It’s next man up.

That has been the battle cry for the West Virginia football team throughout fall camp and that is no different along the offensive line as the Mountaineers will be without redshirt senior Adam Pankey at least through the Missouri game.

Pankey is currently suspended from the team due to off the field issues meaning that the door is opened for somebody to fill that vacant spot at left guard.

“We hold these guys to high expectations and when you don’t meet that there are going to be consequences,” head coach Dana Holgorsen said. “It’s disappointing but we’ll continue the suspension through Missouri and address it then.”

Fortunately for West Virginia the Mountaineers have an experienced option to fall back on in redshirt senior Tony Matteo to step into that hole left by Pankey on a deep offensive line.

Matteo has seen action in a total of 18 games during his career, making two starts and is battling back from an ankle injury that sidelined him down the stretch of fall camp.

“He was competing for a starting job anyways. Tony was probably playing better than any of the guards through the first five or six days before he went down,” Holgorsen said.

Matteo will slot right into the left guard spot on the offensive line and it’s a position where he has experience in the past working alongside center Tyler Orlosky.

“I’m happy with Tony next to me. Obviously everybody plays differently but I’ve had Tony next to be before so I’m used to that,” he said.

The question for Matteo is whether this will be a temporary or permanent change. Whenever situations like this arise, so do opportunities and while for now the job is his for only the Missouri game there is a chance to make a strong impression moving forward as well.

It’s one of the many reasons offensive line coach Ron Crook has practiced moving around so many different bodies in different spots to prepare players for sudden changes up front. And Matteo, also serving as the backup center, can help Orlosky with the calls and assignments.

From a physical aspect, Matteo plays with toughness and the ability to play through people which is what Crook wants to see out of his unit. The change also will move Grant Lingafelter into the role of the primary back up at guard and allow him to get some more reps as well.

But for now the ball is in Matteo’s court as when Pankey will return remains up in the air.

“This is going to be Tony’s chance,” Crook said.