Sophomore Marcus Simms brings a different level of speed to West Virginia’s offense. That’s clear to everyone, including the Mountaineers’ coaching staff. Speaking after the East Carolina victory, Dana Holgorsen remarked: “We need guys out there that can stretch things. David [Sills] gets behind people because he’s creative. But [Simms] can get behind people and scare people on video because he can run so fast.”
The Mountaineers’ receiving room is full of big-bodied, contested catch winning players. Simms is vital to a gameplan due to the different skillset he provides. Take it from wide receivers coach Tyron Carrier, who commented pre-East Carolina that Simms’ dynamism “helps take pressure off the immediate routes and…backs the defense off so we can run the ball better”.
Simms proved this in his second game of the season versus Delaware State via his most lethal route: the post. This is the route he has run most frequently under Jake Spavital’s playcalling.
