Key Player Admits to Startling Oversight by WVU Defense While Scheming for Pitt QB

PITTSBURGH – West Virginia’s issues defensively have been clear all season, but a key player made a startling comment immediately following a 38-34 loss to Pitt on Saturday. WVU defensive lineman T.J. Jackson admitted being surprised by Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein.

Jackson admitted that he was not ready for what he eventually saw from Pitt’s redshirt freshman quarterback. And while so much of the focus centers around the pass defense, and rightfully so, Holstein beat the Mountaineers with both his arm and legs.

In addition to throwing for 301 yards, Holstein also ran for 59 yards, with a significant amount coming on the Panthers’ game winning drive in the final two minutes.

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But Jackson said that he wasn’t expecting Holstein to scramble that much and didn’t see him move like that on film while preparing for the game. However, Holstein did in fact scramble during Pitt’s comeback win over Cincinnati the week prior to the Backyard Brawl.

Holstein ran for 36 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per rush against the Bearcats. In that game, Holstein led Pitt back from a 27-6 deficit to eventually win 28-27.

To be fair to Jackson, he did record six tackles, including three as solo tackles, in his first start as a Mountaineer.

Jackson’s comments have used as fuel for WVU fans looking for the program to make a change coaching wise, most notably with the man in charge of making sure the defense is fully prepared each week.

To that end, WVU defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley’s X account has been removed as of early Sunday morning.

The West Virginia defense blew a 10-point lead in the final minutes of the game as Holstein carved up the Mountaineer secondary. This came a week after WVU allowed an FCS quarterback to find success passing as well.

By throwing for 306 yards, Albany quarterback Myles Burkett accumulated the most passing yards ever produced by any FCS opponent against a WVU team. In fact, Albany became the first FCS program to ever reach and surpass 300 yards through the air against the Mountaineers.

For a related story, WVU head coach Neal Brown didn’t make any excuses after blowing the Backyard Brawl to Pitt.