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MORGANTOWN -- It's been nearly a month since West Virginia dropped its third straight bowl game -- this time to former Big East rival Syracuse -- and questions still loom over the program and the decision of Heisman trophy candidate Will Grier to forego the Mountaineers' postseason game.
Some of those queries were addressed following Monday's opening practice at the Reese's Senior Bowl.
"I actually tore my ankle up in the Texas game," Grier said. "Didn't really put that out to the media. But it was pretty rough the last few games.
"And Dana (Holgorsen) and I sat down. I was planning on playing for about a week. I was getting treatment and preparing to play and me and Dana sat down, and he thought it was best to get (Miami transfer) Jack Allison some reps. And get some younger guys some reps in the bowl game. He knew how important it was for me to get healthy and chase my dream."
That revelation, however, only went to renew questions about Holgorsen, now the Houston head coach, and his approach to coaching the Mountaineers in bowl games he deemed to be lower-level contests.
A year earlier -- under the advice of Holgorsen -- Grier and leading rusher Justin Crawford elected to forego playing Utah in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Add to those decisions the loss of left tackle Yodny Cajuste, who also elected to not play in the Camping World Bowl last month, and WVU headed into the postseason minus three of its most important offensive weapons.
If you are seeing a pattern emerge from all of this, you are one of many now questioning whether Grier's explanation is more than just a 'well-timed' statement meant to impress NFL scouts who may be questioning the North Carolina native's toughness and commitment to a program.
Adding to the drama is Grier's performances in WVU's final two regular season contests -- losses to Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. The Mountaineers offense tallied 97 points in those games with Grier completing 63 of 97 attempts for 903 yards and six touchdowns without an interception.
It could be argued that the injury was on display in the two lost fumbles which lead to touchdowns in the three-point loss to the Sooners. But, only Grier and Holgorsen know the answer to that question and neither are talking.
But it has led to some interesting debate this week as five former Mountaineers look to up their draft stock. A stock that appears to be on the upswing for Martinsburg native Trevon Wesco.
And Wesco isn't the only WVU player drawing rave reviews. Receivers David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr. and junior linebacker David Long Jr., who will not return to WVU for his senior season, are all making their presences felt.