Colton McKivitz Serves as an Example for WVU Linemen to Work Toward

After last season, offensive tackle Colton McKivitz had a decision to make.

He could either forego his final year of college eligibility and enter the NFL draft, where he was almost certain to be selected, or he could return to a WVU team that would have an all-new coaching staff and an offense that would have all new players around him. McKivitz, now a redshirt senior, decided to stay in college to try and make himself a better player, much to the delight of co-offensive coordinator Matt Moore.

“I’m sure glad he stayed, and I’m sure he is too,” Moore said. “He’s made himself a better player. He’s definitely the best player on the field when you flip on our film. He’s a lot more aggressive than he was in the past, plays a lot harder. He’s developed some leadership skills. Technique-wise I thought he’s gotten better, he’s gotten stronger.”

McKivitz is attracting even more attention from the pros than last year. Moore said he makes every scout that wants to talk about McKivitz watch his film from this season before he’ll talk to them so they can see how much better he’s gotten.”

Moore said McKivitz’s versatility and preparation are what set him apart from other linemen.

“He played guard in the Oklahoma game last year, he played right tackle all year, he’s played left tackle now. Can he snap? He probably can, he’s a really smart football kid, he studies really hard, takes great notes,” Moore said. “He’s everything you could ask for as far as an offensive lineman when it comes to preparing for the game and preparing his body. He’s very mature when it comes to all that stuff.”

After being WVU’s primary right tackle for all of 2018, McKivitz switched to left tackle for this season and, despite the praise from Moore, still thinks he has room to improve.

“Switching to left tackle is obviously going to be a challenge. I would like to see myself play better with the footwork aspect and some pass pro aspects of it, but really I think the biggest part that’s improved the most is the physicality point of it,” McKivitz said. “The biggest reason I wanted to come back was to get stronger and use that year in the weight room to become a more dominant player and I think, in the games so far, it’s showed.”

Outside of senior right tackle Kelby Wickline, the rest of West Virginia’s offensive line is young and inexperienced. Left guard James Gmitter and center Briason Mays are both redshirt freshmen. Gmitter was a defensive lineman this time last season and, at the beginning of the year, Mays could not snap the ball consistently enough to play. Moore hopes to use McKivitz as an example for the younger players to work towards and both Gmitter and Mays have improved enough to become full-time starters.

“You can explain (hard work) to people, but when they see it first hand, that’s when we had a lot of success at Troy,” Moore said. “It really helps to have a guy in the room like that where they can see it directly every day in film, on the field and understand how it’s supposed to be done.”

“I think I’ve become more of a vocal guy this year,” McKivitz said. “I’ve always come in with the idea of leading by example, I think, so far, the young guys are taking advantage of that. They’re learning, they’re playing physical. Kind of the one thing I harp on them a lot is every chance you get is a chance to hit someone.”