Back in April, we had a look at West Virginia’s roster and noted some openings. Call them “opportunities,” I guess, because someone was going to get to fill those openings, and the smart money was on newcomers.

Eighteen would arrive between the spring — when defensive end Reese Donahue, defensive lineman Jeff Pooler, linebacker Logan Thimons, safety Dylan Tonkery, cornerback Jacquez Adams, quarterback Cody Saunders, running back Kennedy McKoy, receiver Marcus Simms and offensive lineman Jacob Buccigrossi were on hand — and the start of preseason camp on Aug. 2.

A bunch of those 18 would have a chance. So, we wondered…

The Mountaineers have nine freshmen on campus already who were with the team for the spring, and a couple of them are going to play in the fall, more because of skill than because of circumstance, though certainly a combination is involved. The team will welcome 18 high school grads and junior college transfers during the summer who did not do spring football with the team.

So here’s a fun over/under: How many of the 18 will play in the fall?

We went through the names and the scenarios from there and decided that 12.5 was a clever over/under. Months later, that spot was damn accurate.

Dana Holgorsen said Tuesday that 10 true freshmen will be in uniform. Some of them are going to play on one of the three sides of the ball.

McKoy is going to get some burn at running back and Simms will see time at receiver. They were both early enrollees. Zach Sandwisch, either the late-bloomer or the most overlooked, will be the second Sam linebacker to take the field. Safety JoVanni Stewart carved out a spot on the coverage teams.

Sandwisch and Stewart were among the 18 first-year post-spring arrivals.

Others freshmen could dress and not do much else. Running back Martell Pettaway and receiver Steve Smothers, for example, will be in uniform but might not play.

But still, maybe seven of the 10 should or could play. Six of them — Sandwisch, Stewart, Pettaway, Smothers, linebacker Austin Hensley and punter/reserve kicker Jonn Young — are among the 18.

And we haven’t covered the junior college transfers. The six who signed — running back Justin Crawford, tight end Trevon Wesco, cornerbacks Mike Daniels and Elijah Battle and safeties Kyzir White and Joyous Toyous Avery — arrived after spring football. They’re all set to play, but we’ll keep an eye on Trevon Wesco. It sounds like he’ll play, just because WVU has to use tight ends.

So we have a pool of 16 first-year players — the 10 freshmen who will dress and the six junior college transfers — and 11 who should or could play. It could go higher depending, I would guess, on Smothers and Young.

So 12.5 was a pretty good guess, and Holgorsen likes the spot he’s in today, which is much different than it was in the past, though in different ways.

WVU only played two freshmen in the last two season-openers. That was lower — and in one case, much lower — than the past. More than two will play in the first quarter Saturday, but only three freshmen are in the two-deep. White is the only starter, and he and McKoy, who was here for the spring, are the only newcomers in the two-deep on offense or defense.

“None of those (freshmen) I mentioned have to start,” Holgorsen said. “If we’re having to start a bunch of freshmen, if we’re having to start a bunch of first-year junior college guys, I’d be nervous.”

Receiver Jovon Durante started last season’s opening game against Georgia Southern and receiver Gary Jennings played. In 2014 against Alabama, free safety Dravon Askew-Henry started and linebacker Xavier Preston played.

In 2013, four freshmen played against William & Mary, including current senior receiver Daikiel Shorts. In 2012, 10 freshmen played against Marshall, including defensive end Christian Brown and cornerback Nana Kyeremeh, both fifth-year seniors. In 2011, four freshmen played against the Thundering Herd.

“We’re not young,” Holgorsen said. “That’s the difference with where we’re at now as opposed to where we were at four years ago when he had to play all those freshmen.”