Connect with us

WVU Football

Spavital on the Coaching Carousel?

Published

on

247sports

The past week in college football has been nothing short of craziness. Whether it is Pitt doing Pitt things and spoiling other teams’ seasons or Alabama falling to Auburn or the dumpster fire that has claimed Tennessee’s coaching search. This is that time of the year where coaches are getting hired, fired, or even retiring. A lot of change happens in the latter part of November and early December and West Virginia could potentially be one of those teams that will be forced to make a change.

After his first season returning to Morgantown, offensive coordinator Jake Spavital is starting to hear his name whispered around as a potential head coach candidate. While many fans feel like Spavital had an interesting year of play calling, the offense, for the most part, did their job. When Holgorsen announced that Spavital would be returning to West Virginia, I had a gut feeling that it would not be a long stay.

South Alabama has been a school that has continuously been repeated as a landing destination for him. I also look at other Group of 5 schools that will (potentially) be losing their head coaches to Power 5 schools such as SMU, UCF, Memphis and maybe Florida Atlantic. There are of course many other schools that will need a head coach and it will be up to Spavital to determine if he is ready for the role at this point in his career.

In 2017, he helped produce one of the nations best stories in quarterback turned receiver David Sills V, who is now a Biletnikoff finalist (Best WR in the nation). Sills V was not the only receiver to have a big year. Fellow receivers Ka’Raun White and Gary Jennings had solid seasons and with a realistic shot for all three to end the year with 1,000+ yards receiving. Florida transfer Will Grier had a tremendous season after sitting out a year by tossing 34 touchdowns and throwing for nearly 3,500 yards. The team finished the regular season 12th in total offense (was top 5 before Grier injury), 22nd in offensive efficiency and 8th in passing while averaging 36.3 points per game.

With nearly 70% of this years offensive production returning next year, it may be in Spavital’s best interest to hang around another season and put up bigger and better numbers, but that will be a risk he will have to take. Spavital is a great young football mind and a great guy off the field. Whatever he chooses, I wish him the best of luck as this will be a hard decision for not only him but his family to make especially if the right job comes calling.

Get WVSN in your mailbox!

Enter your email address to subscribe to WVSN and receive notifications of new posts by email.

COMPLETE COVERAGE