision-making and do the easy things more consistently, he has the potential to be one of the very best quarterbacks in the Big 12 and even in the nation. Greene, who passed for 2,178 yards, 15 touchdowns and only 4 inteceptions, as well as running 111 times for 708 yards and 13 touchdowns, had an outstanding season this year, but next season has the potential to be really special for him and the Mountaineers.
“I’ve still got to prove a lot more people wrong,” Greene added.
Garrett Greene’s 2024 Heisman Campaign Starts Tonight! #HAILWV pic.twitter.com/vhfoOaqgog
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) December 27, 2023
