2012 West Virginia Mountaineers football
Pinstripe Bowl, L 14–38 vs. Syracuse
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record7–6 (4–5 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorShannon Dawson (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorJoe DeForest (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinatorKeith Patterson (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumMountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
2012 Big 12 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 12 Kansas State $+   8 – 1     11 – 2  
No. 15 Oklahoma +   8 – 1     10 – 3  
No. 19 Texas   5 – 4     9 – 4  
Oklahoma State   5 – 4     8 – 5  
Baylor   4 – 5     8 – 5  
TCU   4 – 5     7 – 6  
Texas Tech   4 – 5     8 – 5  
West Virginia   4 – 5     7 – 6  
Iowa State   3 – 6     6 – 7  
Kansas   0 – 9     1 – 11  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2012 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Mountaineers' first season as members of the Big 12 Conference. In addition, the 2012 season was the first for the team since 1942 without a Backyard Brawl matchup against their top rival Pittsburgh due to their exit from the Big East Conference after the 2011 season. The Mountaineers were led by Dana Holgorsen in his second season as head coach. Joe DeForest and Keith Patterson served as co-defensive coordinators in their first season at WVU, while Shannon Dawson was elevated to offensive coordinator after serving as the team's receivers coach in the 2011 season. West Virginia played its home games on Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.

West Virginia, entered the 2012 season ranked 11th in AP Poll and were projected to contend with Oklahoma for the Big 12 in their first season in the conference. The Mountaineers won their first five games of the season, which included a shootout win over #25 Baylor on homecoming, and a high-scoring affair with #11 Texas. The Mountaineers who had risen up to #5 in the AP Poll, went on the road to face the Texas Tech, a game which they fell behind 35–7, and would ultimately lose 49–14. The Texas Tech loss was the start of 5–game losing streak, which saw the Mountaineers fall completely out the AP Poll, and out of Big 12 title contention. The Mountaineers recovered and won their final two games, to finish out the regular season with an 7–5 record, 4–5 in Big 12 play to finish in a four-way tie for fourth place. They were invited to the Pinstripe Bowl where they were defeated by longtime rival Syracuse.

Preseason

2012 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2012 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40‡ Commit date
Imarjaye Albury
DT 		Miami, FL Northwestern 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 280 lb (130 kg) – Mar 10, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Christian Brown
DT 		Bridgeton, NJ Bridgeton Senior 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 290 lb (130 kg) – Dec 16, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Roshard Burney
RB 		Palm Beach Gardens, FL Palm Beach Gardens 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 4.5 Nov 28, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Ford Childress
QB 		Houston, TX Kinkaid 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 4.8 Apr 19, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Torry Clayton
RB 		Homestead, FL South Dade 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 4.4 Jan 17, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Travares Copeland
ATH 		Port St. Lucie, FL Treasure Coast 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg) – Feb 1, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
K. J. Dillon
DB 		Apopka, FL Apopka 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 4.6 Dec 11, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
John DePalma
LS 		Cumming, GA Pinecrest Academy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 235 lb (107 kg) – Mar 3, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: –
Mark Glowinski
OT 		Scranton, PA Lackawanna C.C. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 290 lb (130 kg) – Jan 21, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: –
Jarrod Harper
DB 		Frostburg, MD Mountain Ridge 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 4.5 Feb 22, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 74
Korey Harris
DE 		Fruit Cove, FL Bartram Trail 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 230 lb (100 kg) 5.3 Jan 19, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Garrett Hope
LB 		The Woodlands, TX The Woodlands 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 4.7 Jan 21, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 69
Will Johnson
TE 		Osseo, MN Osseo 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 4.8 Dec 15, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Karl Joseph
DB 		Orlando, FL Edgewater 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 190 lb (86 kg) – Dec 15, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Darreal Joyner
WR 		Miami, FL Miami Central 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 4.4 Aug 1, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Eric Kinsey
DE 		Miami, FL Northwestern 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 240 lb (110 kg) 4.7 Feb 2, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Nana Kyeremeh
DB 		Worthington, OH Thomas Worthington 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 4.4 Jan 16, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Josh Lambert
K 		Garland, TX Garland 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) – Feb 2, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: –
Sam Lebbie
LB 		Hyattsville, MD DeMatha 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 240 lb (110 kg) 4.7 Jul 30, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Devonte Mathis
WR 		Miramar, FL Miramar 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 4.6 Nov 15, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Tony Matteo
OL 		Akron, OH Manchester 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 5.3 Jul 30, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: –
Deontay McManus
WR 		Baltimore, MD Dunbar 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 4.5 Jun 27, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Brandon Napoleon
ATH 		Jersey City, NJ St. Peter's Prep 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 4.5 Jun 18, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Noble Nwachukwu
DE 		Wylie, TX Wylie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 240 lb (110 kg) 4.7 Jul 30, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Tyler Orlosky
OL 		Lakewood, OH Lakewood St. Edward 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 290 lb (130 kg) 5.1 Jul 30, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Adam Pankey
OL 		Hamilton, OH Hamilton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 300 lb (140 kg) 5.1 Feb 1, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Devonte Robinson
WR 		Delray Beach, FL Village Academy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 4.5 Jul 13, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Rick Rumph
DB 		Daytona Beach, FL Mainland 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) – Jun 15, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: –
Jordan Thompson
WR 		Katy, TX Katy 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg) – Dec 1, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Sean Walters
DB 		Hallandale Beach, FL Hallandale 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) – Dec 11, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 26   Rivals: 48
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "West Virginia 2012 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  • "2012 West Virginia Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  • "2012 Player Commitments – West Virginia". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  • "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.

Big 12 media poll

  1. Oklahoma (32), 396
  2. West Virginia (7), 339
  3. Texas 291
  4. Oklahoma State, 267
  5. TCU (1), 260
  6. Kansas State (1), 257
  7. Baylor, 162
  8. Iowa State, 121
  9. Texas Tech, 116
  10. Kansas, 46

Awards candidates

Coaching staff

2012 Coaching Staff

Head coach

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

 

Special teams coaches

Support staff

  • Ryan Dorchester - Recruiting coordinator
  • Alex Hammond - Director of Football Operations
  • Mike Joseph - Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Dave Kerns - Head Athletic Trainer
  • Dan Nehlen - Equipment Manager
  • Quincy Wilson - Assistant Director of Football Operations

Roster

2012 West Virginia Mountaineers

Quarterbacks

  • 7 Ford Childress – Freshman Redshirt
  • 11 Travis Maraney – Freshman
  • 14 Paul Millard – Sophomore
  • 16 Logan Moore – Junior
  • 12 Geno Smith – Senior

Running backs

  • 20 Shawne Alston – Senior
  • 28 D'Vontis Arnold – Freshman Redshirt
  • 13 Andrew Buie – Sophomore
  • 32 Ryan Clarke – RS Senior
  • 88 Cody Clay – RS Freshman
  • 29 Dustin Garrison – Sophomore
  • 35 Anthony Gutta – RS Freshman
  • 27 D. J. Hunt – Freshman
  • 33 Nate Majnaric – RS Junior
  • 30 Donovan Miles – RS Senior
  • 36 Chris Smelley – RS Freshman

Receivers

  • 83 Connor Arlia – Sophomore
  • 1 Tavon Austin – Senior
  • 3 Stedman Bailey – RS Junior
  • 23 Dustin Brown – RS Sophomore
  • 15 Dante Campbell – RS Freshman
  • 17 Sam Eggleston – Freshman
  • 18 Terrence Gourdine – RS Sophomore
  • 89 Will Johnson – Freshman
  • 82 Devonte Mathis – Freshman
  • 5 Ivan McCartney – Junior
  • 19 K. J. Myers – RS Freshman
  • 80 Ryan Nehlen – RS Senior
  • 85 Devonte Robinson – Freshman
  • 10 Jordan Thompson – Freshman
  • 81 J. D. Woods – RS Senior
  

Offensive linemen

  • 60 John Bassler – RS Senior
  • 57 Jeff Braun -RS Senior
  • 63 Michael Calicchio – Junior
  • 76 Pat Eger – RS Junior
  • 62 Curtis Feight – RS Junior
  • 64 Mark Glowinski – Junior
  • 73 Russell Haughton-James – RS Freshman
  • 70 Brandon Jackson – RS Freshman
  • 77 Josh Jenkins – RS Senior
  • 79 Nick Kindler – RS Junior
  • 78 Marquis Lucas – RS Freshman
  • 74 Joe Madsen – RS Senior
  • 69 Tony Matteo – Freshman
  • 65 Tyler Orlosky – Freshman
  • 58 Adam Pankey – Freshman
  • 67 Quinton Spain – RS Sophomore

Defensive linemen

  • 94 Imarjaye Albury – Freshman
  • 95 Christian Brown – Freshman
  • 98 Will Clarke – RS Junior
  • 92 Trevor Demko – RS Sophomore
  • 17 Dozie Ezemma – RS Junior
  • 70 James Gayeski – RS Freshman
  • 95 Korey Harris – Freshman
  • 42 Garrett Hope – Freshman
  • 45 Eric Kinsey – Freshman
  • 91 J. B. Lageman – RS Senior
  • 97 Noble Nwachukwu – Freshman
  • 93 Kyle Rose – RS Freshman
  • 90 Shaq Rowell – Senior
  • 56 Jewone Snow – RS Sophomore
  • 99 Jorge Wright – RS Senior
  

Linebackers

  • 53 Tyler Anderson – RS Junior
  • 48 Justin Arndt – Freshman
  • 33 Jared Barber – Sophomore
  • 31 Isaiah Bruce – RS Freshman
  • 40 Austin Copeland – Freshman
  • 4 Josh Francis – Senior
  • 28 Terence Garvin – Senior
  • 49 Troy Gloster – RS Sophomore
  • 35 Nick Kwiatkoski – RS Freshman
  • 36 Shaq Petteway – Sophomore
  • 50 Taige Redman – RS Junior
  • 47 Doug Rigg – Junior
  • 41 Curtis Smelley – RS Freshman
  • 37 Wes Tonkery – RS Sophomore
  • 11 Sean Walters – Freshman

Cornerbacks

  • 16 Terrell Chestnut – RS Freshman
  • 3 Vernon Davis – Freshman Redshirt
  • 23 Brodrick Jenkins – RS Junior
  • 7 Nana Kyeremeh – Freshman
  • 24 Cecil Level – RS Senior
  • 12 Mikal Mayo – RS Freshman
  • 6 Pat Miller – Junior
  • 20 Brandon Napoleon – Freshman Redshirt
  • 15 Ricky Rumph – Freshman
  • 14 Nana Twum Agyire – RS Freshman
  • 19 Anthony Vecchio – RS Sophomore
  • 22 Avery Williams – Sophomore
  

Safeties

  • 34 Ishmael Banks – RS Sophomore
  • 26 Travis Bell – Junior
  • 39 Nick Cadwell – RS Senior
  • 25 Darwin Cook – RS Junior
  • 9 K. J. Dillon – Freshman
  • 32 Mike Hall – Freshman
  • 43 Jarrod Harper – Freshman
  • 8 Karl Joseph – Freshman
  • 27 William Marable – RS Junior
  • 46 Matt Moro – Senior
  • 18 Ishmail Showell – RS Freshman

Specialists

  • 40 Tyler Bitancurt – RS Senior (K)
  • 69 Jerry Cooper – RS Sophomore (LS)
  • 87 John DePalma – Freshman (LS)
  • 38 Josh Lambert – Freshman (K/P)
  • 46 Michael Molinari – RS Sophomore (K)
  • 44 Corey Smith – RS Senior (K/P)

Key

  • Injury – Currently Injured
  • Redshirt – Current redshirt
  • I* – Ineligible

Official Team Roster

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 1NoonMarshall*No. 11
FXW 69–3459,120[1]
September 154:30 p.m.vs. No. 4 (FCS) James Madison*No. 9
ROOTW 42–1245,511[2]
September 22NoonMaryland*No. 8
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV (rivalry)
FXW 31–2158,504[3]
September 29NoonNo. 25 BaylordaggerNo. 9
FXW 70–6360,012[4]
October 67:00 p.m.at No. 11 TexasNo. 8
FOXW 48–45101,851[5]
October 133:30 p.m.at Texas TechNo. 5
ABCL 14–4957,328[6]
October 207:00 p.m.No. 4 Kansas StateNo. 13
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
FOXL 14–5560,101[7]
November 33:00 p.m.TCUNo. 21
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
FOXL 38–39 2OT52,322[8]
November 103:30 p.m.at Oklahoma State
ABCL 34–5557,799[9]
November 177:00 p.m.No. 12 Oklahoma
FOXL 49–5050,238[10]
November 233:30 p.m.at Iowa State
ABCW 31–2453,792[11]
December 12:30 p.m.Kansas
  • Mountaineer Field
  • Morgantown, WV
FSNW 59–1051,112[12]
December 293:15 p.m.vs. Syracuse*
ESPNL 14–3839,098

Game summaries

Marshall

See also: 2012 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Thundering Herd 0 10 10 14 34
#11 Mountaineers 13 21 21 14 69

James Madison

See also: 2012 James Madison Dukes football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#4 (FCS) Dukes 0 3 2 7 12
#9 Mountaineers 21 7 7 7 42

Maryland

See also: 2012 Maryland Terrapins football team and Maryland–West Virginia football rivalry
1 2 3 4 Total
Terrapins 7 7 0 7 21
#8 Mountaineers 14 10 0 7 31

#25 Baylor

See also: 2012 Baylor Bears football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#25 Bears 14 21 7 21 63
#9 Mountaineers 14 21 21 14 70

#11 Texas

See also: 2012 Texas Longhorns football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#8 Mountaineers 14 13 7 14 48
#11 Longhorns 7 21 10 7 45

Texas Tech

See also: 2012 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#5 Mountaineers 7 0 0 7 14
Red Raiders 14 21 7 7 49

#4 Kansas State

See also: 2012 Kansas State Wildcats football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#4 Wildcats 10 21 21 3 55
#17 Mountaineers 0 7 0 7 14

TCU

See also: 2012 TCU Horned Frogs football team
1 2 3 4OT2OT Total
Horned Frogs 7 7 7 1008 39
#23 Mountaineers 0 21 3 707 38

Oklahoma State

See also: 2012 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 7 10 17 0 34
Cowboys 21 10 10 14 55

#13 Oklahoma

See also: 2012 Oklahoma Sooners football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#13 Sooners 10 21 7 12 50
Mountaineers 3 14 13 19 49

Iowa State

See also: 2012 Iowa State Cyclones football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 3 14 3 11 31
Cyclones 0 14 7 3 24

Kansas

See also: 2012 Kansas Jayhawks football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Jayhawks 0 7 0 3 10
Mountaineers 14 21 17 7 59

Syracuse–Pinstripe Bowl

See also: 2012 Syracuse Orange football team, 2012 Pinstripe Bowl, and Syracuse–West Virginia football rivalry
1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 0 7 7 0 14
Orange 3 9 23 3 38

Rankings

See also: 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP11998985172523————RV—
Coaches11887774152219RV—————
HarrisNot released4152220RV———RVNot released
BCSNot released131921—————Not released

References

  1. ^ "Marshall Thundering Herd vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Box Score - September 01, 2012". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  2. ^ "James Madison Dukes vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Box Score - September 15, 2012". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  3. ^ "Maryland Terrapins vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Box Score - September 22, 2012". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  4. ^ "Baylor Bears vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Box Score - September 29, 2012". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  5. ^ "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Longhorns - Box Score - October 6, 2012". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  6. ^ "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Tech Raiders - Box Score - October 13, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  7. ^ "Kansas State Wildcats vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Box Score - October 20, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  8. ^ "TCU Horned Frogs vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Box Score - November 03, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  9. ^ "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys - Box Score - November 10, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  10. ^ "Oklahoma Sooners vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Box Score - November 17, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  11. ^ "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Iowa State Cyclones - Box Score - November 23, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. November 23, 2012.
  12. ^ "Kansas Jayhawks vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - Box Score - December 1, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. December 1, 2012.
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