WVU Football Provides Silver Lining Despite Another Defensive Nightmare
Story by
WVU Football Provides Silver Lining Despite Another Defensive Nightmare
AMES, IA - OCTOBER 3: Wide receiver Prince Strachan #17 of the West Virginia Mountaineers is tackled by linebacker Sullivan Schlimgen #7, and linebacker Carson Willich #10 of the Iowa State Cyclones as he rushes for yards in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on October 3, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 45-42 over the West Virginia Mountaineers. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) Getty
Anthony G Halkias II
·
4 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 31: Prince Strachan #17 of the Boise State Broncos is tackled by Audavion Collins #29 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) Getty
West Virginia football continues to find new ways to frustrate its fan base, but Saturday's 52-31 loss to Arizona wasn't completely without positives. While the Mountaineers' defense once again struggled to keep the opposition off the scoreboard, one offensive player delivered the kind of performance that should have WVU fans excited about what comes next.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Junior wide receiver Prince Strachan finally gave West Virginia a glimpse of just how dangerous he can be.
Strachan entered Saturday's contest with only four receptions for 46 yards through the Mountaineers' first five games. Against Arizona, however, the 6-foot-5 receiver exploded for five catches and 121 yards, averaging an impressive 24.2 yards per reception. That was his third game of the season, as he missed the first two contests getting healthy.
For a team desperately searching for consistency, Strachan's breakout could prove to be one of the most encouraging developments of the season.
WVU's Prince Strachan Gives Mountaineers Something to Build Around
There is something particularly frustrating about watching West Virginia's offense discover new ways to move the football while thedefense continues to surrender pointsat an alarming rate.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Mountaineers have now allowed 138 points over their last three games, putting enormous pressure on their offense to produce nearly every time it touches the football.
That is not a sustainable formula for winning, regardless of how talented the offensive personnel might be with QB Michael Hawkins Jr., RB Cam Cook and company. However, Strachan's performance provides a reason to believe this offense still has another level it can reach.
Before arriving in Morgantown, Strachan spent two seasons at Boise State, recording 37 receptions for 578 yards and three touchdowns. He later transferred to USC, where an injury interrupted his opportunity to establish himself.
The physical talent has never been particularly difficult to recognize. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Strachan presents a difficult matchup for defensive backs, especially when he has room to operate downfield. What West Virginia needed was evidence that those tools could translate into meaningful production. Saturday provided exactly that.
GettyGLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 31: Prince Strachan #17 of the Boise StateBroncosis tackled by Audavion Collins #29 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
The most exciting part is what his emergence could mean for the rest of the receiving corps. With Jaden Bray and DJ Epps also capable of creating problems for opposing defenses, Strachan gives the Mountaineers another legitimate option that opponents must account for. Defenses cannot simply focus on one receiving threat without potentially exposing themselves somewhere else.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Of course, five catches against Arizona do not automatically make Strachan a star. He still needs to demonstrate that he can produce consistently as opponents begin preparing specifically for him. But there is a difference between hoping a player can become a difference-maker and actually watching him do it.
WVU fans witnessed the latter on Saturday. The Mountaineers still have serious defensive problems that cannot be ignored, and one breakout performance will not erase another disappointing loss. Nevertheless, Strachan gave West Virginia something it desperately needed: a legitimate reason for optimism about the offense's future.
