Neal Brown Names Junior Uzebu as WVU’s Starting Left Tackle

On his radio show last night, West Virginia head coach announced that junior Jarret Doege would be the team’s starting quarterback to open the season. He also announced who would be tasked with defending his blindside, redshirt-sophomore left tackle Junior Uzebu.

Uzebu had been battling with redshirt-freshman Brandon Yates all throughout training camp for the job. Whoever won would have the loft challenge of replacing 2019 starter Colton McKivitz, who himself replaced 2018 starter Yodny Cajuste.

Both McKivitz and Cajuste left good legacies at left tackle as each was named Big 12 Co-Offensive Linemen of the Year following their respective years playing the position. Both were also NFL draft picks with Cajuste going to the Patriots and McKivitz to the 49ers.

Now it will be Uzebu’s turn. The Atlanta, Georgia native was rated as a three-star recruit coming out of Alpharetta High School. He chose WVU overs offers from Minnesota, Kansas, Maryland, Pitt, NC State and Syracuse, among others.

After redshirting in 2018, Uzebu sat behind McKivitz last season, seeing limited time in a pair of games in the middle of the season. WVU’s tackles, McKivitz and fellow senior Kelby Wickline, played well last season, allowing the third-least number of sacks with just 21.

The announcement of Uzebu now completes WVU’s starters along the offensive line heading into the season.

LT: Junior Uzebu
LG: James Gmiter
C: Chase Behrndt
RG: Michael Brown
RT: John Hughes