Injuries to Force West Virginia Football to Turn to QB Garrett Greene for Rushing Yards

MORGANTOWN, W.Va – There is one player in particular who may actually benefit from all of West Virginia’s injuries. This is a player who some fans have even been clamoring for awhile now too.

This player is quarterback Garrett Greene. And while detailing his depleted roster, most notably the uncertainty around his running game and the fact he has no options to add more true backs, WVU head coach Neal Brown did mention that part of his strategy to manufacture rushing yards in less traditional manner may come by using Greene more.

Hearing Greene’s name mentioned in a reference to more usage is music some members of Mountaineer Nation’s ears. There was a contingent who wanted Greene to start at quarterback in the past, granted that is more out of the question now in terms of starting with veteran JT Daniels now on the team.

WVU HC Neal Brown mentions QB Garrett Greene could be used more for ground work with running backs out. He did add that he’s still a QB regardless, but deserves to play more too.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) November 1, 2022

The thinking behind incorporating Greene more with CJ Donaldson out for the rest of the season and Tony Mathis’ status up in the air is simply. He can run. And he can run fast. Greene has the ability to extend plays and exhaust defenders having to chase him. Any concerns of his ability to throw the ball constantly to ever garner more of a look as signal caller aren’t relevant when it comes to using him more right now this year.

Brown did make it clear Greene is a quarterback and this does not mean any type of look of him switching positions permanently. “He’s just a good football player,” offensive coordinator Graham Harrell said when asked about how he may use Greene. The only true glimpse of what he may offer for the ground game this season came in a 59-yard day on only 3 attempts against Towson.

Present, Future of QB Position a Bright Spot for WVU

It’s unlikely sprinkling in more from Greene as a runner will fix an issue of not having enough running backs, but WVU does at least have the luxury of a player on their roster who can gain yards on the ground in his own way, helping to keep the offense balanced and being necessary to set up Daniels and the passing game.

Does this mean more of the packages fans have already been seeing from Greene? Does this mean new plays are used that only make sense for Greene in an increased role? Is it possible to see Greene out there and still see Daniels under center in the same play? These are the questions that may soon get answers. Either way, more of Greene is likely to happen, and needs to happen based on circumstances, whatever that means for the Mountaineers.