If you want to see a wide smile from WVU receiver Gary Jennings, ask him about quarterback Will Grier.
"He's great," Jennings said of the Florida transfer. "I can't wait for the upcoming season. [The ball coming out of his hand] is on point. It's a good ball."
It certainly has given hope to Mountaineer fans that the upcoming season can be a ball, but there are questions about WVU's receiving corps. Gone is deep threat Shelton Gibson. Gone is reliable Daikiel Shorts. Off the team is former four-star recruit Steven Smothers.
And although WVU recorded 10 wins last season, the Mountaineers averaged but 4.2 points per scoring opportunity even with Gibson and Shorts in the lineup. That was 88th nationally and ninth in the Big 12.
Jennings, however, is confident.
"I feel [the receivers are] very talented as a whole," he said. "We're putting in the necessary work to be successful in the upcoming camp and year. We're doing the right things."
That's exactly what WVU and coach Dana Holgorsen need to make 2017 special. Never has a Mountaineer quarterback had the credentials of Grier, who was the Parade National Player of the Year and Maxwell Player of the Year coming out of Davidson Day School in 2014. He was a U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection.
And everyone knows Holgorsen and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital will begin and end the season throwing like crazy. Grier just needs some guys to catch it.
"It's just getting everyone involved and getting everyone on the same page," Jennings said. "We need to make sure everyone knows the goals and what we're trying to accomplish."
There's certainly talent within the receiving corps. Ka'Raun White has much potential but is coming off a broken bone in his right leg. ("Ka'Raun is definitely progressing very well," Jennings said.) Also, Mountaineer fans have seen what speedy Jovon Durante can do. It's just that he only had 35 catches last season and was the team's fourth-leading receiver.
Aside from that, Marcus Simms, a sophomore, is penciled in at the "X" position, but he only has six catches and 95 yards to his credit. He'll probably be backed up by junior college transfer Dom Maiden.
The only place Holgorsen can feel completely comfortable is at slot, where Jennings and David Sills will line up. But the former said there is strength in numbers.
"We have tons of depth, including the young guys like Reggie [Roberson]," Jennings said. "I feel everyone is able to step in right now."
Roberson is a 6-foot freshman wideout from Mesquite, Texas. Maiden is a 6-5 junior.
"Dom Maiden and Reggie Roberson, those guys are definitely stepping up," Jennings said. "As a group as a whole we're starting to mesh together. It's been good."
Jennings said the Mountaineer receivers have a few things going for it beside depth. Like the instruction from position coach Tyron Carrier.
"Coach Carrier is one of the best coaches I've been around as far as teaching and getting us motivated," Jennings said.
Then there's the hard work.
"Every single chance we get we've been working with the quarterbacks and trying to get that timing down," said the receiver.
Also, Jennings believes a slight tweak of the offense has helped.
"We're doing a few different things tempo-wise," he said. "I think we can go pretty fast."
So, yes, most believe this will be the Year of the Grier. But the wideout said you might want to expand that.
"It's everyone's time because of how many times we're going to be passing the ball," Jennings said. "Everybody is going to do well. It should be a very successful year."
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.