There isn’t much mystery when it comes to who will serve as the starting MIKE linebacker.

That distinction belongs to redshirt junior Al-Rasheed Benton, who inherited that spot when Jared Barber graduated and hasn’t looked back. In fact, the biggest concern when it comes to Benton for the defensive coaches is how they’re going to be able to limit his reps.

“When you take that pounding at MIKE linebacker it’s tough. That’s why you need that next guy to step up,” defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said.

One way is that Benton is being removed in the nickel package in order to allow him to catch his breath and recollect himself. It’s not that he can’t play in the package, as he was in on every single snap in his only career start against Liberty last season, it’s about preserving him for the long term.

“It’s hard at that position because it’s so crucial to our defense. But he needs at some point to get off the field and settle down. That’s the time to do that with him,” Gibson said.

Benton has been politicking Gibson to stay on the field at all times but the biggest challenge for the coordinator is to identify who will step up behind Benton.

West Virginia had repped freshman Brendan Ferns, redshirt junior Hodari Christian and freshman Logan Thimons. Out of those three, Ferns had started to emerge as the clear number two option before an ACL injury in practice will sideline him for the remainder of the season.

That means it’s back to the drawing board for Gibson and company.

“You get heavy legs. At some point you get seven or eight games in our league with people spreading you and running it you take a pounding,” Gibson said. “We have to find a guy to back him up.”

West Virginia still has some time to identify that next man up but both options have limited or no on the field experience. Christian has seen action in nine career games, although the bulk of that has been on special teams while Thimons enrolled in the spring and has yet to appear in a game.

Gibson also could have other options such as looking at moving around players in order to fill that spot such as redshirt senior Justin Arndt who has experienced there in the past.

“It’s like a chess game. You lose one piece you have to make sure everybody else in doing what they need to do,” Benton said.

But for now the first opportunity will go to Christian. It's next man up.