File photo WVU offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. speaks with the unit during a game from earlier this season.

MORGANTOWN — If you head to Kegler’s Sports Bar on Thursday night to watch Thursday Night Football, you might spot some very large humans. Their plates will be filled with food to feed two, or three, and the bill will be lengthy. It’s nothing abnormal for West Virginia’s offensive line. It’s their weekly lineman dinner.

“We try to go to a different spot every week,” offensive lineman Nick Krahe said. “But we definitely run the bills up when we go out to eat.”

This year’s offensive line is completely brand new. Most of them haven’t started, and for some, it’s their first year in Morgantown after transferring in the offseason. Left tackle Krahe only played on special teams last year, left guard Walter Young Bear came from Tulsa, center Landen Livingston didn’t play much last year, right guard Kimo Makane’ole is from LSU, and right tackle Ty’Kieast Crawford is from Arkansas.

It’s a bunch of players from all over the place.

“We go out to eat every Thursday as an O-line,” Krahe said. “Trying to get to know each other better… It’s a different group, obviously, so gelling together with one another is a big thing for us. We’re just trying to play together and play as a unit.”

Over the past couple of weeks, the offensive line has caught a lot of heat. WVU’s O-line allowed the third-most sacks in the Big 12 with 11.

In their defense, the offensive line has played against some high-caliber defensive lines. But, Krahe said, the reason for the struggles isn’t because they’ve been out-muscled; it’s more mental mistakes.

“Just assignment-wise and all that,” Krahe said. “I think that’s a big thing, key in your assignments and make the blocks we need to make to help us… I would say it’s more of an assignment thing than physical. I think we’re a physical group up front. We need to continue to get better in both aspects.”

There have also been injuries. Livingston didn’t play against Utah, dealing with an injury. Rodriguez also said Crawford and Makane’ole were banged up heading into Utah, too. Both played. Makane’ole is now on the injury report heading into BYU.

Younger players like Malik Agbo and Josh Aisosa saw some action in place. Rodriguez talked about how he was impressed with Agbo and said he’ll be even better when he puts on 20 to 30 pounds. He’s a bit too light right now.

Austin Peay transfer Donovan Haslam could play some more, too.

“I’ve been impressed with what [Agbo]’s done so far, and he’s going to play more,” Rodriguez said. “Donovan Haslam is going to play more as well because Donovan’s a big presence in there. There may be a couple of other guys that get some shots, too.”

All these new players need a leader. Krahe, as a redshirt sophomore, has taken on that role. He learned from previous WVU linemen Wyatt Milum and Zach Fraizer, who were both drafted into the NFL, on how to lead. Krahe’s had to change his style, though, and is now more vocal than just leading by example.

“In high school, I viewed myself as being a leader of the group up front,” Krahe said. “I’ve kind of tried to take that with me as I got up to this level. I’ve been here for three years. I know how it works, and I think that’s a big thing to me.”

Krahe has a tough task. It’s like a leader unifying different nations. But it’s easier when there’s a common goal of helping the team win. So far, it hasn’t gone too well, but there’s plenty of time to improve with seven games left.

“I think just trying to improve every week is a big thing for us,” Krahe said. “Gelling together is definitely hard on the offensive line to do that, especially with a new group, but seeing improvement every week in practice and games is going to be big for us.”