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MORGANTOWN-It would appear that the first casualty from last Saturday's 59-56 loss to No. 5 Oklahoma is going to be offensive coordinator Jake Spavital.
While no official statement has been released by West Virginia University head football coach Dana Holgorsen or Director of Athletics Shane Lyons, reports have Spavital taking over the head coaching reigns at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
The school's official website has a photo of WVU's offensive coordinator with the words 'Head Coach - TXST Football'.
Spavital, who began his coaching career as the Offensive Quality Control coach at Tulsa in 2008, leaves after serving as the Mountaineers' play-caller for the last two seasons.
The former quarterback and punter at Missouri State (2004-07) takes over a Bobcats' program that finished with a 3-9 overall mark and a 1-7 record in the Sun Belt Conference.
Spavital came to WVU following a one-year stint as Offensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach at the University of California (2016-17). The quarterbacks' coach at WVU during the 2011-12 season, also spent time at Houston (2009), Oklahoma State (2010) and Texas A&M (2013-15).
Working with preseason Heisman Trophy hopeful Will Grier at quarterback, he helped the Mountaineers to an 8-3 mark (6-3 Big 12) and a third-place finish in the Big 12.
In other news from the Big 12:
Junior linebacker David Long Jr. was selected by the Big 12 Conference as its Defensive Player of the Year. He is the first student-athlete from WVU to earn the position.
Three other Mountaineers - seniors David Sills V, Trevon Wesco and Yodny Cajuste were named to the All-Big 12 First Team Offense while sophomore defensive back joined Long on the All-Big 12 First Team Defense.
Cajuste was one of three players selected by the 10-team league as its Offensive Linemen of the Year. Kansas State senior Dalton Risner and Oklahoma senior Dru Samia were the other two.
Second team picks went to senior quarterback Will Grier, offensive lineman Josh Sills - a sophomore from Sarahsville, Ohio - and senior defensive lineman Kenny Bigelow Jr.
Jacobsburg (Ohio) native Colton McKivitz heads up the Mountaineers' Honorable Mention selections. He is joined by redshirt senior Dravon Askew-Henry (DB), senior Gary Jennings Jr. (WR), junior Josh Norwood (DB), sophomore placekicker Evan Staley and redshirt junior defensive back Keith Washington.