Did Kansas Game Change Neal Brown’s Plan for Rodney Gallagher?

After coming to West Virginia as one of the most hyped recruits in the history of the program, Rodney Gallagher waited his turn and was rewarded with the game-winning catch in WVU’s comeback win over Kansas. But now that Gallagher has a big moment as a receiver on his college resume, will that translate into more of a role on offense moving forward?

WVU head coach Neal Brown was asked what Gallagher’s most recent performance means for his role the rest of the season during his weekly press conference on Monday.

WVU HC Neal Brown says Rodney Gallagher will go back to also getting time on defense. He will see snaps on both sides of the ball with the expectation Preston Fox is back to full swing.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) September 23, 2024

“I think we’ll get back this week and start working him back on defense,” said Brown. “We’ll get him back in the mix defensively this week, and with an expectation, we’ll get some of our receivers back too.”

With veteran Preston Fox expected to be back in full swing after the bye week, it doesn’t sound like there’s room to move Gallagher up the receiver depth chart just yet. Gallagher’s athleticism also still makes Brown want to keep truing him on defense, too.

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

But that doesn’t means Brown hasn’t been impressed with how Gallagher has played so far this season. Gallagher also filled in for Fox as the punt returner most of the Kansas game and Brown has been open about that job being his next year.

“He’s done a nice job with the ball in his hands. He had two nice runs, had a great punt return and then he did some really good things. And I was proud because he’s really been unselfish, and he was rewarded for that with the game-winning catch,” explained Brown.

Gallagher has already surpassed his production as a receiver from his freshman season, bringing in eight catches for 121 yards and scoring his first college touchdown.

For a related story, Neal Brown and his players express being “extra happy” for Rodney Gallagher after he caught the game-winning touchdown to beat Kansas.