MORGANTOWN - There's been an underreported story to WVU's preseason football camp that Mountaineer fans just might want to know.
It's that, yes, West Virginia seems set at quarterback for this year. And, sure, if Florida transfer Will Grier isn't a one-and-done player who bolts to the NFL, the team is certainly set for 2018.
But after struggling to find high-level quarterbacks in the Dana Holgorsen era, West Virginia just might be set for the foreseeable future with Miami transfer Jack Allison now on the roster.
Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, anyway, feels confident.
"I do," Spavital said with a big smile. "I feel very comfortable looking into the future."
Understand that Allison was an ESPN 300 recruit named the nation's No. 6 pocket passer when he signed with the University of Miami.
Allison, who redshirted as a freshman, was the early favorite to replace Brad Kaaya this year, but decided to leave Miami.
"Jack approached me and indicated that he felt like he would have more opportunities for playing time at another program," UM's Mark Richt said via a release. "We wish him all the best in his future plans."
Perhaps it was spin. Perhaps it was getting out in front of criticism. Whatever the case, the Miami Herald followed with a story that quoted Allison's father Sean as saying the Hurricanes were moving toward a dual-threat running type of QB scheme and Jack Allison just isn't that.
Which means "winning" to Spavital.
"He has a live arm," said the offensive coordinator of Allison. "He's a big kid. If you see him walking around, he's a good 6-5. He always has a smile on his face. He has a lot of energy. The main thing is, though, the kid has a pretty good arm on him. He can make all the throws. He can stretch the field and take some shots."
Spavital, however, also likes junior college QB recruit David Isreal, who could, by default, be the Mountaineers' No. 3 man this season.
"He's a different type of guy," Spavital said. "He's very athletic. You would definitely call the game different if it's David and not Jack. You play to their strengths.
"David is doing such a good job of understanding the offense. His thing right now though is he's not trusting it. He just goes out and makes plays with his feet when we're just honing in on him in the pocket and going through his progressions. I tell him all the time I know he can go out and make great plays too."
It will be interesting to see how Isreal, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, is handled. While Allison left Miami because the school is moving toward runners, WVU has two fine pocket passers.
"Best available talent," Spavital said of recruiting Isreal. "I'm big on that. You have to find the best available and then adjust to what they can do."
And these days WVU seems to be getting more of that talent at QB.
nnn
On Wednesday, Holgorsen was asked if he preferred to have a warmup game before meeting Virginia Tech on Sept. 3 in Landover, Maryland.
His answer sounded Bob Huggins-esque.
"Nah, I like where it's at," Holgorsen said. "[Athletic Director] Shane [Lyons] and I have talked about these neutral-site games a lot. The Alabama game, we had a chance to win. There was a lot of juice going into that game. We fell a little short, but even then I think it gave us confidence going into Game 2. It cranked the fan base. You guys know how big [the Virginia Tech game] is going to be.
"Every time I start seeing tired faces in meetings I remind them of what that first game is going to be. I like a big first game. It keeps you motivated."
Holgorsen then pointed to future opening neutral-site matchups against Tennessee in 2018 (at Charlotte, North Carolina) and Florida State in 2020 (at Atlanta).
"I'm all about it," said the coach.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.