Morgantown, West Virginia – When redshirt senior quarterback Jarret Doege announced that he was leaving the West Virginia Mountaineers and would find a new home in 2022, it sent shockwaves through the state.
Doege, who passed for 6,453 yards and 40 touchdowns in his 2 and 1/2 seasons with the Mountaineers, certainly faced his fair share of criticism during his time in Morgantown. With that said, his decision to leave was what was best for everyone involved.
Jarret Doege Likely Saved Neal Brown’s Job
If Neal Brown brought back Jarret Doege as his starter in 2022, he would have likely lost a huge part of the fan base. It’s unclear what the conversation between Jarret Doege and Neal Brown was like, but it was obviously an uncomfortable situation for both.
Neal Brown is a very loyal coach and almost certainly would not have pushed Doege out the door. It would have been very interesting to be a fly on the wall for their discussion about the future, but ultimately Doege had the decision to return or to leave. If he returned, it would have made things very difficult for Neal Brown. When he announced that he was leaving, Neal Brown was unquestionably relieved.
Doege’s departure gives Brown and the Mountaineers’ offense a fresh start, and Doege has an opportunity to play another year elsewhere. It worked out well for everyone.
Jarret Doege Handled Himself Like a Professional
By all accounts, Jarret Doege was an outstanding teammate on and off the field, and he clearly gave his best effort, despite perhaps not having Power 5 Conference talent. Doege faced tremendous criticism and handled himself with class during his time at West Virginia.
Doege could have lashed out at his coaching staff, his teammates, the fans, his critics, but he instead he represented himself and the state of West Virginia respectfully.
Best of Luck to Jarret Doege Moving Forward
It’s unclear how coveted Doege will be by other college football teams. After all, he is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the history of college football, but he has poor pocket presence and mobility, and he struggled to throw the ball downfield consistently.
With a year of solid coaching and six seasons of college experienced, however, who knows, although it’s unlikely, maybe he could work himself into becoming an NFL or professional football prospect.
Regardless of where he ends up, we wish him nothing but the best. Although it didn’t work out at West Virginia, we will be rooting for his success elsewhere.
