West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action institution.
Managing Editor: Joe Swan
Editors: Mike Montoro, Michael Fragale
Writer: Mike Montoro
Contributors: Lisa Ammons, John Antonik, Maddie Bartley, Chris Coombs, Adam Grossman, Phil Lynch, Bryan Messerly, Charles Montgomery, Farris Murad, Aniebiet Okon, Amy Prunty, Olivia Sneed, Liz Stash, Wil Swan, Drew Welsh
Design: Kristin Coldsnow (covers) and Joe Swan
Printing: MPB Print and Sign Superstore
Photography: All-Pro Photography by Dale Sparks, Bill Amatucci Sr., Bill Amatucci Jr., Kim Amatucci, Associated Press, Joel Auerbach, Paul Barnick, Gavin Bearden, Bob Beverly, Big 12 Conference Schools, Lee Brown, Nick Caito-ESPN Images, Pat Carrigan, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Larry Coley, Tony Constantine, Garrett Cullen, M.G. Ellis, Pete Emerson, ESPN, Justin Fitzpatrick, Dan Friend, Morgan Goff, Jake Herron, Ty Hundley, Indianapolis Colts, Ken Inness, Frank Jacquez, Frank Jansky, Jeremiah Jhass, Brent Kepner, Christie Kepner, Kevin Kinder, Alex King, Krissy Kleiner, Kevin Koski/ NFLPA, Greg Kullman, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughead Photography, Jim Lawther, Chuck LeClaire, Tim Lilley, Scott Lituchy, Taylin Long, Los Angeles Chargers, David Malecki, Chuck Meyers, William McBride, Tyson Murray, New York Giants, New York Jets, Brian Persinger, Philadelphia Eagles, Steve Prunty, Ben Queen, Raquel Rodriguez, Alyssa Reeves, Ron Rittenhouse Collection, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Jenny Shephard, Parker Sheppard, Dan Shrensky, Corey Slider, Van Slider, Matt Sunday, Tennessee Titans, Allison Toffle, Tiffany Vannoy, Tyler Vincent, West Virginia Collection, William Wotring/The Dominion Post, WVU Athletic Archives, WVU Photographic Services, John Wickline, Rick Wilson/Jacksonville Jaguars, Ron Wong, Bill Wright
“I think this is the best hire of this year's coaching carousel. Rich Rodriguez was a great fit at West Virginia the first time. That program had a lethal combination of scheme and speed. Just as importantly, no one understands what it takes to win at WVU better than he does. It’s home for him. He’ll bring an edge back to the Mountaineers.”
Bruce Feldman Insider/FOX Sports Senior Writer/The Athletic
Coach Rich Rodriguez ranks fourth among active Power Four coaches with 190 career wins.
ZAC ALLEY
JACK BICKNELL JR. JEFF CASTEEL
MICHAEL NYSEWANDER LARRY PORTER RHETT RODRIGUEZ
TRAVIS TRICKETT
HENRY WEINREICH
ROD WEST
PAT KIRKLAND
LOGAN BRADLEY
GABE FRANKLIN
RYAN GARRETT
WILLIAM GREEN
PAT WHITE
DEREK DRESSLER
PAT MCAFEE
TAVON AUSTIN
IRA ERRETT RODGERS
DARRYL TALLEY
KEVIN WHITE
DAN MOZES
WYATT MILUM
STEDMAN BAILEY
BEANIE BISHOP JR.
DARIUS STILLS
AARON BEASLEY
MAJOR HARRIS
JIM BRAXTON
CANUTE CURTIS
GRANT WILEY
STEVE SLATON
ZACH FRAZIER
COLTON MCKIVITZ
TAVON AUSTIN
KEVIN WHITE
KYZIR WHITE
WYATT MILUM
GENO SMITH
BEANIE BISHOP JR.
RASUL DOUGLAS
DAVID LONG JR.
TREVON WESCO
TONY FIELDS II
DRYL WORLEY JR.
ADAM JONES
BRUCE IRVIN
YODNY CAJUSTE
KEVIN WHITE
TAVON AUSTIN
BRYCE FORD-WHEATON
KARL JOSEPH
WILL GRIER
DAVID SILLS V
John and Elaine Chambers give $1.6M gift to 5th Quarter Program
WVU Football’s 5th Quarter program created a unique educational opportunity for select student-athletes thanks to a nearly $1.6 million gift from WVU alumni John and Elaine Chambers. The Chambers Elite Climbers is a supplemental two-year program that provides additional personal and professional growth opportunities to student-athletes chosen through a competitive application process. Each cohort will dive deeper into key areas of interest – entrepreneurship and innovation, technology, financial education and communications – through a variety of educational resources, complete a studyabroad experience and select a West Virginia-focused humanitarian venture to pursue each year.
Chambers Elite Climbers Travel the Globe for Educational and Networking Opportunities
The 5th Quarter program provides education and resources needed to develop Mountaineer student-athletes holistically. Better people make better Mountaineers, and through this program, WVU student-athletes are positioned for success, not only on the playing field, but also in life beyond graduation.
The Chambers Elite Climbers program provides select WVU Football student-athletes more advanced opportunities for development within the 5th Quarter program. The Climbers program is the premier, enhanced, off-the-field development program in all of college football. The career preparation, cultural field trips, humanitarian efforts and networking opportunities shape the future of the student-athletes. In addition, being able to study abroad provides an amazing lifetime experience that few college football players ever get to experience.
In the past two years, the Chambers Elite Climbers have traveled within the United States and Europe for educational, cultural and networking opportunities. In February, the Climbers visited New York City, enjoying professional networking opportunities with WVU graduates running businesses in the Big Apple, as well as other unique experiences like a Broadway show, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Stock Exchange.
Kicking off the semester with a Career Day in Pittsburgh, Climbers visited multiple businesses to get an understanding of what is expected to come throughout the program, ending at the Duquesne Club for a night of networking and dinner with WVU Alumni.
The Chambers Elite Climbers spent a week in Germany, visiting various universities, organizations and landmarks in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Munster and Munich. The Climbers spent three nights in microgroups, visiting Greece, Italy, Spain and England. The student-athletes met back up in Paris and had the opportunity to engage with program benefactors John and Elaine Chambers before attending Europe’s biggest startup and tech event, Vivatech. To close the two-week study abroad, the Climbers were able to explore Paris, enjoying the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower and so many other things that the host city of the 2024 Olympics had to offer.
In 2024, the Mountaineers brought back historical elements of uniforms past and transferred them to Nike’s Vapor F.U.S.E uniform chassis for one of the best looks in college football. All jerseys and pants were designed so that they can be matched and worn together, giving West Virginia multiple pant/jersey/helmet combinations on game day.
One of the best and most recognized logos in all of sports, the Flying WV returned to the shoulders, and the white jersey saw the return of a gold outline on the blue numbers. Reaching deeper into Mountaineer history and tradition, stripes returned to all three colors of the pants.
New in 2025, West Virginia will return to the blue glossy helments with the gold flecks. The Mountaineers will also wear a special 1965 throwback uniform that is similar in design to the one the Mountaineers donned 60 years ago when they won the Southern Conference championship.
The real historical significance of that season is what was on the team's helmet – a distinctive three-dimensional navy blue WVU logo outlined in gold. Set behind the logo was a light-blue state of West Virginia that really gave the old-gold helmet a modern, technicolor look for the mid-1960s.
It’s the first true throwback for the Mountaineers and joins special-themed uniforms such as the Coal Rush and the home and away Country Roads uniforms the Mountaineers have worn the past four seasons.
“Whenever you look around, you see people who like to have a good time, you see people who are passionate about their team, passionate about their state, passionate about their school. It is a true football town, and the world is going to see it!"
1998 – Eric de Groh, Shawn Foreman, Tanner Russell, Boo Sensabaugh
1997 – Curtis Keaton, Steve Lippe
1996 – Bernardo Amerson, Charles Emanuel
“Championships are won by those who embrace hard work and have the discipline to tolerate discomfort.”
Mike Joseph Assistant Athletics Director/Head Coach for Football Strength and Conditioning
Coach Rich Rodriguez, himself a former walk-on, presented running back Clay Ash with the 2025 Tommy Nickolich Award as the program’s top walk-on at the Gold-Blue Spring Showcase.
RICH BRAHAM
NAJEE GOODE
OWEN SCHMITT
CHARACTER
Public, land-grant institution, founded in 1867. Across the three campuses of the WVU System in Morgantown, Keyser, and Beckley, WVU is changing lives and helping to create a brighter future. Our purpose remains to bring education, healthcare, and prosperity to our state. WVU is one of only a few flagship, R1, land-grant, community-engaged universities in the nation.
RESEARCH CLASSIFICATION
R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Possible category, as described by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
ACCREDITATION
WVU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Many programs hold specialized accreditation.
GOVERNANCE
The WVU Board of Governors is the University’s governing body. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities. Michael Benson is WVU’s 27th president.
CAMPUS LOCATIONS AND FACILITIES
The WVU System is a family of distinctive campuses united by a single mission. From the groundbreaking research of our flagship in Morgantown to the student-centered focus of WVU Potomac State College in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Institute of Technology in Beckley, we are creating a better future for West Virginia and the world.
The WVU Institute of Technology offers 30+ majors, including undergraduate engineering programs that have consistently ranked among the top in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.
WVU Potomac State College offers 60+ majors and combines the personal attention of a small college with the affordable benefits of a major university.
The WVU System also includes Health Sciences locations in Charleston and Martinsburg; School of Nursing campuses in Morgantown, Charleston, Keyser, Bridgeport and Beckley; farms and forests throughout the state; and WVU Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp.
The WVU Morgantown campus is in a town that was named the “No. 1 Small City in America” by BizJournals.com for its exceptional quality of life. Morgantown was also rated the ninth best college town in America by Business Insider.
STUDENT PROFILE
Fall 2024 WVU System enrollment was 25,000+
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
WVU recipients of prestigious scholarships include 25 Rhodes Scholars, 142 Gilman Scholars, 82 Fulbright Scholars, 53 Goldwater Scholars, 44 Critical Language Scholars, 30 Boren Scholars, 27 Truman Scholars, 6 Morris K. Udall Scholars, 5 USA Today All-USA College Academic First Team Members (and 11 academic team honorees), 3 Department of Homeland Security Scholars, 4 George C. Marshall (British) Scholars, 39 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, one Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholar and one Schwarzman Scholar.
R1 RESEARCH INSTITUTION HIGHLIGHTS
WVU is one of only 187 colleges and universities to attain a ranking of R1, or the highest possible research category, alongside such institutions as Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Johns Hopkins.
WVU researchers are exploring the frontier in neuroscience research at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, doing groundbreaking work on Alzheimer’s disease and addiction treatment using focused ultrasound to safely open the blood-brain barrier (reported by “60 Minutes,” the New York Times, New England Journal of Medicine, the Washington Post and more).
WVU researchers are exploring the farthest reaches of the universe: dozens helped uncover evidence of ripples in space-time. mWVU is one of two or three universities that serve as a major hub for all branches of science contributing to NANOGrav – a galaxy-sized detector that is beginning to detect the gravitational universe.
Maura McLaughlin, Eberly Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy, an internationally renowned WVU astrophysicist was selected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors in the scientific world.
Duncan Lorimer, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, was selected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Twelve Morgantown colleges and schools offer 302 majors in agriculture and natural resources; applied and human sciences; arts and sciences; business and economics; creative arts and media; dentistry; engineering and mineral resources; law; medicine; nursing; pharmacy; and public health. Hundreds of distance education and online classes are available.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Students can choose from more than 450 student organizations or participate in an active intramural program and a variety of club sports.
SERVICE AND LEARNING
The Center for Service and Learning develops and organizes service learning and volunteer opportunities for students and faculty. WVU is one of only 75 schools recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for Community Engagement (recognized since 2010).
PARENTS CLUB
The Mountaineer Parents Club, with 20,000+ members, connects parents and families with the student experience.
ALUMNI
Chartered in 1873, the WVU Alumni Association is made up of more than 210,000+ graduates worldwide (in 135 nations).
LIBRARIES
The WVU Libraries encompass seven libraries statewide. Facilities in Morgantown include the Downtown Campus Library, Evansdale Library, Health Sciences Library, Law Library and the West Virginia and Regional History Center. Onsite collections include more than 936,000 books, 1.5+ million e-books and 700+ databases.
PRIVATE SUPPORT
The WVU Foundation recorded $282.6 million in gifts and pledges in fiscal year 2024. As of June 30, 2024, total Foundation assets stood at $3.04 billion, including long-term investments for the benefit of WVU and assets managed by the Foundation for other WVU-affiliated organizations.
EXTENSION
Throughout the year in West Virginia’s 55 counties, WVU Extension funds and delivers West Virginia’s 4-H program, which reaches more than 68,000 youth each year through county and state camps, special interest clubs, in-school activities and other programs.
ADMISSION AND APPLICATION TIMELINE
It’s painless to apply — no required essays or recommendations, students are automatically considered for scholarships and can be admitted with or without ACT or SAT scores. Test scores may be required for certain majors or scholarships. Apply directly to WVU or use the Common Application. WVU offers a rolling admission (there is no official application deadline). Applications are processed beginning in late August for admission the following fall. March 1 is the deadline for West Virginia residents to submit Promise Scholarship applications. Visit admissions.wvu.edu to learn more, including how to submit official transcripts and test scores. Graduate admission (for degree-seeking applicants) requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for regular admission. In addition, an applicant must meet the minimum admissions criteria determined by their program of interest.
VISITORS CENTER
The WVU Visitors Center is the front door to campus, providing the warm hospitality that Mountaineers are known for in a modern, welcoming space. Tours led by current students are offered Monday through Friday and select Saturdays. Details are available at visit.wvu.edu.
ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Class Hometown/HS/Last School
27 Clay Ash RB 5-9 196 So Leesburg, Va./IMG Academy
65 Malik Agbo OL 6-4 270 r-Jr. Federal Way, Wash./Todd Beamer/ Texas
59 Josh Aisosa OL 6-3 321 r-Fr. Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe/Oklahoma
19 Max Anderson QB 6-0 208 Fr. Martinsburg, W.Va./Spring Mills
80 Grayson Barnes TE 6-5 222 Sr Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin/No. Illinois
81 Jacob Barrick TE 6-3 231 Sr. Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg/ Jacksonville State
78 Xavier Bausley OL 6-4 310 r-Jr. Dunbar, W.Va./South Charleston/ Jacksonville State
37 Jayden Bell CB 5-10 158 r-So. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas
61 Trevor Bigelow OL 6-4 267 Fr. Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior
Dan Nehlen (West Virginia, ’85) – Director of Football Equipment Operations
Austin Blake (West Virginia, ‘21) – Assistant Director of Football Equipment Operations
Sports Medicine Staff
Dr. A.J. Monseau (West Virginia, ’07) – Medical Director/Head Team Physician
Michael Polascik (Georgia College and State, ’14) –Assistant Athletics Director/Head Athletic Trainer
Kelly Kessler (West Florida, ‘15) – Associate Director of Sports Medicine
Andy Pham (Nebraska, ‘24) – Assistant Director of Sports Medicine
Team Information
2024 Record: 6-7
Big 12 Record/Finish: 5-4/T8th
Basic Offense: Spread
Basic Defense: Multiple
Lettermen Returning: 18 (6O/10D/2ST)
Lettermen Lost: 35 (16O/16D/3ST)
Starters Returning: 5 (2O/1D/2ST)
Starters Lost: 22 (9O/10D/3ST)
Lettermen Returning (18) Offense (6)
Jaden Bray, Preston Fox, Rodney Gallagher III, Nicco Marchiol, Jahiem White and Jarel Williams Defense (10)
Caden Biser (LB), Israel Boyce (S), Reid Carrico (LB), Nate Gabriel (DL), Zae Jennings (S), Keyshawn Robinson (CB), Kekoura Tarnue (S), Ben Cutter (LB), Asani Redwood (DL), Hammond Russell IV (DL)
Specialists (2)
Preston Fox (KR/PR), Oliver Straw (P)
Lettermen Lost (35) Offense (16)
CJ Cole (WR), Hudson Clement (WR), CJ Donaldson Jr. (RB), Treylan Davis (TE), Ric’Darius Farmer (WR), Garrett Greene (QB), Ja’Quay Hubbard (OL), Nick Malone (OL), Wyatt Milum (OL), Traylon Ray (WR), Tomas Rimac (OL), Justin Robinson (WR), Jack Sammarco (TE), Kole Taylor (TE), Johnny Williams IV (OL), Brandon Yates (OL)
Defense (16)
Tyrin Bradley Jr. (BAN), Aubrey Burks (DB), TJ Crandall (DB), Dontez Fagan (DB), Ty French (BAN), Ayden Garnes (DB), Garnett Hollis Jr. (DB), TJ Jackson II (DL), Jaheem Joseph (S), Trey Lathan (LB), Sean Martin (DL), Fatorma Mulbah (DL), Taurus Simmons (DL), Jacolby Spells (DB), Josiah Trotter (LB), Anthony Wilson Jr. (DB)
Specialists (3)
Leighton Bechdel (H), Michael Hayes II (K/KO), Austin Brinkman (LS)
Starting Experience Returning Offense (63)
Xavier Bausley (OL/11), Jaden Bray (WR/12), Preston Fox (WR/12), Rodney Gallagher III (WR/10), Landen Livingston (OL/1), Nicco Marchiol (QB/3), Jahiem White (RB/14)
Defense (43)
Caden Biser (LB/1),Reid Carrico (LB/2), Ben Cutter (LB/9), Asani Redwood (DL/1), Kekoura Tarnue (S/14), Edward Vesterinen (DL/16)
Specialists (78)
Oliver Straw (P/37), Preston Fox (KR-PR/41)
Starting Experience Lost Offense (285)
Jaylen Anderson (RB/1), Hudson Clement (WR/20), Treylan Davis (TE/8), CJ Donaldson Jr. (RB/14), Garrett Greene (QB/25), Ja’Quay Hubbard (OL/28), Nick Malone (OL/17), Wyatt Milum (OL/43), Traylon Ray (WR/14), Tomas Rimac (OL/29), Justin Robinson (WR/7), Kole Taylor (TE/30), Johnny Williams IV (OL/2), Brandon Yates (OL/47)
Defense (369)
Tyrin Bradley Jr. (BAN/24), Aubrey Burks (DB/29), TJ Crandall (DB/6), Dontez Fagan (DB/26), Ty French (DL/39), Ayden Garnes (DB/24), Garnett Hollis Jr. (DB/29), TJ Jackson II (DL/32), Jaheem Joseph (DB/19), Trey Lathan (LB/18), Sean Martin (DL/34), Fatorma Mulbah (DL/14), Jacolby Spells (DB/2), Josiah Trotter (LB/11), Anthony Wilson Jr. (DB/62)
Specialists (131)
Leighton Bechdel (H/20), Austin Brinkman (LS/50), Michael Hayes II (K-KO/61)
ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS
For more information on West Virginia football, contact Assistant Athletics Director/Football
Communications Mike Montoro or Senior Associate Athletics Director/Communications Michael Fragale. Office Phone: 304-293-2821
Press Box Phone: 304-293-3799
Official Web Site: WVUsports.com
Assistant Athletics Director/Football Communications (Primary Contact): Mike Montoro
E-Mail: mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu
Cell Phone: 304-276-2605
Executive Senior Associate AD/Communications: Michael Fragale
E-Mail: michael.fragale@mail.wvu.edu
Cell: 304-216-3834
Mailing Address:
Athletics Communications Office
West Virginia University PO Box 877 Morgantown, WV 26507-0877
Overnight Mailing Address:
Athletics Communications Office
West Virginia University 217 Coliseum, 3450 Monongahela Blvd. Morgantown, WV 26505
CLAY ASH 27
RB, 5-9, 190, So. IMG Academy Leesburg, Va.
X: @clayash1
Instagram: @clayash_
• Tommy Nickolich Award winner as program’s top walk-on 2004 (Fr.)
• Played in nine games and saw action on 37 plays
• Used primarily on special teams
• Season-high 10 plays at Texas Tech
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2024. High School
• Played for coach Kyle Brey at IMG Academy White in Bradenton, Fla.
• Named IMG’s Offensive Most Valuable Player
• Saw action in 11 games and finished with 2,032 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns
• As a junior, played at Independence High in Ashburn, Virginia
• Earned All-Virginia High School League Region 5D Offense, All-Potomac District First-Team Offense, All-Loudon County Honorable Mention and team MVP honors
• Earned All-Potomac District Second-Team Running Back and All-Potomac District First-Team Punter as a sophomore Personal
• Son of Sherri Ash and Kevin and Remington Ash
• One of three children (1 brother,1 sister)
• Majoring in sport management
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
JACOB BARRICK 81
TE, 6-3, 235, Sr. Jacksonville State Martinsburg, W.Va.
X: @JacobBarrick3
Instagram: @jb2.0__
• Has played in 31 career games
2024 (Jr.) - Jacksonville State
• Played in 14 games for coach Rich Rodriguez
• Used primarily in a blocking role but had six catches for 70 yards with a long of 20
2023 (So.) - Jacksonville State
• Made nine appearances as a sophomore, missing five games in the middle of the season due to injury
• Started at Coastal Carolina, finishing with two catches for 15 yards and had a reception of 17 yards in the New Orleans Bowl
2022 (Fr.) - Jacksonville State
• Appeared in eight games as a freshman with his debut against Stephen F. Austin High School
• Prepped for coach Britt Sherman at Martinsburg High
• First team all-state selection as a senior
• Hauled in 38 receptions for 644 yards and seven touchdowns, an average of 17.0 yards per reception
• Also hauled in four two-point conversion attempts, scoring 50 total points
• On defense, recorded 60 tackles, four sacks and an interception as the Bulldogs won the 2021 West Virginia Class AAA state championship Personal
• Son of Gary Barrick and Deborah Sturgeon
• One of 13 children
• Majoring in integrated studies
OL, 6-4, 308, r-Jr. Jacksonville State Dunbar, W.Va.
X: @bausleyxavier
Instagram: @xavierbausley78
• Has played in 16 career games with 11 starts
2024 (r-So.)
• Saw action in five games
• Added depth at tackle
• Used on a season-high 11 plays against Oklahoma State and six plays at Arizona
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2024
2023 (r-Fr.) - Jacksonville State
• Played for coach Rich Rodriguez
• Named to The Athletic Freshman All-America Second Team and Pro Football Focus College All-CUSA team
• Named to CUSA All-Freshman team
• Started 11 games at right tackle for the Gamecocks
• Key part of an offensive line that led the Gamecocks to third-best rushing offense in FBS
• Helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 236.6 yards per game on the ground and ran for at least 140 yards in every game but one in 2023, including seven games with more than 200 yards and a league-record 522 rushing yards against Louisiana Tech
2022 (Fr.) - Jacksonville State
• Redshirted
High School
• Played for coach Donnie Mays at South Charleston High
• Two-time West Virginia AAA All-State Second Team performer
• Anchored the Black Eagles’ offensive line, which opened the way for an offense that averaged more than 500 yards per game
Personal
• Son of Jason and Kimberly Bausley
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Majoring in computer science
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
XAVIER BAUSLEY
2024 (r-Fr.)
• Did not see game action
2023 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
JAYDEN BELL 37
CB, 5-10, 156, r-So.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
X: @jaydenxbell
Instagram: @jayden_bell_1
• Played for coach Roger Hanott at Saint Thomas Aquinas High
• Member of three 7A championship teams that finished 36-2, ranked in the top 5 in the state all three years and ranked in the top 10 nationally his final two seasons
• Also participated on the track and field team
Personal
• Son of Grantis and Carla Bell
• Father was former WVU receiver and is a current NFL back judge
• All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Academic Honors
• Dean’s List
2022 (r-Fr.) – Frostburg
• Did not see action due to injury
• Dean’s List
2021 (Fr.) – Frostburg
• Played in two games and earned Academic All-MEC honors
2020 (COVID) – Frostburg
• Played for coach DeLane Fitzgerald at Frostburg
• Redshirted and earned Academic All-MEC honors High School
• Three-year letterwinner playing for his father, Sean Biser, at Keyser High
• Two-year varsity starter recording 104 tackles including four sacks, 16 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in those two seasons
• Earned All-State First Team, Area Defensive Player of the Year, All-Potomac Valley Conference and selected to the play in the North-South All-Star Game as a senior
• Earned All-Potomac Valley Conference in basketball in 2020
• Earned Academic Honor Society, math honor society and science honor society accolades in 2019-20
Personal
• Son of Sean and Sheri Biser
• Father was an offensive lineman at WVU (1990-93)
• Brother Caden is a linebacker on WVU’s football team
• One of five children (3 brothers, 1 sister)
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport leadership in May 2025 and pursuing a master’s in business administration
• Season-high 34 plays, including 20 defensive against Albany
• Finished with seven tackles for the season with season-high four tackles against Albany and two assisted tackles against Penn State
2023 (r-So.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference Second Team
• Played in 13 games and started one
• Used on more than 120 defensive and 150 special teams snaps
• Season-high 34 defensive snaps against North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
• Season-high 23 special teams snaps at Oklahoma
• Finished with 23 tackles, including 12 unassisted, ½ sack and 1½ tackles for loss
2022 (r-Fr.)
• Played in 11 games, adding depth at mike linebacker
• Finished with eight tackles, including three solo stops and a fumble recovery
• Season-high six tackles against Towson, including three solo stops
2021 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
• Played at Morgantown High for his father, Sean Biser
• Earned Chuck Howley Award as West Virginia’s top linebacker, all-state first team honors and team MVP as a senior
• Began high-school career at Keyser High, also playing for his father
• Also wrestled Personal
• Son of Sean and Sheri Biser
• Father was an offensive lineman at WVU (1990-93)
• Brother Jackson is a defensive lineman on WVU’s football team
• One of five children (3 brothers, 1 sister)
• Majoring in health and well-being
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Biser’s Defensive Statistics
CADEN BISER
JAROD BOWIE 7
WR, 5-9, 160, r-Sr.
Jacksonville State Martinsburg, W.Va.
X: @jarod_bowie_1
Instagram: @jarodbowie
• Has played in 33 career games with 29 starts
2024 (r-Jr.) - Jacksonville State
• Played wide receiver for coach Rich Rodriguez
• Finished with 13 catches for 207 yards, including a season-high 105 receiving yards vs. Ohio in the Cure Bowl
• Also added three rushes for 24 yards
2023 (r-So.) - Jacksonville State
• Appeared in three games
2022 (r-Fr.) - Concord
• Harlon Hill Trophy finalist
• Mountain East Offensive Player of the Year
• Earned All-American First-Team honors by AFCA, AP and D2CAA
• Had 102 catches for 1,773 yards and 18 touchdowns
• Led Division II in catches and yards per game, finishing as the only receiver to average more than 150 yards per game (161.2)
2021 (Fr.) Fall - Concord
• Started first four games of the season before suffering a season-ending injury
• Hauled in 28 receptions for 427 yards and a touchdown
• Made 15 grabs for 204 yards at Glenville State in season opener
• Caught seven passes for 104 yards versus Frostburg State
2021 (COVID) - Spring - Concord
• Had seven catches for 57 yards and scored twice in a win at West Virginia Wesleyan
High School
• Played for coach Britt Sherman at Martinsburg High
• Named 2019 All-State First Team
• MetroNews Player of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a 14-0 season and the Class AAA state championship
• Finished his senior year with 44 catches for 1,082 yards and 18 touchdowns, while earning All-Eastern Panhandle honors Personal
• Son of Darnell and Kristy Bowie
• One of five children (4 sisters)
• Majoring in integrated studies
Bowie’s Receiving Statistics
2024 (Fr.)
• Played in eight games
ISRAEL BOYCE
S, 5-11, 190, So. Douglas County Douglasville, Ga.
X: @israelboyce2024
Instagram: @unobabiii
• Finished with 11 tackles, including 10 solo stops
• Registered two tackles against Memphis in the Frisco Bowl
• Season-high six solo tackles at Texas Tech
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2024
High School
• Played for coach Johnny White at Douglas County High
• Named All-State First Team and All-Region First Team
• Finished his senior year appearing in nine games, registering 51 total tackles, three pass breakups and three interceptions
• Selected Gatorade MVP
• During his junior season he recorded 59 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles for Douglas County High School
Personal
• Son of Tabitha Boyce
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Majoring in sport management
Boyce’s Defensive Statistics
Year Games Tackles Assists Total TFL
2024 (r-Fr.)
NOAH BRAHAM 36
TE, 6-3, 245, r-So. University Morgantown, W.Va.
X: @noah_braham
Instagram: @brahamnoah
• Saw action against UCF and at Texas Tech
• Added depth at tight end
• Used on a season-high 10 plays at Texas Tech
2023 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
• Played tight end and linebacker for coach John Kelley at University High
• Moved around positionally in high school, playing linebacker and defensive line for the Hawks
• Suffered an ankle injury at the mid-point of his junior season, limiting his time on the field in the latter half of his junior season and the beginning of his senior season
• As a senior, he totaled 38 receptions for 489 yards and had scored six touchdowns
• As a junior, he caught 16 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns
• On defense as sophomore, he recorded 49 tackles, including 38 solos and three sacks
• Also was used as a punt returner as a sophomore, totaling 15 returns
• West Virginia baseball player of the year
• Earned 5A OVAC baseball player of the year
Personal
• Son of WVU Hall of Fame offensive lineman Rich and Connie Braham
• Father was an All-American offensive lineman at WVU from 1990-93 and played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals from 1994-2006
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in finance
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
JADEN BRAY 5
WR, 6-2, 206, r-Sr. Oklahoma State Norman, Okla.
X: @thejadenbray
Instagram: @2ezbray
• Has played in 30 career games, including 12 starts
2024 (r-Jr.)
• Played in five games and started against Kansas
• Sustained a season-ending lower leg injury
• Finished with two catches for 88 yards with a long catch of 44 yards
• Had a season-long reception of 44 yards against Albany, which he tied at Pitt
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2024
2023 (r-So.)
-
Oklahoma State
• Played in 10 games at Oklahoma State, including seven starts
• Finished the season with 382 receiving yards on 30 receptions, ranking fourth on the team
• Had a season-high 77 receiving yards against Kansas State where he recorded a season-long catch of 45 yards
• Scored two touchdowns, one in a 48-34 win at WVU, and averaged 12.7 yards per catch
2022 (So.)
-
Oklahoma State
• Redshirted while missing most of the season due to injury
• Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree
• Saw limited action in three games
• Finished the year with five catches for 54 yards
2021 (Fr.) - Oklahoma State
• Played in 12 games, tying most games by a true freshman and started the final four games of the season
• His six 25-plus yard catches ranked second on the team for the year
• Finished the season with 250 receiving yards to rank fifth on the team and his 13 catches ranked seventh
• Season-best single game receiving total of 84 yards came against Tulsa, and that also led all players in the game
• Scored two touchdowns for the year
• His first touchdown was a 26-yard catch against Tulsa and was the fifth catch of his career, earning him co-offensive player of the week honors
• Second touchdown marked OSU’s first score in the two-point Fiesta Bowl win over No. 5 Notre Dame
• Also had 52 yards in the season opener against Missouri State and 52 yards in the Big 12 Championship game
High School
• Played for coach Rocky Martin at Norman High
• Two-time Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference first team wide receiver
• An all-district performer and wide receiver of the year in 2020
• A Vype Top 100 Mr. Football Nominee (No. 11 in 2020)
• Named the NAA Outstanding Student Athlete in 2019
• Helped lead his team to playoff appearances as a junior and senior
• According to MaxPreps, finished with 471 receiving yards on 32 catches and scored five touchdowns as a senior
• Pulled in 40 catches for nearly 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior in 2019
• Talented basketball player, earning three letters and all-conference honors, as well being named the 2019 Landers MVP
• Member of the honor roll in 2020 and the National Honor Society Student Athlete Advisory Council
Personal
• Son of Alphonzo Bray and Tannica Binder
• Parents are Army veterans
• One of three children (2 sisters)
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport leadership in May 2025 and pursuing a master’s degree in executive sport management
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Bray’s Receiving Statistics
MAX BROWN 6
QB, 6-2, 225, r-Jr. Charlotte Tulsa, Okla.
X: @mmax_23
Instagram: @ _maxbrown1
2024 (r-So.) - Charlotte
• Played quarterback for coach Biff Poggi at Charlotte
• Appeared in five games
• Completed 43 of his 93 passes for 561 yards and three touchdowns
• Rushed for 72 yards on 33 carries with a long of 20
• Played quarterback for coach Billy Napier at Florida
2023 (r-Fr.) - Florida
• Played in five games
• Had a 67.8% completion rate on 19-of-28 attempts for 192 yards and one interception
• Netted 37 yards rushing on 23 attempts with a long of 27
2022 (Fr.) - Florida
• Redshirted
• Was a member of Florida’s baseball team in 2022 that reached the Men’s College World Series Championship Series
High School
• Played quarterback for coach Jerry Ricke at Lincoln Christian
• Accounted for 4,416 passing yards and 68 touchdowns in two seasons
• Named Oklahoma District 3A MVP as a senior Personal
• Son of Corey and Karmen Brown
• Father played football at Tulsa and was a wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers
• Has played in 39 career games, including nine starts
2024 (Sr.) - Arkansas
• Played in one game on offensive line for coach Sam Pittman 2023 (Jr.) - Arkansas
• Played in nine games, with four starts, while also seeing action on special teams
• Allowed only two sacks over 146 pass plays
2022 (So.) - Arkansas
• Appeared in 10 games, including starts against LSU and Kansas
• Saw action on the offensive line and special teams
• Allowed two sacks over 47 pass plays
• Helped pave the way for the running game to rush for 3,077 yards (10th-most in school history) and gain 6,128 total yards (2nd-most in school history)
2021 (Fr.) - Arkansas
• Appeared in all 13 games, primarily on special teams and at right tackle
2020 (COVID) - Charlotte
• Played offensive line for coach Biff Poggi
• Appeared in six games at rght tackle and started three for the 49ers
High School
• Played for coach Scott Surratt at Carthage High
• Helped lead Carthage to a 16-0 record and the 4A D1 state championship as a senior
• Helped pave the way for the offense to produce more than 3,500 total yards
• In his junior year, the Bulldogs were 14-1 and reached the state’s 4A D1 semifinals Personal
• Son of Lakeshia Surrall
• One of two children (1 sister)
• Graduated from Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2024
• Three-year starter at defensive back for coach Richard Johnson at Bishop Canevin High
• Earned all-state honors at defensive back
• Named to the Big 33 All-Star Game
• Three-time all-conference safety and all-conference at wide receiver
• Two-time conference and section defensive most valuable player
• 2023 Pennsylvania Writers’ Class A All-State First Team
• 2023 Pennsylvania All-Star Football Team selected by SBLive
• 2022 Pennsylvania Writers’ Class A All-State Second Team
• Finished with more than 2,000 yards passing and more than 1,000 yards receiving during his career, only player in school history to accomplish that
• Three-time team captain
• Conference athlete of the year as a sophomore
• Played quarterback, safety and receiver in high school, recording statistics at all three positions
• Also played basketball
Personal
• Son of Tyeshia Morris
• One of five children (1 brother, 3 sisters)
• Majoring in sport management
BEN CUTTER 15
LB, 6-0, 225, Jr.
East Lincoln Denver, N.C.
X: @BenCutter_
Instagram: @bencutter15
• Has played in 26 career games, including nine starts
2024 (So.)
• Played in all 13 games and started two
• Added depth at linebacker and used extensively on special teams
• Saw action on 407 plays (211 defense, 196 special teams)
• Season-high 48 defensive snaps against Memphis in the Frisco Bowl
• Finished with 39 tackles, including 10 unassisted tackles and assisted on a tackle for loss
• Season-high seven tackles against Memphis
• Had six tackles against Kansas and five against Baylor and UAlbany 2023 (Fr.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
• Played in 13 games at mike linebacker and on special teams; included seven starts
• Used on more than 550 snaps, including 471 on defense
• Saw action on season-high 65 defensive snaps against Oklahoma State
• WVU Blue Collar Award: BYU, Cincinnati
• Fourth-leading tackler for WVU (56), including 28 unassisted tackles, two sacks, six tackles for loss and a pass breakup
• Posted five tackles against North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
• WVU Defensive Champion at Baylor, finishing with a season-high 10 tackles, including tying his season-high with five solo stops
• Registered five tackles against Cincinnati, including three solo stops and a sack
• Had six tackles against BYU, including three solo tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss
• Tied his season high with five solo tackles at UCF
• Finished with seven tackles, including a season-high five solo stops and a tackle for loss against Oklahoma State
• Had five tackles, including three solo stops at Houston
• Finished with six tackles at TCU
• Posted two tackles against Texas Tech
• Assisted on four tackles against Duquesne
High School
• Played for coach David Lubowicz at East Lincoln High
• A four-year all-state performer and one of the top defensive players in North Carolina
• School’s all-time leading tackler (857)
• Two-time Western Foothills Conference Defensive Player of the Year
• Defensive MVP of the state championship game, with 11 tackles in a 30-15 victory over previously unbeaten Northern Nash
• Selected to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star game
• Led team to a 16-0 record, a 7-0 conference championship and the Class 3A state championship as a senior
• Collected 193 tackles as a senior with two sacks, eight tackles for loss and four interceptions
• Also ran for 305 yards with three touchdowns averaging 8.2 yards per carry
• As a junior, collected 158 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and one interception
• Rushed for 213 yards and three touchdowns averaging 6.3 yards per carry
• Turned in 91 tackles as a sophomore, averaging 13 tackles per game
• Registered 137 total tackles as a freshman, including 11 tackles for loss
Personal
• Son of Jennifer Cutter
• One of two children (1 sister)
• Majoring in sport management
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Cutter’s Defensive Statistics
WILLIAM DAVIS 11
N/S, 5-10, 190, r-Sr.
Virginia Union
South Boston, Va.
X: @ SubZero_Era
Instagram: @ chosendavis_
• Has played in 36 career games, including 20 starts
2024 (r-Jr) - Virgina Union
• Played safety for coach Alvin Parker at Virginia Union
• Appeared in 14 games, including 10 starts, totaling 56 tackles, 11½ tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions and a forced fumble
2023 (r-So.) - Virginia Union
• Played in 12 games, including 10 starts
• Collected 38 tackles, five interceptions, two breakups and three quarterback hurries
• Also had 8½ tackles for loss, including two sacks, and a fumble recovery
2022 (r-Fr.) - Virginia Union
• Saw action in 10 games
• Had 21 tackles, including five for a loss, with one sack
• Grabbed two interceptions while forcing and recovering one fumble
2021 (Fr.) - Virginia Union
• Redshirted
2020 (COVID) - Virginia Union
• Did not see action
High School
• Played for coach Grayson Throckmorton at Halifax County High
Personal
• Son of Michelle Woodall
• One of five children (4 sisters)
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurial management from Virginia Union in 2024
• Pursuing a master’s degree in sport management
Davis’s Defensive Statistics
N/S, 6-2, 205, Fr. LaSalle College HS Doylestown, Pa.
X: @cfileppo22
Instagram: @chrisfileppo
• Enrolled at WVU In January
High School
• Played for coach Brett Gordon at LaSalle College High
• Three-year starter who helped team to a 10-1 season and a 5-0 conference record in the Philadelphia Catholic League
• Team captain as a senior
• Earned all-state and All-Catholic First-Team honors at defensive back
• Collected 62 tackles, seven pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one interception in 2023
• Also spent time as a wide receiver in high school
• An All-Catholic League selection and all-state honorable-mention performer
Personal
• Son of John and Kelly Fileppo
• Father and brother played football at Delaware and mother played field hockey and softball at Rider. and another brother played football at Bryant
• One of three children (2 brothers)
• Majoring in communications
2024 (r-Fr.)
NATE FLOWER 48
K, 6-2, 185, r-So.
Fairmont Senior Fairmont, W.Va.
X: @Nate.flower
Instagram: @nateeflowerr
• Kicked off once against Albany for 63 yards
2023 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
• WVU Juice Award: BYU
High School
• Played for coach Nick Bartic at Fairmont Senior High
• Earned All-State Second Team P/K Honors as a senior
• Converted all 29 of his extra point attempts and five field goals with a long of 34 yards as a senior
• Finished with 27 punts for 975 yards with a long of 52 yards and placed four inside the opponent’s 20-yard line
• Attended Kohl’s Kicking Camps National Senior/College Transfer Challenge in Dallas, Texas and charted the longest kickoff in 2023 with a long of 84 yards
• Two-time state soccer champion, two-time All-State A/AA and was named the 2021 and 2022 state defender of the year Personal
• Son of Brandon and Lisa Flower
• Father was the Mountaineer mascot from 1998-99
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in animal and nutritional sciences
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
2024 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
GRIFFIN FOGLE 70
OL, 6-3, 275, r-Fr.
St. Clairsville
St. Clairsville, Ohio
X: @FogleGriffin
Instagram: @griffin_fogle
• Played offensive line for coach Brett McLean at St. Clairsville High
• 2023 Lamone Award winner
• Named All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference First Team
• Was an OVAC All Star
• Earned All-Buckeye 8 First Team
• Also participated in the shot put Personal
• Son of Chris and Johna Fogle
• Father played offensive line for WVU from 1991-94
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Majoring in health and well-being
PRESTON FOX 29
WR, 5-10, 191, r-Sr. Morgantown Morgantown, W.Va.
X: @P-fox21
Instagram: @pfox021
• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team KOR (Phil Steele)
• Has played in 41 career games, including 12 starts 2024 (r-Jr.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
• Saw action at receiver and punt and kickoff returner
• All-Big 12 Conference Honorable-Mention (PR/KR)
• Ranked No. 6 in the Big 12 Conference and No. 44 in combined kick return yards (409)
• Registered 12 catches for 131 yards with a long of 30 yards
• Recorded 13 punt returns for 105 yards, an average of 8.1 yards per return
• Had 11 kickoff returns for 304 yards, an 27.6 yard per return with a long of 43 yards
• Finished with three catches for 19 yards in the Frisco Bowl against Memphis
• Grabbed three passes for 45 yards, including a season-best 30-yarder, at Texas Tech
• WVU Special Teams Champion: UCF
• Posted two kickoff returns for a total of 76 yards and a long of 40 against UCF
• Tallied two punt returns for 21 yards and three kickoff returns for 67 yards against Baylor
• Finished with 130 yards on six returns at Cincinnati, including 46 on three punt returns and 84 on three kickoff returns
• Totaled 77 yards on three kickoff returns against Kansas State, including a seasonlong 30-yard return
• Lone catch at Pitt was a 12-yard reception
• Posted a pair of returns for 16 yards at Pitt
• Tallied two punt returns against UAlbany, totaling 16 yards
• Hauled in one pass for 5 yards against UAlbany
• Led the receiving corps with a pair of catches for 41 yards, including a long of 25, in the season opener against Penn State
• Played in 12 games at receiver, starting five; also used at punt and kick returner
• Saw action on 417 offensive snaps and 95 on special teams
• Used on a season-high 49 snaps at UCF and against Oklahoma and a season-high 13 special teams snaps at Oklahoma
• Third-leading receiver on the team with 26 catches for 368 yards, averaging 14.2 yards per catch, two touchdowns and a long reception of 34 yards
• Finished with 18 punt returns for 145 yards with a long of 20 yards
• Ranked No. 28 nationally in punt returns, averaging 8.1 per return
• Had eight kick returns for 172 yards with a long of 33 yards
• Missed the Duke’s Mayo Bowl due to injury
• Finished with three catches for 51 yards at Baylor with a long of 29 yards and a season-best three kickoff returns for 58 yards with a long of 24 yards
• WVU Blue Collar Award: at UCF, BYU
• Recorded three catches for 33 yards with a touchdown and a long of 12 yards against BYU
• Registered three catches for 33 yards with a long of 28 yards at UCF
• Posted three catches for 24 yards with a long of 16 yards against Cincinnati
• Had two punt returns for 32 yards with a long return of 17 yards at TCU
• WVU Special Teams Champion: Texas Tech after season-best three punt returns for 45 yards with a season-long of 20 yards
• Had two catches for 34 yards against Duquesne with a touchdown and a long catch of 22 yards and returned three punts for 41 yards with a long return of 16 yards
2022 (r-Fr.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
• Played in all 12 games
• Finished with four catches for 41 yards, a touchdown and a long reception of 26
• WVU Special Teams Champion: Oklahoma State
• Finished with three punt returns at Oklahoma State for 10 yards with a long of 8
• Two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown against Towson
• Season-best punt return of 27 yards against the Tigers
2021 (Fr.)
• Redshirted; played in four games
• Earned his first collegiate action against Long Island; played a season-high eight offensive plays and had first career catch for 8 yards
• WVU Special Teams Scout Champion: Iowa State
2020 (COVID)
• WVU Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week (TCU)
High School
• Played wide receiver and defensive back for coach Matt Lacy at Morgantown High
• Earned West Virginia All-State AAA First Team honors as a senior (defense utility) after posting nearly 1,500 all-purpose yards
• All-Two Rivers Athletic Conference First-Team Defense and Second-Team Offense
• Finished with 1,300 career receiving yards and eight touchdowns, 452 rushing yards and five touchdowns, 504 career kickoff return yard, 144 punt return yards, 120 career tackles, five tackles for loss, four interceptions and three pass breakups
Personal
• Son of Tom and Tammy Fox
• One of three children (2 brothers)
• Graduated with his bachelor’s degree in marketing in August 2024 and master’s degree in business administration in May 2025
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Fox’s Receiving Statistics
Punt Return Statistics
Fox’s Kick Return Statistics
PRESTON FOX
QB, 6-2, 205, Fr. Mentor
Mentor, Ohio
X: @ScottyFox18
Instagram: @scotty.fox
• Enrolled at WVU In January
High School
• Played quarterback for coach Matt Gray at Mentor High
• Northeast Lakes District Offensive Player of the Year as a senior
• Had 3,076 total yards of offense and with 2,759 passing yards on a 64.0% completion rate with 34 touchdowns
• Also ran for 321 yards and seven touchdowns
• As a junior, he passed for 2,275 yards, 22 touchdowns and completed 58% of his passes and rushed for 271 yards and 11 touchdowns
• For his career, he finished with 7,448 passing yards, 85 touchdowns and 31 interceptions
Personal
• Son of Scott Sr. and Kathy Fox
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Majoring in sport management
2024 (Fr.)
• Played in 12 games
NATE GABRIEL 69
DL, 6-3, 308, So. Auburndale Auburndale, Fla.
X: @nathangabriel7_ Instagram: @biggnatee_
• Added depth on the defensive line
• Finished with nine tackles, including assisting on a sack
• Was used on 128 defensive snaps, including a season-high 24 against UAlbany
• Also saw action on 20 defensive plays against Texas Tech
• Season-high two solo stops against UAlbany
• Assisted on a sack at Pitt
• Had two assists against Kansas
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2024
High School
• Played defensive line for coach Kyle Sassler at Auburndale High
• Finished his career with 160 total tackles, 58 tackles for loss, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and 12 sacks
• As a senior, he played in all 11 games, collecting 74 tackles, four sacks, 26 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and two blocked punts
• As a junior, tallied 58 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 10 games
• Named 2023 Polk County (FL) Co-Wrestler of the Year
• Won the state title as a junior, finishing with a 35-4 record
• Placed sixth in the state at the 2A heavyweight level as a sophomore
• Also threw the discus, advancing to nationals
Personal
• Son of Frantz and Yolene Gabriel
• One of five children (1 brother, 3 sisters)
• Majoring in sport management
Gabriel’s Defensive Statistics
2024 (r-Jr.)
• Added depth at tight end
• Did not see game action
GREG GENROSS 82
TE, 6-6, 235, r-Sr.
Dodge City CC Bronx, N.Y.
X: @GGenross
Instagram: @Ggenross
• WVU Offensive Scout Team Champion: UAlbany
2023 (r-So.) - Dodge City CC
• Played tight end for coach Terry Karg at Dodge City Community College
• NJCAA Division I All-American First Team
• All-KJCCC First Team
• Helped lead Dodge City to an 8-3 record and the program’s first bowl game against New Mexico Military
• Saw action in nine games and finished with 16 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns
• Season-high four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against Iowa Western
• Registered three catches for 76 yards with a long of 33 yards against Garden City
• Had three receptions for 12 yards at Independence
• Had two catches for 10 yards and a touchdown at Highland CC
2022 (r-Fr.) - Dodge City CC
• Played in eight games as a freshman and had 10 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown
2021 (Fr.) - ASA New York
• Redshirted High School
• Played wide receiver for coach Alex Vega at John F. Kennedy High
Personal
• Son of Greg Sr. and Rose Kwarteng
• One of five children (2 brothers, 2 sisters)
• Majoring in sport leadership
2024 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
QUINTIN GOINS 95
DL, 6-3, 250, r-Fr. Jefferson
Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.
X: @quintin_goins
Instagram: @quintingggg__
• Played defensive line for coach Craig Hunter at Jefferson High
• Named AAA First Team All-State
• Earned Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference First Team
• Recorded 60 tackles, including 15 sacks and 27 tackles for loss
• Added four forced fumbles, one interception and one touchdown
Personal
• Son of Willie and Jessica Goins
• One of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister)
• Majoring in business
RODNEY GALLAGHER III 69
WR, 5-10, 181, Jr.
Laurel Highlands Uniontown, Pa.
X: @rodney_g3
• Has played in 26 career games with 10 starts 2024 (So.)
• Played in 13 games at receiver and defensive back and started seven
• Used on 417 offensive snaps and 80 offensive snaps
• Saw action on 20 or more plays in 10 games, including 40 more snaps in six games
• Second-leading receiver in the Frisco Bowl against Memphis, finishing with 59 yards on five catches
• Grabbed a touchdown pass for the second straight game and finished with 21 yards at Texas Tech
• Scored his second touchdown of the season on a 12-yard reception against UCF
• Caught two passes for 19 yards against Baylor
• WVU Juice Award: Arizona
• Finished with two catches for 14 yards and 21 yards rushing at Arizona
• Grabbed one catch for 8 yards against Kansas State
• Lone catch against Iowa State was a 21-yard grab
• Caught one pass for 12 yards at Oklahoma State
• Posted 41 yards receiving and caught the game-winning touchdown - the first TD of his career - against Kansas
• Recorded two catches for 20 yards and three carries for 15 yards at UCF
• Had three carries for 21 yards with a long of 11 yards against BYU High School
• Played for coach Rich Kolesar at Laurel Highlands High
• 2022-23 Pennsylvania Male Athlete of the Year
• Earned two-time all-state first team honors (ATH)
• WPIAL 4A Big Seven Conference Offensive Player of the Year
• Invited to play in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas
Instagram: @Rodney.gallagher Gallagher’s
• Registered a career-long catch for 33 yards at Pitt
• Hauled in three passes for 34 yards, including a then-career long of 21, against UAlbanyCaught one pass for 8 yards in the season opener against Penn State 2023 (Fr.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
• Played in 13 games at receiver and started three
• Saw action on 284 plays, including 259 on offense and season-high 45 at Baylor
• Finished with 10 catches for 74 yards and a long catch of 14 yards
• Registered 15 carries for 87 yards with a long of 15 yards
• Season-high three catches for a season-high 24 yards with a long of 12 yards against Cincinnati
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22 and Post-Gazette WPIAL Male Athlete of the Year
• Played quarterback as a senior, completing 93-of-167 (55.7%) passes for 1,272 yards and 13 touchdowns; on the ground, ran for 690 yards on 146 carries and tallied 11 touchdowns; also caught 13 passes for 77 yards and four touchdowns
• During his junior season, he completed 104-of-179 (58.1%) passes for 1,365 yards and 12 touchdowns; also ran for 1,130 yards on 169 carries and 21 touchdowns
• Finished his high school career with 3,014 passing yards on 225-of-395 (57%) attempts and 29 touchdowns; also tallied 2,376 rushing yards on 418 carries and 40 touchdowns and 890 receiving yards on 56 catches for 11 touchdowns
• Also a standout basketball player; finished career with 2,035 career points
• Four-time all-state first team selection
• Only player in Western Pennsylvania history to be named four-time WPIAL Fab 5 by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Personal
• Son of Rodney Jr. and the late Crystal Gallagher
• One of four children (3 sisters)
• Majoring in sport management
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Receiving Statistics
Rushing Statistics
RODNEY GALLAGHER III
DEVONTE GOLDEN-NELSON 2
CB, 5-11, 178, r-Sr. Akron Memphis, Tenn.
X: @devontetm
Instagram: @devontteee
• Enrolled at WVU In January
2024 (r-Jr.) - Akron
• Played cornerback for coach Joe Moorehead at Akron
• Appeared in 12 games, collecting 33 tackles
• Added a half tackle for loss and seven passes defended
2023 (r-So.) - Akron
• Named to the Academic All-MAC Team
• Played in 11 games
• Recorded 22 tackles and two interceptions, including a 26-yard pick-six
2022 (r-Fr.) - Akron
• Appeared in five games for Akron, including three starts
• Recorded 11 tackles
2021 (Fr.) - Memphis
• Played cornerback for coach Ryan Silverfield at Memphis
• Did not see game action
2020 (COVID) - Memphis
• Redshirted as a freshman in 2020 after appearing in four games
High School
• Played cornerback for coach Bobby Alston at Memphis University School
• Had 81 solo tackles and 21 breakups his final two prep seasons there
• Finished senior year with 40 tackles, one field goal blocked, two interceptions and eight breakups
• Played in the 2019 AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Game
• Also named to the 2018 Division 2-AAA West All-Region first team (DB)
Personal
• Son of Bernice Golden
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree organizational supervision from Akron in 2024
• Pursuing a master’s degree in executive sport management
Golden-Nelson’s Defensive Statistics
MIKE
HASTIE 22
LB, 6-3, 230, Fr. Douglas County Douglasville, Ga.
X: @_mikehastie
Instagram: @_mikehastie
• Enrolled at WVU In January
High School
• Three-year standout performer for coach Johnny White at Georgia 6-A power Douglas County High
• Teammate of current WVU safety Israel Boyce
• Totaled more than 300 tackles for his career and 920 rushing yards
• Earned all-region honors and named two-time defensive player of the year
Personal
• Son of Mike and Kesia Hastie
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in sport management
2024 (Fr.) - Tulane
ETHAN HEAD 99
K, 6-1, 182, So. Tulane
West Chicago, Ill.
X: @EthanHead118330
Instagram: @ethan.head23
• Played for coach Jon Sumrall
• Connected on four of his five field goal attempts, going 1/1 on 20-29-yard attempts and 3/4 on 30-39-yard attempts, with a long of 38
• Also went 18/21 on PATs
• The kickoff man for the Green Wave and finished the season with 49 of his 76 kicks being touchbacks, for a 65% touchback rate
High School
• Played for coach Jim Johanik at Wheaton Academy
• Played in 13 games as a senior
• Finished with 94 kickoffs for 5,824 yards and 59 touchbacks
• As a punter, averaged 43.8 yards per kick and placed five inside the opponent’s 20-yard line
• Hit 10-of-12 field goal attempts and scored 89 points
Personal
• Son of Douglas and Andrea Head
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Majoring in finance
Head’s Kickoff Statistics
Head’s Field Goal Statistics
13
JAYLEN HENDERSON
QB, 6-3, 229, r-Sr. Texas A&M
Los Angeles, Calif.
X: @_Jmoney13_
Instagram: @jmoney13
2024 (r-Jr.) - Texas A&M
• Played quarterback for coach Mike Elko but did not see action
2023 (r-So.)
- Texas A&M
• Started the final four games of the season
• Accounted for eight of the team’s 14 offensive touchdowns in the last three games of the regular season
• Finished with a 165.2 efficiency rating, completing 53-of-78 for 715 yards and six TDs
• Made his first career start against Mississippi State, accounting for four touchdowns and completing 11-of-19 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing 12 times for 60 yards and two TDs
• Completed 16-of-23 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Abilene Christian
• Passed for a career-high 294 yards, connecting on 25-of-35 attempts and two touchdowns through the air at LSU
• Started the Texas Bowl but was injured on the opening drive
2022 (r-Fr.) - Fresno State
• Played quarterback for coach Jeff Tedford
• Appeared in two games
2021 (Fr.) - Fresno Sate
• Saw action in three games
• Completed 5-of-8 passes for 49 yards
High School
• Mission League leading passer and quarterback rusher during a shortened spring season
• Threw for 1,402 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 345 yards with one touchdown
• Named Mission League MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and Cal Hi- Sports AllState First Team
• Had 3,431 total yards averaging 263.9 total yards per game in 2019
• Was an All-Mission League First-Team quarterback
Personal
• Son of Jamie and Shirell Henderson
• Father played football at New Mexico State
• “Relatives” Andre Baccellia (Arizona Cardinals), Chris Carter (Pittsburgh Steelers), David Carter (Arizona Cardinals) and Alterraun Verner (Tennessee Titans) played in the NFL
• One of four children (1 brother, 2 sisters)
• Graduated from Texas A&M in May 2025 and pursuing a master’s degree in executive sport managment
• Added depth at linebacker and used primarily on special teams
• Saw action on 78 plays, including 74 on special teams
• Assisted on a tackle at Oklahoma State
• Season-high 12 special teams plays against UAlbany
• WVU Defensive Champion: UAlbany
• WVU Blue Collar Award: Arizona
High School
• Played outside linebacker and running back and was team captain for coach Luke Salmons at Cabell Midland High
• Two-time all-state running back, earning Class AAA first team honors as a senior and second team as a junior
• Two-time All-Mountain State Athletic Conference First-Team honors
• As a senior, finished with 1,762 yards and 27 touchdowns and four receiving TDs
• As a junior, he ran for 1,584 yards and 19 touchdowns
• As a sophomore, played at Huntington High and helped the Highlanders reach the 2021 Class AAA state championship game
• Also ran track and posted an 11.89 in the 100-meter dash as part of a 4x100 team that placed fifth at states
• Posted a 4.0 GPA
Personal
• Son of Curtis Sr. and Chardae Jones
• Father was a wide receiver at Marshall from 1999-02
• One of two children (1 sister)
• Majoring in environmental, energy and land management
CURTIS JONES JR.
2024 (r-So.)
• Did not see game action 2023 (r-Fr.)
• Did not see game action 2022 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
SCOTT KEAN 12
QB, 6-2, 203, r-Jr.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Weston, Fla.
X: @scottkean12
Instagram: @scottkean12
2024 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
• Played quarterback for coach Roger Harriott at St. Thomas Aquinas
• As a senior, moved back to Florida at St Thomas Aquinas
• Part of 13-1 7A State Championship team 2021, which finished No. 9 nationally
• Junior year (Covid) - played under Nick Alexander at Walsh Jesuit in Ohio
• Helped lead Walsh Jesuit High to a conference championship and OHSAA playoffs
• As a freshman and sophomore, started on varsity at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, under Ladell Betts
Personal
• Son of Michael and Lori Kean
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in business
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
2024 (r-So.)
R.J. KOCAN 42
K, 5-10, 236, r-Jr.
St. John The Baptist West Islip, N.Y.
X: @rj_kocan
Instagram: @rjkocan
• Made an extra point against UAlbany and also saw action against Iowa State and Baylor 2023 (r-Fr.)
• Did not see game action 2022 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
• Kicker for coach Phil Alba at St. John The Baptist Diocesan High
• Earned all-state first team honors
• Special Teams Player of the Year
• Hit 97% of his field-goal attempts and had an 87% touchback rate
• Also played soccer
Personal
• Son of Recep and Kathleen Kocan
• One of two children (1 sister)
• Majoring in sport and exercise psychology
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
OL, 6-3, 267, r-Fr.
The Linsly School
Wheeling, W.Va.
X: @RayKovalesky52
Instagram: @_ray.kovalesky
• Moved from linebacker to offensive line
High School
• Played fullback and linebacker for coach BJ Depew at The Linsley School
• Two-time team captain
• Earned first team All-OVAC honors
• Finished with 138 tackles as a senior
• Had 356 career tackles, 25 tackles for loss and three interceptions
Personal
• Son of Ray and Leslie Kovalesky
• One of two children (1 sister)
• Majoring in business
2024 (r-Fr.)
NICK KRAHE 52
OL, 6-6, 304, r-So. Harbor Creek Erie, Pa.
X: @nick_krahe
Instagram: @nickkrahe_
• Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• Played in 12 games
• Added depth at guard
• Used mostly on special teams
• Saw action on a season-high 10 plays at Oklahoma State 2023 (Fr.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
• Redshirted
• Saw action against Duquesne and BYU
• Used on a season-high 18 snaps against Duquesne
• Posted two knockdowns against the Dukes
• Saw action on seven plays against BYU
• WVU Juice Award: Pitt
High School
• Played guard and tackle for coach Troy Budziszewski at Harbor Creek High
• All-Region 5 First-Team honoree as an offensive and defensive lineman in 2022
• Erie Times-News District 10 Football Small School All-Star team
• Defensively was credited with 74 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack, five quarterback hurries, one force fumble and two fumble recoveries
• As a junior, he finished with 59 tackles, six quarterback hurries and a sack
• Also played basketball
• Outstanding student with a 4.0+ GPA
Personal
• Son of Andrew and Joanne Krahe
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Majoring in sport management
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
2024 (r-So.)
LANDEN LIVINGSTON
OL, 6-4, 295, r-Jr.
Leo Leo, Ind.
X: @LandenLivingst1
Instagram: @landen.livingston
• Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree
• Played in seven games and started against UCF
• Added depth at center
• Saw action on a season-high 33 offensive plays against UCF
• Used on 13 offensive snaps at Oklahoma State and 14 plays against Iowa State
2023 (r-Fr.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
• Added depth at center
• Saw action in three games (Duquesne, BYU, Cincinnati)
• Used on a season-high 24 offensive snaps against Duquesne
• Also saw action on 10 offensive plays against BYU
2022 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
• Played offensive guard for coach Jared Sauder at Leo High
• Two-time Indiana Football Coaches Association’s Top 50 All-State Team
• 2021 Indiana Preps Top 22 All-State Team
• Named All-Northeast 8 Conference First Team as a junior and senior
• 2021 Academic All-State honoree
• One of the top-20 interior linemen in Indiana
• 2020 Indiana Preps Top 22 Underclassmen
Personal
• Son of Rob and Christie Livingston
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Danced professionally for Disney for 10 years
• Majoring in business
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
KIMO MAKENE’OLE
OL, 6-4, 300, r-Sr. LSU Niceville, Fla.
X: @MakaneoleKimo
Instagram: @primetimefasho
• Has played in 19 career games
2024 (r-Jr.) - LSU
• Played defensive line for coach Brian Kelly
• Played in 19 games (10 on defense, nine on offense) during his four seasons
• In first season on the defensive line, appeared in 10 games
• Tallied one tackle
2023 (r-So.) - LSU
• Appeared in four games as a backup on the offensive line
2022 (r-Fr.) - LSU
• Played in five games
• Saw action on a total of 30 snaps (26 offense, four special teams)
2021 (Fr.) - LSU
• Did not see any game action
High School
• Played on both sides of the ball for coach Grant Thompson at Niceville (Fla.) High School
• As a senior, helped pave the way for a Niceville offense that averaged 45.4 points per game to go along with 237 passing yards and 194 rushing yards
Personal
• Son of James and Aufi Makene’ole
• Brother played football at New Mexico
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in integrated studies
ROBBY MARTIN 63
OL, 6-3, 297, r-Fr.
NC State
Huntington, W.Va.
X: @Robcat27
Instagram: @robby_martin73
2024 (Fr.) - NC State
• Added depth at center for coach Dave Doeren
• Redshirted after playing in one game against Stanford
High School
• Played left tackle and center for coach Billy Seals at Huntington High
• Earned all-state first team honors
• Finished with 190 pancake blocks for his career
• Helped lead Huntington High to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the semifinals of the West Virginia 3A state playoffs
• As a junior, helped pave the way for Huntington High to win the West Virginia Class AAA state title
• Four-star prospect who was rated the No. 1 offensive lineman in West Virginia as a senior
• Ranked No. 28 interior lineman nationally
• State wrestling champion in the 285-pound weight class
Personal
• Son of Bob and Jennifer Martin
• Nephew of former WVU football player Ricky Martin
• Majoring in sport management
LANDEN LIVINGSTON
NICCO MARCHIOL
QB, 6-2, 223, r-Jr. Hamilton
Chandler, Ariz.
X: @marchiolNicco
Instagram: @niccomarchiol
• Has played in 20 career games, including three starts
2024 (r-So.)
• Saw action in eight games and started two
• Led the Mountaineers to a 2-0 record as a starter
• Connected on 37-of-56 passes for 434 yards and five touchdowns
• Finished 9-for-15 for 156 yards and a touchdown at Cincinnati; also scored a rushing touchdown in the win
• WVU Offensive Champion: Arizona
• Earned his first start of the season at Arizona, finishing 18-of-22 for 198 yards and two touchdowns
• Entered the Kansas State game in the second half and went 6-for-13 for 58 yards and a touchdown
• Lone pass at Oklahoma State was a 10-yard scoring toss; also added 46 yards rushing against the Cowboys
2023 (r-Fr.)
• Played in nine games at quarterback and started one
• Helped lead the Mountaineers to wins against Pitt and Texas Tech
• Completed 30-of-53 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns
• Ran for 133 yards on 38 carries, averaging 3.5 yards per carry and a touchdown
• Completed 4-for-4 for 26 yards, including a long of 23, against BYU; also added 36 yards on the ground
• Made his first career start against Texas Tech and threw one touchdown, finishing 12-of-21 for a career-best 78 yards; also led the Mountaineer rushing attack against the Red Raiders with a career-high 72 yards on the ground
• Threw his first touchdown pass of the season in the Pitt game, finishing 6-of-9 for 60 yards and a long of 15
• Finished 7-for-14 with 75 yards and a rushing touchdown against Duquesne
• Also recorded his first career rushing touchdown against the Dukes
2022 (Fr.)
• Redshirted, but played against Towson, at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State
• Helped lead the Mountaineers to a season-ending win at Oklahoma State
• Completed two passes for 29 yards with a long of 15 yards against the Cowboys
• Ran for a season-best 32 yards, including a long of nine yards at Oklahoma State
• Completed 2-of-4 passes for 32 yards and a touchdown against Towson
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2022
High School
• Pro-style quarterback who played for coach Michael Zdebski at Hamilton High
• US Army All-American
• 2021 Ed Doherty Award by the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club – the state’s highest football individual honor
• Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year
• MaxPreps Arizona Player of the Year
• National Football Foundation Frank Kush Award Arizona Player of the Year
• NFF Danny White Arizona Quarterback of the Year
• Named all-state first team honoree
• Amassed 8,310 passing yards and threw 91 touchdowns across 43 games during his high school career
• Completed 639 passes on 943 attempts (67.8%) during his prep career
• Also rushed for 1,301 yards on 338 carries for 24 touchdowns in four seasons
• Led Hamilton to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Arizona Open Division state semifinals as a senior, while passing for a school-record 2,690 yards and 37 touchdown passes
• Went 203-of-273 (74.4%) and rushed for 369 yards on 83 attempts and six touchdowns during his senior campaign
• Went 117-of-169 (69.2%) for 1,417 yards and 11 touchdowns during his first season at Hamilton
• Also rushed for 535 yards on 73 carries and scored six touchdowns as a junior
• Spent his first two seasons at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado
• Collected 4,203 passing yards, 43 touchdowns and finished 319-of-501 (63.7%) through the air in 23 games at Regis Jesuit
Personal
• Son of Ken and Suzi Marchiol
• Father played for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers
• One of three children (2 brothers)
• Majoring in sport management
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Marchiol’s Passing Statistics
Marchiol’s Rushing Statistics
NICCO MARCHIOL
2024 (r-So.)
COLIN McBEE
TE, 6-0, 236, r-Jr. University Morgantown, W.Va.
X: @colin_mcbee
Instagram: @colin_mcbee43
• Earned Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honors
• Appeared in three games
• WVU Scout Team Offensive Champion: Cincinnati
2023 (r-Fr.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
• Played in five games as a fullback and on special teams
• Used on a season-high four special teams plays against Duquesne and Texas Tech
• WVU Scout Team Offensive Champion: TCU
• WVU Scout Team Special Teams Champion: Pitt, Baylor
2022 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
• Played for coach John Kelley at University High
• Earned All-State Second Team Honors
• Two Rivers Conference Player of the Year
• OVAC 5A First Team in football
• Finished with 30 rushing attempts for 785 yards and 21 touchdowns
• Registered a team-leading 116 tackles, and four sacks and 16 tackles for loss
• Second-place state wrestling as a senior
• 2021 state discus champ; set school discus record (156 feet)
Personal
• Son of William and Jennifer McBee
• One of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister)
• Majoring in exercise physiology
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
WYATT MINOR 68
OL, 6-5, 315, r-So.
Youngstown State Clarksburg, W.Va.
X: @WyattMinor
Instagram: @wyattm_78
2024 (r-Fr.) - Youngstown State
• Played offensive line for coach Doug Phillips
• Made an appearance against Valparaiso
2023 (Fr.) - Youngstown State
• Redshirted
High School
• Played for offensive tackle and defensive line for coach Josh Gorrell at Robert C. Byrd High
• Class AA All-State Honorable-Mention
• Named to the Big 10 Conference “A” Team which recognizes athletes from the larger conference schools
Personal
• Son of Chris and Jamey Minor
• One of two children (1 sister)
• Majoring in criminology
2024 (r-Fr.)
• Did not see game action
2023 (Fr.)
COREY McINTYRE JR. 52
DL, 6-3, 294, r-So. Treasure Coast Port St. Lucie, Fla.
X: @coreyjr55
Instagram: @cjm.jr
• Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
• Redshirted but played in four games, including season-high 12 defensive snaps against Duquesne
• WVU Scout Team Defensive Champion: Pitt, Cincinnati
High School
• Played on the defensive line for coach Irvin Jones at Treasure Coast High
• Two-time all-state honoree, second team as a senior, first team as a junior
• As a senior, tallied 37 total tackles, as well as three tackles for loss and one sack
• Used at running back and ran nine times for 108 yards, including a long of 51
• As a junior, he posted 38 tackles, including 7½ sacks and 11½ tackles for loss
Personal
• Son of Corey McIntyre Sr. and Connie Reed
• Father played for WVU from 1998-2001, before an 11-year career in the NFL
• Handled all long snapping duties on punts, field goals and point after attempts vs. Arizona
• Also saw action against UAlbany 2023 (r-Fr.)
• Added depth as a long snapper on punts, field goals and point after attempts
• Saw action against Duquesne
• WVU Juice Award: Baylor
2022 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
• Handled the snapping duties for Coach Dennis Piron at Batavia High; Also saw action at guard
• Part of an offense that finished with 4,720 yards of total offense, including 2,971 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns
Personal
• Son of Bryan and Mandi Moss
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in business
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
FRED PERRY 5
N/S, 5-11, 200, Sr.
Jacksonville State Vienna, Ga.
X: @fredperry478
Instagram: @certif1ed_6ix
• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (Phil Steele)
• Has played in 41 career games, including 12 starts
2024 (Jr.) - Jacksonville State
• Played safety for coach Rich Rodriguez
• Started all 12 games in which he played
• 2024 All-Conference USA First-Team safety
• Led the Gamecocks with 110 tackles, including 47 solo stops, three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two hurries and a fumble recovery
• Had a season-high 19 tackles, including five unassisted tackles, assisted on a sack and had a tackle for loss against Eastern Michigan
• Registered 14 tackles at Louisiana Tech, including seven solo stops, one sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble
2023 (So.)
• Appeared in all 13 games as a sophomore, starting at safety in 11 of those
• Third on the Gamecocks in total tackles with 75 and led the team with 49 solos
• Added five tackles for loss and a team-high seven quarterback hurries
• Had one interception and five pass breakups
• Third among all CUSA players and tied for No. 15 nationally with three forced fumbles
• In Jax State’s OT win at Sam Houston, recorded 14 tackles – 12 solo, forced two fumbles and had two QB hurries
• Had another double-digit tackle game with 10 against Liberty
• In the Western Kentucky game, had five stops, an interception that he returned 18 yards and two hurries
2022 (Fr.) - Jacksonville State
• Played in 11 games, starting in four games
• Earned Freshman All-America honors
• Led the team with 72 tackles, had an interception and a fumble recovery
• Selected ASUN Freshman of the Week after an 11-tackle game against Kennesaw State
High School
• Played for coach Jordan Singletary at Warner Robins High
• Earned first team all-state selection as an athlete by the Atlanta JournalConstitution
• Also an all-region performer that led WRHS to the 2020 and the 2021 GHSA Class AAAAA State Championship
• As a senior, racked up 111 tackles, 88 solo, nine tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and two interceptions
• On offense, had 108 carries for 1,208 yards and 22 touchdowns
• Rushed for more than 100 yards four times in 2021
• Played wide receiver, defensive back and returned kicks and punts
• Career totals also include more than 500 return yards and more than 50 tackles
• Outstanding track athlete with state AAA championships to his credit in the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay
• In 2023, swept the three sprint races and was on the victorious 4×200 meter relay
• Ran 10.71 in the 100, 21.52 in the 200 and 48.26 in the 400
• Also tallied second-place finishes in the 100 and 200 meter state track championship as a junior Personal
• Son of Aaron Robinson and Brandy Shipe
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in sport management
JORDAN
SCRUGGS 6
CB, 5-11, 190, r-Sr. South Alabama Kansas City, Mo.
X: @JordyScruggs
Instagram: @8scoota
• Has played in 27 career games
2024 (r-Jr.) - South Alabama
• Played cornerback for coach Major Applewhite
• Saw action in 12 games and started nine
• Fourth-leading tackler on the team with 69 tackles, 33 unassisted stops, 4½ tackles for loss, two pass breakups and an interception he returned 96 yards
• Season-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops and assisted on a tackle for loss against Texas State
2023 (r-So.) - Hutchinson CC
• Appeared in 11 games and recorded 38 tackles, 4½ tackles for loss, an interception, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery
2022 (r-Fr.) - Central Missouri
• Played in 11 games and made 37 tackles including 2½ tackles for loss and had eight pass breakups
2021 (Fr.) - Washburn
• Redshirted High School
• Played at Blue Valley West High
• Earned all-state first-team honors and all-league first-team accolades as a senior at defensive back as a junior and senior Personal
• Son of Edwin Bradley and Corinda Scruggs
• Cousin Bijan Robinson played at Texas and is a running back for the Atlanta Falcons
• One of six children (3 brothers, 2 sisters)
• Majoring in integrated studies
Scruggs’s Defensive Statistics
HAMMOND RUSSELL IV 99
DL, 6-3, 308, r-Sr.
Dublin Coffman
Dublin, Ohio
X: @Lildukes3
Instagram: @hammondrussell_iv
• Has played in 27 career games
2024 (r-Jr.)
• Played in 13 games
• Saw action on 325 defensive plays, including a season-high 39 at Cincinnati
• Finished with 17 tackles, seven solo stops, three sacks and 3½ tackles for loss
• Added three tackles and a sack at Arizona
• Lone tackle at Oklahoma State was a sack
• Posted his first sack of the season at Pitt
2023 (r-So.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference Second Team
• Played in 12 games
• Saw action on 111 defensive plays, including a season-high 18 plays against BYU and North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
• Finished with 10 tackles, including four solo stops and assisted on a 6-yard sack
2022 (r-Fr.)
• Did not see game action
• WVU Juice Award: Baylor
2021 (Fr.)
• Redshirted; Played against LIU and Minnesota with season high 15 snaps vs LIU High School
• Played defensive line for coach Mark Crabtree at Dublin Coffman High
• 2020 All-Ohio Prep Schools Writers’ Association (OPSWA) Division I All-State First Team, MaxPreps Ohio All-State First Team, all-district and all-league as a senior
• Earned OPSWA All-Ohio Special Mention as a junior, as well as first-team all-district and second-team all-league distinction
• Also played basketball
Personal
• Son of Hammond III and Natasha Russell
• One of six children (3 brothers, 2 sisters)
• Graduated with his bachelor’s degree in sport management in May 2025 and pursuing a master’s in executive sport management
Russell’s Defensive Statistics
HAMMOND RUSSELL IV
2024 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
KADEN SELLER 53
LS, 6-3, 260, r-Fr. Hillard Darby Hilliard, Ohio
X: @kadenseller_ Instagram: @kaden.seller53
BRADEN SIDERS 10
BAN, 6-2, 241, r-Sr. Wyoming Thornton, Colo.
X: @BradenSiderss
Instagram: @bradensiders
• Has played in 33 games, including 26 starts
2024 (r-Jr.) - Wyoming
• Started all seven games in which he played for coach Jay Sawvel
• Handled long snapping duties for coach John Santagata at Hillard Darby High
• Five-star rating and ranked No. 11 nationally by Kohl’s Professional Camps
• Two-time Ohio Cardinal All-Conference and two-time all-district Special Mention
• Has played in 32 games, including 21 at the FBS level, with 10 starts 2024 (Jr.) - Eastern Michigan
• Played receiver for coach Chris Creighton
• Earned All-Mid-American Conference Second Team honors
• Played in 12 games and started 10
• Led the Eagles in receiving with 64 catches for 639 yards and two touchdowns
• Had seven or more catches in six games with a season-high 10 catches against Akron and 103 yards against Toledo
2023 (So.) - Hutchinson CC
• Played for coach Drew Dallas at Hutchinson CC
• Appeared in 11 games and finished with 31 catches for 419 yards and seven TDs
• Season-high five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown against Iowa Western CC and a season-high 73 yards on four catches and a touchdown against Dodge City CC
2022 (So.) - Akron
• Attended school in the fall but did not play football
2021 (Fr.) - Akron
• Played for coach Joe Moorhead at Akron
• Competed in nine games, recording three rushes for 14 yards, 11 catches for 112 yards and one touchdown, five kick returns for 89 yards and two punt returns for 17 yards
• At Toledo, he recorded a career-high 131 all-purpose yards, including career-highs in receptions (four), receiving yards (42), kick returns (five), and kick return yards (89)
High School
• Played for coach Pete Walker at Clewiston High
• Garnered All-State 4A honors in Florida as a senior after capping his prep career with 3,113 yards and 26 touchdowns
• Named MVP of the Palm Beach County All-Star Game his senior year Personal
• Son of Shalanda Pope
• One of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister)
• Majoring in integrated studies
Receiving Statistics
• Finished with 22 tackles, including 3½ sacks and 5½ tackles for loss
• Season-high six tackles against Utah State
• Also had five solo tackles against San Diego State, including a sack and two tackles for loss
• Registered five tackles, including one for loss against Idaho
2023 (r-So.) - Wyoming
• Appeared in 12 games with five starts
• Recorded 26 tackles, including 15 solo stops and four sacks
• Recorded five tackles against Air Force
• Finished with four tackles, including two tackles for loss against Hawai’i
• Had three tackles at Nevada, including 1½ sacks
2022 (r-Fr.) - Wyoming
• Started all 13 games
• Finished with 44 tackles
• Led Wyoming in tackles for loss (13.5) and was second in sacks (7.0)
• Recorded a career-high six tackles against Air Force and Ohio
• Career-high three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks against Ohio
• Also had two sacks against New Mexico
2021 (Fr.) - Wyoming
• Added depth on the defensive line but did not appear in any games
2020 (COVID) - Wyoming
• Did not appear in any games
High School
• Played for coach Matt Loyd at Ralston Valley High
• An All-Colorado High School Athletic Association honoree
• For his career, recorded 209 tackles with 19 sacks and 39 tackles for loss
• As a senior, had 100 tackles, with 14 sacks Personal
• Son of Julie King
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wyoming in 2024
Siders’s Defensive Statistics
OLIVER STRAW 41
P, 6-2, 210, Sr.
Mentone Grammar School
Melbourne, Australia
X: @Ollie_Straw
Instagram: @olliestraw
• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team
• Has played in 37 career games 2024 (Jr.)
• Earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors
• Saw action in all 13 games and finished with 49 punts for 2,084 yards, averaging 42.5 yards per punt and had a long of 63 yards
• Placed 18 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, had eight punts of 50 yards or more and only had two touchbacks
• Ranked No. 6 in Big 12 Conference for punting average
• Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (UCF) after four punts for 200 yards, pinning two inside the 20 with a season-high tying long of 57
• Finished with five punts for 218 yards and a long of 46 yards at Cincinnati
• Tallied three punts for a total of 138 yards at Arizona
• Punted the ball two times against Kansas State, totaling 99 yards with a long of 54
• Recorded four punts for 154 yards against Kansas, placing a pair inside the 20
• Finished with three punts for 135 yards, including a season-long 57 yarder, at Pitt
• Punted four times for 176 total yards, averaging 44 yards per punt in the season opener against Penn State 2023 (So.)
• College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
• Saw action in all 13 games as the punter
• All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention
• Finished with 43 punts, averaging 43.1 yards per punt, with a long of 61 yards
• Placed 19 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, had eight of 50 yards or more, had 21 result in a fair catch and two touchbacks
• Punted three times against North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, totaling 145 yards with a season long of 61 yards
• Four punts at Baylor traveled a total of 158 yards, including a long of 42
• Finished with six punts for 248 yards and a long of 47 at Oklahoma
• Totaled 84 yards on two punts and placed two inside the 20-yard line at UCF
• Three punts against Oklahoma State averaged 45.3 yards per punt
• Had five punts for 46.0 yards per punt at TCU; season-long of 58 yards and placed three inside the 20-yard line
• Season-high six punts averaged 41 yards and a long of 50 against Texas Tech
• Recorded three punts for 133 yards and a long of 50 in the Pitt game
• Punted four times for 168 yards in the season opener at Penn State, longest punt went for 50 yards
2022 (Fr.)
• College Football News Freshman All-America Honorable Mention
• Saw action in all 11 games in which he played; WVU did not punt against Towson
• Finished with 48 punts for 2,029 yards, averaging 42.3 yards per kick
• Registered 17 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, had seven that were 50 yards or more, two touchbacks and a long punt of 63 yards
• Big 12 Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Week (Oklahoma)
• Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (Texas Tech)
• Made his Mountaineer debut at Pitt
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2022
High School
• Strong athletic background playing Australian Rules football and basketball
• Kicks with either foot and can punt spiral or end-over-end rugby style
• Trained with Prokick Australia
• Played Australian rules football for his high school team and AAU team for seven years
• Played high school football (DE/TE) at Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch, New Jersey
Personal
• Son of Anthony and Joanne Straw
• Has dual citizenship in United States and Australia; was born in Hoboken, N.J.
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Graduated with his bachelor’s degree in finance and pursuing a master’s in business administration
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Straw’s Punting Statistics
KEKOURA TARNUE 14
S, 6-0, 199, Sr. Jacksonville State Monrovia, Liberia
X: @KekouraJ7arnue
Instagram: @Kekoura_7arnue
• Has played in 44 career games, including 26 games and 14 starts at the FBS level
2024 (Jr.)
• Played in 13 games and started six
• Saw action on 535 plays, including 426 defensive plays
• Season-high 71 snaps at Cincinnati
• Finished with 35 tackles, including 25 solo stops, assisted on a sack, 2½ tackles for loss a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup
• Added two solo stops and a tackle for loss in the Frisco Bowl against Memphis
• Finished with one solo tackle against UCF
• Tallied five tackles and a tackle for loss against Baylor
• Recovered a fumble and posted six solo tackles at Cincinnati
• Forced the first fumble of his career and finished with five tackles at Arizona
• Added two tackles and his first pass breakup of the year against Kansas State
• Posted a pair of solo tackles against Iowa State
• Finished with four stops at Oklahoma State
• Recorded three solo stops against UAlbany
• Made his Mountaineer debut and posted four tackles including three solos, in the season opener against Penn State
2023 (So.) - Jacksonville State
• Played cornerback for coach Rich Rodriguez
• Appeared in 13 games at Jax State after transferring from Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota
• Started at cornerback in eight games for the Gamecocks, Including each of the last seven games
• Eighth on the team with 48 total tackles but fourth in solo tackles with 42
• Led Jax State and tied for third in CUSA with three interceptions, while adding two tackles for a loss, one sack and four pass breakups
• Blocked a punt, recovered it and scored in the LA Tech game
• Notched his first interception against East Tennessee State, while also recording picks against Middle Tennessee and South Carolina
• Had a season-high nine tackles at South Carolina
OLIVER STRAW
2021-22 - Rochester Community and Technical College
• Played two seasons for coach Terrence Isaac at Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, Minnesota
• Named a First Team All-American in 2022, when he led the nation in interceptions with eight, while also recording 46 tackles, one tackle for a loss, three fumble recoveries and one pass break up
• Earned all-conference first-team honors, all-region first team and all-academic first team as a senior
• Had all-conference second-team accolades as a junior
• Registered 11 career interceptions and scored four defensive touchdowns in just two seasons at RCTC
• Led the Yellowjackets to the semifinals of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference playoffs as a sophomore in 2022
• Scored two defensive touchdowns, one on a fumble return and one on an interception return
• Picked off three passes and notched 22 tackles in eight games as a freshman in 2021, while also scoring twice – once on an interception return and once on a fumble return
High School
• All-conference for coach Nick Rusin at Coon Rapids High School
• Led the state in interceptions (8)
Personal
• Son of Ekama Goah
• Born in Monrovia, Liberia
• One of four children (1 brother, 2 sisters)
• Graduated with his bachelor’s degree in sport leadership in May 2025 and pursuing a master’s degree in executive sport management
Tarnue’s Defensive Statistics
DL, 6-6, 254, Fr. Miami Northwestern Miami, Fla.
X: @__iamwil
Instagram: @wil.telemaque
• Enrolled at WVU In January
High School
• Played defensive line for coach Teddy Bridgewater at Miami Northwestern High
• In eight games in 2024, he has recorded 16 tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss
• Finished his junior season with 16 tackles and three sacks in eight games
• Also spent time at Monsignor Edward Pace High during his high school career and helped the school reach the regional semifinals of Florida’s 2M playoffs
• Slotted at strong-side defensive end, he brings a combination of speed and power to the position and possesses impressive length with his frame
Personal
• Son of Wilner Telemaque and Esther Gaspard
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in communications
ADAM TOMCZYK 97
DL, 6-3, 255, r-Jr. Cerritos College Long Beach, Calif.
X: @AdamTomczyk7
Instagram: @adam.tomczyk
2024 (r-So.) - Cerritos College
• Played defensive end for coach Dean Grosfeld at Cerritos College
• Earned All-State First-Team honors
• Played in nine games
• Finished with 43 tackles, including 16 solo stops, four sacks, nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup
• Had a season-high eight tackles against Long Beach City, including three solo tackles, 1½ sacks and three tackles for loss
• Recorded six tackles, including four unassisted tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery
• Registered six tackles, assisted on a sack and had 1½ tackles for loss at Citrus
2023 (r-Fr.)
– Utah State
• Played defensive end for coach Blake Anderson
• Appeared in one game and recorded one tackle against Idaho State
2022 (Fr.) – Utah State
• Redshirted
High School
• Played defensive line for coach Ray Fenton at Los Alamitos (California) High
• Earned Sunset League Defensive Lineman of the Year honors as a junior and senior
• Recorded 79 career tackles, including 12½sacks, three quarterback hurries and one forced fumble for the Griffins
• Finished his senior year with 47 tackles, including nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss, to go along with one forced fumble
• Recorded 31 tackles, including four sacks and eight tackles for loss, and one pass breakup during the shortened spring season
• Ranked second on his team in tackles for loss
Personal
• Son of John and Kim Tomczyk
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Majoring in sport leadership
CYRUS TRAUGH 86
WR, 6-0, 166, r-So.
Youngstown State Parkersburg, W.Va.
X: @TraughCyrus
Instagram: @cyrus.traugh_official
• Has played in 14 career games with 13 starts 2024 (r-Fr.) - Youngstown State
• Played wide receiver for coach Doug Phillips
• Earned FCS Freshman All-American honors
• Second-leading receiver for the Penguins with 36 catches for 409 yards and a teamhigh five receiving touchdowns
• Finished with 12 carries for 37 yards with a long of 22 yards against Valparaiso
• Had four catches for a season-high 87 yards, two touchdowns and a long of 44 yards at Pitt
• Registered a season-best five catches for 55 yards at Missouri State and five receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown against Northern Iowa 2023 (Fr.)
• Played in two games and caught two passes for 69 yards against Missouri State with a long of 57 yards
High School
• Played receiver for coach Nathan Tanner at Parkersburg South High
• Randy Moss Award recipient as top receiver in the state of West Virginia
• First-Team AAA as a senior
• Finished with 84 catches for 1,200 yards and 19 TDs; had 25 total TDs and 2,186 all-purpose yards; also intercepted eight passes, returning two for scores, and 10 pass break-ups
• Started all 13 games at defensive tackle and finished with 28 total tackles, 4½ tackles for loss and three sacks
• Big game against North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl with six tackles, a sack and 1½ tackles for loss
• WVU Blue Collar Award (Houston, TCU, Texas Tech, Duquesne)
• Registered a career-best seven tackles, including three solo stops against Texas Tech; also added a tackle for loss
2022 (So.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
• Played in 12 games; had 10 tackles, one sack, 21/2 tackles for loss and two QB hurries
2021 (Fr.)
• Played in eight games at defensive tackle, starting one
• Finished with seven tackles for the season and assisted on a tackle for loss against Texas
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2021
High School
• Played defensive line for coach Mikko Koikkalainen with the Helsinki Roosters and Finnish Senior National Team
• Traveled to the United States in 2019 with Brandon Collier of PPI Recruits during the DreamChasers Tour
• 2019 Finland Men’s National League Lineman of the Year and all-star (DL)
• Spent time serving Finland’s mandatory military service
• Participated in tennis and track & field (400 meters, shot put)
Personal
• Son of Seppo Vesterinen and Iveta Aaltonen
• One of four children (3 brothers)
• Graduated with his bachelor’s degree in business in May 2024 and pursuing a master’s in sport management
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
Vesterinen’s Defensive Statistics
JORDAN WALKER 4
S, 6-0, 190, r-Sr. UT Chattanooga Lafayette, Ala.
X: @jp4loading Instagram: @j.walker_4
• Has played in 43 career games, including 33 starts
• In his career, has 147 tackles, including 80 solo stops, four interceptions, 1½ sacks, 9½ tackles for loss and nine pass breakups
2024 (r-Jr.) - Chattanooga
• Played safety for coach Rusty Wright
• Earned All-Southern Conference Second Team honors
• Started all 12 games
• Recorded 37 tackles, including 21 unassisted tackles, 1½ tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery
• Had a season-high eight tackles at Tennessee
• Registered eight tackles, including five solo stops, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery at Western Carolina
• Recorded seven solo tackles and two pass breakups at Georgia State
2023 (r-So.) - Chattanooga
• Started all 12 games and finished with 73 tackles
• Tied for the team lead with three interceptions
• Had a season-high 11 tackles against Kennesaw State and at Furman
• Finished with 5½ tackles for loss, including a season-high two against Kennesaw State
2022 (r-Fr.) - Chattanooga
• Started eight of 10 appearances and finished with 37 tackles
• Had two takeaways, including recovering a fumble at Furman
2021 (Fr.) - Chattanooga
• Redshirted after playing in four games
2020/21 (COVID) - Chattanooga
• Played in all five games, including one start against Mercer
• Posted five tackles High School
• Two-way starter for coach James Lucas at Lafayette High
• Earned all-state honors
• Passed for 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns and ran for 1,028 yards
• Recorded 85 career solo tackles and 13 interceptions
• Picked off seven passes in 2018 and four in 2019
• Also lettered in basketball and track Personal
• Son of Reginald Parson and Marian Williams
• One of four children (1 brother, 2 sisters)
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Chattanooga in 2024
• Pursuing a master’s degree in executive sport management
Walker’s Defensive Statistics
2024 (Fr.)
• Redshirted
High School
KHALIL WILKINS 14
QB, 6-3, 202, r-Fr.
Theodore Roosevelt Washington, D.C.
X: @kwilkins4_
Instagram: @k4hliiil
• Played senior season as a quarterback for coach DaLawn Parrish at Wise High before playing for Gary Olandis at Riverdale Baptist High
• Listed as a dual-threat quarterback
• Selected to play at the Under Armour All-American combine in May 2023
• Earned offensive player of the year honors
• Two-time state champion
• Selected as the team MVP two times during his high school career
• Garnered the People’s Champ Award
• At Riverdale Baptist, he tallied 1,100 yards passing and 330 yards rushing
• Threw 15 touchdowns and also added four rushing scores
• Compiled a 95.6% completion rate
• As a junior playing for coach Chris Harden at Theodore Roosevelt High in Washington, D.C., passed for 3,100 yards through the air and 405 yards on the ground
• Also added 21 passing touchdowns and seven rushing scores during his junior season
• Helped lead Theodore Roosevelt to the District of Columbia Athletic Association Class AA title
Personal
• Son of Tiffany Wilkins
• One of 10 children (7 brothers, 2 sisters)
• Majoring in sport management
JAHIEM WHITE 1
RB, 5-7, 195, Jr.
William Penn Senior York, Pa.
X: @JahiemWhite_305
Instagram: @gfb_jah4
• Preseason All-Big 12 Conference First Team (Athlon Sports)
• Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Second Team (Lindy’s, Phil Steele)
• Has played in 25 career games, including 14 starts
2024 (So.)
• Saw action in 13 games, including 11 starts
• Led WVU in rushing with 844 yards on 148 carries and scored seven touchdowns
• Also had 19 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown
• Ranked No. 10 in the Big 12 Conference in rushing yards
• Rushed for 28 yards on seven carries in the Frisco Bowl against Memphis
• Big game at Texas Tech included 124 yards rushing and a touchdown; also added 24 yards receiving
• Scored a 3-yard rushing TD and finished with 54 yards on the ground against UCF
• Added 73 yards rushing and a 12-yard reception against Baylor
• Rushed for 64 yards with a long of 16 at Cincinnati
• Led the rushing attack with 92 yards, including a career-long 55-yard run at Arizona
• Finished with 18 yards on the ground and one catch for 8 yards against Kansas State
• Posted a pair of touchdowns - one rushing and one receiving - against Iowa State, finishing with 46 yards on the ground
• WVU Offensive Champion: Oklahoma State
• Big performance at Oklahoma State included 158 yards on the ground and a touchdown
• Recorded 15 yards on the ground and his third straight rushing TD against Kansas
• Finished with 46 yards and a touchdown at Pitt
• Posted 100 yards rushing and his first touchdown against UAlbany
• Tallied 33 yards on the ground, including a long rush of 12 in the season opener against Penn State
2023 (Fr.)
• Played in 12 games, starting three
• Earned Freshman All-American honors (The Athletic, PFF and ON3)
• Used on 262 offensive plays, including 20 or more snaps in the final five games
• Led WVU with 1,086 all-purpose yards, including 842 rushing, 125 receiving and 119 kickoff return yards
• Averaged a school-record 7.7 yards per rush, four touchdowns and a long run of 53 yards and had four 100-yard rushing performances
• Also had five receptions for 125 yards, two touchdowns and a long catch of 75
• Finished the season ranked No. 9 in the Big 12 Conference in rushing yards per game (70.2)
• Rushed 12 times for 50 yards and a touchdown against North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
• Caught the game-winning TD on a 29-yard grab at Baylor; also posted 133 yards on the ground
• WVU Offensive Champion: Cincinnati
• Season-high 204 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown against Cincinnati in his first start; caught a 75-yard touchdown against the Bearcats
• Became the first Mountaineer to exceed 200 yards rushing since Justin Crawford vs. Baylor on Dec. 3, 2016 (209)
• Also marked the most rushing yards by a true freshman since Dustin Garrison finished with 291 yards against Bowling Green in 2011
• WVU Offensive Champion: BYU
• Tallied a then-career-high 146 yards rushing and a long of 32 against BYU
• Scored his second touchdown of the season and added 85 yards rushing at UCF
• Rushed five times for a total of 46 yards, including a long of 27 at TCU
• Made his Mountaineer debut against Duquesne and led the offense with 110 rushing yards and one touchdown; first career TD came on a 19-yard rush
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2023
High School
• Played for coach Russ Stoner at William Penn Senior High
• 2022 All-State First Team (RB) by PennLive.com
• 2022 York Daily Record Offensive Player of the Year
• York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I Offensive Player of the Year
• 2021 Pennsylvania Football Writers’ 6A All-State Team (RB)
• Rushed for 1,918 yards and 37 touchdowns and added 33 catches for 428 yards as a senior
• Ran for 2,128 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior
• Earned multiple all-state honors
• School-record holder in career rushing yards (5,780) and No. 2 in York County history in rushing yards
Personal
• Son of Ladoria Glover
• One of six children (4 brothers, 1 sister)
• Majoring in sport leadership
White’s
Rushing Statistics
White’s
Receiving Statistics
JAHIEM WHITE
2024 (r-So.)
JAREL WILLIAMS 10
WR, 6-2, 204, r-Jr. Saraland Saraland, Ala.
X: @jarelwilliams8
Instagram: @jarel.w
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
• Saw action in all 13 games
• Used on 164 plays, including 117 on special teams
• Season-high 30 plays at Texas Tech, including 18 offensive snaps
• Recorded a 17-yard catch against Memphis in the Frisco Bowl 2023 (r-Fr.)
• Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
• Played in all 13 games, adding depth at receiver and used on special teams
• Used on a season-high 17 offensive snaps at UCF and season-high nine special teams plays against Oklahoma State 2022 (Fr.)
• Redshirted but saw action against Towson
• Enrolled at WVU in January 2022
High School
• Played wide receiver for coach Jeff Kelly at Saraland High
• 2020 ASWA Class 6A All-State Second Team and AL.com All-Coastal First Team
• Totaled 60 catches for 883 yards and 13 TDs in 2021, 46 passes for 802 yards and 10 TDs in 2020 and 26 receptions for 392 yards and six scores as a sophomore
• Also played basketball
Personal
• Son of Darian and Janel Williams
• Lived in Germany as a child
• Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance in May 2024 and pursuing a master’s in buisness administration
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
LB, 6-1, 230, r-Sr. Colorado State Arvada, Colo.
X: @cjwilson_18
Instagram: @chase_wilson.2
• Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team (Phil Steele)
• Has played in 42 career games, including 25 starts
• Has registered 234 career tackles, including six sacks, 14 tackles for loss, two interceptions, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries
2024
(r-Jr.) - Colorado State
• Played linebacker for coach Jay Norvell at Colorado State
• Two-time All-Mountain West Conference Second-Team performer
• Started all 13 games
• Earned All-Mountain West Second-Team honors
• Second on the team with 98 tackles, including 39 solo stops, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery
• Had four double-figure tackle performances, including a season-high 11 and a pass breakup against Nevada
• Finished with 10 tackles at Oregon State, UTEP and New Mexico
• Season-high two tackles for loss against Colorado
• Recorded eight tackles and an interception at Texas
2023
(r-So.) - Colorado State
• Started all 12 games, finishing second on the team in tackles for 107
• Recorded 3½ sacks and 8½ tackles for loss
• Had six games with double-figure tackles, including season-high 15 against Utah Tech
• Had 1½ sacks and 2½ tackles for loss against Wyoming
2022 (r-Fr.) - Colorado State
• After returning from injury, added depth at linebacker
• Registered 29 tackles for the season
• Finished with seven tackles and 2½ sacks against New Mexico
2021
(Fr.) - Colorado State
• Redshirted after making three appearances before sustaining a season-ending injury
2020
(COVID) - Colorado State
• Appeared in two games
High School
• Played for coach Matt Loyd at Ralston Valley High
• Earned all-state honors and team captain as a senior
• Rushed for 2,021 yards and had 576 receiving yards in his career, scoring 28 combined touchdowns
• Collected 44 tackles as a senior, two sacks and six tackles for loss
Personal
• Son of Josh and Linda Wilson
• One of four children (1 brother, 2 sisters)
• Graduated with his bachelor’s degree in construction management from Colorado State in December 2024
Wilson’s Defensive Statistics
JAREL WILLIAMS
ASHTON WOODS 33
LB, 6-3, 225, r-Fr. North Carolina Marietta, Ga.
X: @ashton_woods7
Instagram: @ashton_woods7
2024 (Fr.) - North Carolina
• Played linebacker for coach Mack Brown at North Carolina
• Redshirted
• Appeared in four games
High School
• Three-year varsity letterwinner for coach Daniel Brunner at Walton High
• An All-American Bowl participant
• A two-time all-state selection and two-time all-region defensive player of the year
• Amassed 383 career tackles, including 15 sacks, 36 tackles for loss, six interceptions and five forced fumbles
• As a senior, he earned all-state honors from the Georgia Coaches
• Tabbed Region 5-7A Defensive Player of the Year
• Posted 151 tackles, eight sacks, 20 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles
• Helped lead Walton to a 14-1 record, a region championship and a berth in the state championship game
• As a junior, he was a Georgia Coaches and Atlanta Journal-Constitution 7A all-state selection
• Tabbed the 5-7A Defensive Player of the Year
• Named first-team all-county
• Notched 128 tackles, five sacks, 11 tackles for loss and an interception Personal
• Son of John and Janelle Woods
• Father played football at Tennessee Tech and mother played volleyball at Oklahoma
• “Relatives” Daron and Zack Blaylock played football at Kentucky and Dominick Blaylock played football at Georgia
• One of four children (3 brothers)
• Majoring in business
2024 (r-Fr.)
• Did not see game action
2023 (Fr.)
COOPER
YOUNG 64
OL, 6-5, 319, r-So. Downingtown West Downingtown, Pa.
X: @cooperyoung44
Instagram: @cooper_.young
• Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
• Redshirted but saw action against Duquesne and BYU
• Used on a season-high 12 snaps against Duquesne
High School
• Played for coach Mike Milano at Downingtown West High
• Earned All-Ches-Mont League First Team in 2022 as an offensive lineman and Second Team as a defensive lineman
• Named the mini maxwell award, signifying the top 50 football players in Pennsylvania based on classroom and on the field performance
• Earned All-Ches-Mont Second Team offensive lineman honors in 2021
• BCFCA All-Academic team
• Named All-Area Honorable Mention as a junior
• Besides being a two-way lineman, he also is a catcher and first baseman on the baseball team
• As a junior, offense averaged 177.4 rushing yards per game, had three 100-yard rushing performances and scored 26 rushing touchdowns
Personal
• Son of Taylor and Melanie Young
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in finance
• Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
• Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
WALTER YOUNG BEAR 54
OL, 6-3, 312, r-Sr. Tulsa Norman, Okla.
X: @WalterYoungBea2
Instagram: @walteryoungbear
• Former walk-on who has appeared in 33 career games with 13 starts
2024 (r-Jr.)
• Played guard for coach Kevin Wilson at Tulsa
• Two-year letterwinner
• Started 11 games, all at left guard
2023 (r-So.) - Tulsa
• Played in all 12 games with two starts at left guard
• Started vs. North Texas and ECU
• Saw a considerable amount of time at guard vs. No. 19 Oklahoma
• Also played special teams
2022 (r-Fr.) - Tulsa
• Played in 10 games
• Saw most of his playing time on special teams
• Saw his first playing time with 18 snaps on the offensive line against Jacksonville State
• Also played two snaps at right tackle against Cincinnati
• Earned academic all-conference honors
2021 (Fr.) - Tulsa
• Redshirted
High School
• Played guard for coach Justin Jones at Norman North High Personal
• Son of Russell and Alice McClellan
• His Native American name is Say Tay Oy Day, meaning Heap O Bears, which was also his maternal grandfather’s Indian name
• Comes from the Kiowa, Comanche, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Tribes
• One of two children (1 brother)
• Majoring in integrated studies
NEWCOMERS
Malik Agbo
OL, 6-4, 270, r-Jr. Federal Way, Wash./Beamer/Texas
X: @malik_agbo
Instagram: @malikagbo
Made 32 appearances as an offensive tackle, a jumbo tight end and an offensive guard for coach Steve Sarkisian at Texas … played 20 games as a blocker and 32 games overall … (2024 – r-So.): Saw action in all 16 games on the offensive line as the Longhorns finished 13-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the CFP … (2023 – r-Fr.): Played in all 14 games on the offensive line as a blocking tight end in the jumbo package … had a 6-yard reception in the Sugar Bowl against Washington, his first career reception (2022 – Fr.): Saw action in two games… (High School): Played offensive tackle and defensive tackle at Todd Beamer High in Washington … rated No. 202 nationally, No. 17 among offensive tackles and No. 4 overall in the state of Washington by Rivals … ranked No. 21 nationally among offensive tackles and No. 7 overall in the state of Washington by 247Sports … rated No. 29 nationally among offensive tackles and No. 6 overall in the state of Washington by ESPN … ranked No. 54 nationally among offensive tackles and No. 11 overall in the state of Washington by On3 … tabbed No. 7 on the Seattle Times list of top 10 players in Washington… also competed in basketball and track & field in the shot put and discus … (Personal): Son of Glada Blakemore … one of two children (1 sister) … majoring in sport leadership.
performance came in the Camellia Bowl win over Arkansas State with five catches for 105 yards … AMERICAN RIVER (2021-22): Attended American River College his first two years of school earned All-America Community College honors in 2022 and was a two-time All-California Community College Athletic Association performer finished with 38 catches for 526 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games in 2022 and had 23 receptions for 381 yards and a touchdown in 10 games played in 2021 … (High School): Two-year letterwinner for coach Jason Adams at Rocklin High … earned all-conference second-team honors in 2019 and earned a spot in the Optimist All-Star Game finished with 19 catches for 285 yards and three touchdowns as a senior (Personal): Son of Bob and Brenda Barnes … one of two children (1 brother) … graduated with his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Northern Illinois … currently pursuing a master’s degree in executive sport management.
Played on the offensive line for coach Brent Venables at Oklahoma … (2024 – Fr.): Redshirted … enrolled at OU in January 2024 ... (High School): Played for coach Kyle White at Edmond-Santa Fe High … 2023 Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and 6A-1 District 2 Offensive Lineman of the Year … began playing football as a high school sophomore … consensus three-star prospect … rated the nation’s No. 52 inside offensive line recruit by On3 and No. 104 by 247Sports … ranked as the country’s No. 63 offensive guard by ESPN … touted as the No. 8 player in the state of Oklahoma by On3, No. 13 by ESPN and No. 15 by 247Sports … also competed in wrestling ... (Personal): Son of Caroline Birts … one of three children (1 brother, 1 sister) … majoring in business.
Max Anderson
QB, 6-0, 208, Fr. Martinsburg, W.Va./Spring Mills
X: @Max_Anderson24
Instagram: @_vmax15
Dual-threat quarterback and linebacker for coach Marcus Law at Spring Mills High … two-time Class AAA All-State First Team Utility, earning a spot on the offensive side in 2024 and the defense in 2023 … named all-state honorable mention in 2022 … earned All-Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference First Team Offensive Utility in 2023 and 2024 and second team in 2022 … also received second-team defensive utility in 2023 … helped lead the Cardinals to a 12-2 mark, their first WVSSAC State Championship appearance in program history and No. 3 ranking in the state … threw for 1,464 yards, 19 touchdowns … ran for 1,078 yards and 18 touchdowns … total of 37 touchdowns in his senior year, 11 rushing touchdowns and 16 passing touchdowns … accumulated 620 yards and averaged 11.7 yards per carry … completed 69-of-108 passes and only surrendered three interceptions … helped lead Spring Mills to a 9-3 mark as a junior and No. 10 ranking in the state … key figure on the Spring Mills basketball team that finished 24-1 and won the Class AAAA state championship (Personal): Son of Dax and Jillian Anderson … one of three children (2 brothers) … majoring in business.
Played tight end for coach Thomas Hammock at Northern Illinois … (2024 – Jr.): Second on the team with 31 catches and led NIU with four touchdown grabs … averaged 10.9 yards per catch with 338 receiving yards … made at least one catch in every game ... recorded four catches of 25 yards or longer to lead NIU … caught six passes, two for touchdowns, for 57 yards in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Fresno State … in the bowl game, made an impossible onehanded grab over a defender for a 26-yard touchdown that ended up on SportsCenter Top 10 Plays … second touchdown reception – for three yards - tied the game in the first overtime completed a pass to long snapper Isaac Hatfield for a two-point conversion in NIU’s win at Bowling Green led NIU with five receptions against Western Illinois for season-best 95 yards … scored on a 60-yard touchdown reception, the longest catch of his NIU career, in the Western Illinois game … (2023 – So.): second on the team with 422 receiving yards on 23 catches his 18.3 yards per catch average led the Huskies as did his five touchdown receptions made at least one grab in each of the first nine games of the season top
Played offensive tackle and defensive end for coach Nic Bartic at Fairmont Senior High … started for the Polar Bears since his freshman season in 2021 earned first-team all-state honors in each of the past two seasons, as a defensive lineman in 2023 and an offensive lineman as a senior in 2024 … helped pave the way for the offense to register almost 4,000 yards of total offense and score 33 touchdowns … also helped open the holes for Chris Wilson (1,059 yards) … also earned all-state honorable mention distinction as a sophomore … key member of Class AA state championship teams in his freshman and junior seasons … in four seasons with the Polar Bears, his teams posted a record of 39-10, with an 11-2 mark in postseason play … (Personal): Son of Troy and Natalie Bigelow … one of two children (1 sister) … enrolled in exploratory pathway.
32
Ben Bogle
LB, 6-1, 216, r-Jr.
Ponte Vedra, Fla./Nease/Southern Illinois
X: @BenBogle3
Instagram: @ben.bogle
Played linebacker for coach Nick Hill at Southern Illinois … will have two years of eligibility … (2024 – r-So.): earned Associated Press All-American honors (honorable mention), Phil Steele (4th Team) and FCS Football Central (3rd Team) finished No. 20 in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in the FCS … named All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team … played in all 12 games and started the last 10 … recorded 87 tackles and led the MVFC in tackles for loss with 16½… collected 5½ sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery … named the Week 2 Stats Perform National Player of the Week for his performance at Austin Peay, where he recorded 12 tackles, 3½ sacks and a school-record 6½ tackles for loss ... (2023 –r-Fr.): played in all 13 games and made one start (vs. Indiana State) … recorded 32 tackles, two sacks, 3½ tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup (2022 - Fr.): Played in four games before redshirting … recorded a pass breakup vs. Western Illinois … (High School): played linebacker for coach Collin Drafts at Nease High … led the state of Florida in tackles (202) in 2021 and ranked No. 15 nationally in the category … also led the state of Florida with 19 sacks in 2021 … tallied 33 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and two interceptions as a senior … played defensive tackle as a junior and tallied 45 total tackles (28 solo), eight sacks and three forced fumbles … (Personal): Son of John and Stacy Bogle … one of four children (3 brothers) … older brother Johnny Bogle played tight end at East Carolina … majoring in integrated studies.
27
ChaMarryus Bomar
CB, 5-10, 177, Fr., Duncan, S.C./Westside HS
X: @ChamarryusB
Instagram: @1lilmarryus
Played cornerback and wide receiver with his brother, WVU signee Armoni Weaver, for coach Brian Lane at Westside High … named to the overall all-state team as a senior by the South Carolina Football Coaches Association finished his senior season with 27 tackles, including 15 solos added five interceptions with two pick-sixes, four passes defended and a sack … returned the picks for a total of 67 yards … on offense, he recorded 49 receptions for 1,293 yards and 19 touchdowns … averaged 26.4 yards per catch and 99.5 yards per game and included a long catch of 69 yards … completed two passes on three attempts for 52 yards returned five kickoffs for 207 yards, averaging 41.4 yards per return … his longest return resulted in a 99-yard touchdown … averaged 27 yards per punt return, taking three for a total of 81 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown …rated a three-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports, On3 and Rivals ... 247Sports lists him as the No. 39 athlete and the No. 18 player in the state of South Carolina … On3 ranks him as the No. 15 athlete and the No. 17 player in the state of South Carolina … ESPN tabs him as the No. 41 athlete and the No. 21 player in the state of South Carolina … Rivals has him as the No. 25 athlete and No. 18 player in the state of South Carolina ... (Personal): Son of Lamarr Bomar … one of six children (3 brothers, 2 sisters) … enrolled in exploratory pathway.
Cyncir Bowers
RB, 5-10, 191, So.
Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt/Iowa Central CC
X: @CyncirB
Instagram: @cyncirbowers_
Played for coach Jesse Montalto at Iowa Central Community College … (2024 – Fr.): finished with 155 carries for 1,008 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and 12 scores … reeled in 24 catches for 363 yards and two touchdowns … (High School): Starred for coach Jeff Weachter at Bishop McDevitt High finished career with 1,457 yards rushing on 128 carries, with 13 touchdowns and seven games 100-yard games … also had 288 yards receiving and two scores … (Personal): Son of Darren Bowers and Patricia James … one of four children (1 brother/2 sisters) … majoring in integrated studies.
Phillip Bowser
OL, 6-4, 273, Fr. Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline HS
X: @PhillipBowser_
Instagram: @phillip_bowser_
Played offensive line for coach Dan Reardon at Ursuline High … earned Division III All-Ohio Second-Team All-State honors … anchored an offensive line that helped Ursuline rush for 3,065 yards and 13 touchdowns … his junior year saw the team rush for 2,783 yards on 501 carries for 37 touchdowns … rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals ... 247Sports lists him as the No. 116 offensive lineman and the No. 67 player in the state of Ohio ... (Personal): Son of Phillip and Rhonda Bowser … one of two children (1 sister) … majoring in general business.
Played coach Steve Rapp at Wise HS … For his senior year, Brown collected 20 tackles, including four solos … added two tackles for loss with one sack and one hurry … as a junior, tallied 22 tackles, including 15 solos … also had 11½ tackles for loss with two sacks and three hurries … four-star prospect according to 247Sports and a three-star prospect according to ESPN, On3 and Rivals … 247Sports put him in at the No. 16 defensive lineman, No. 4 player in Maryland and No. 110 nationally … On3 lists him as the No. 99 defensive lineman and the No. 27 player in Maryland … ESPN tabs him as the No. 48 defensive lineman and the No. 19 player in Maryland … Rivals ranks him as the No. 24 player in Maryland ... (Personal): Son of Charles and Youlanda Brown … one of three children (1 brother, 1 sister) … majoring in sport management.
Ayden Bussell
OL, 6-5, 309, r-So.
Mount Juliet, Tenn./Mount Juliet/Tennessee
X: @AydenBussell
Instagram: @ayden_bussell
Played guard for coach Josh Heupel at Tennessee … (2024r-Fr.): Saw action in three games … (2023 – Fr.): Redshirted (High School): Top offensive lineman for coach Trey Perry at Mount Juliet High … named the 2022 Region 5-5A Offensive Lineman MVP ... a two-time preseason All-State selection (2021 & 2022) who did not allow a single sack in his final three seasons … had more than 150 career pancakes and is the highest-graded offensive lineman in school history … a four-time Academic Honor Roll selection who also was a member of Golden Bears track and field team (Personal): Son of Kevin and Marybeth Bussell … one of two children (1 sister) … majoring in integrated marketing.
Played for coach Kaleb Nobles at West Florida … (2024 – Jr.): Played in 10 games finished with 13 tackles, including 10 solo stops, one interception, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries … DODGE CITY CC: (2023 – So.): Played in 11 games after switching to defensive back finished with 20 tackles, including 12 solo tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and assisted on a tackle for loss … (2022 – Fr.): Appeared in eight games at wide receiver in 2022 … registered 20 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns … had six catches for 34 yards with a long of 12 against Independence CC finished with two catches for 44 yards with a long of 37 yards against Iowa Central CC … collected two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown against Ellsworth CC … (High School): Played defensive back and wide receiver for coach Matt Patterson at Buckhorn High … (Personal): Son of Danin and Jasmin Battle and Terrence Robinson … one of three children (2 brothers) … majoring in business.
Tyshawn Dues
WR, 5-10, 171
Charleston, W.Va./Hurricane HS
X: @DuesTyshawn
Instagram: @lildues9
Played wide receiver for coach Donnie Mays at Hurricane High … caught 34 passes for 606 yards and three touchdowns his senior year … finished with 884 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 46 catches his junior season … also intercepted three passes in 11 games on defense … part of the 2022 team that won 10 games before losing in the Class AAA semifinals finished with 38 receptions for 761 yards and nine touchdowns … runs a 4.48 40-yard dash, 4.19 shuttle, 33-inch vertical jump and benches 275 pounds … three-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports, On3 and Rivals … listed as the No. 1 player in the state by ESPN and On3 and the No. 2 player in the state by 247Sports ... (Personal): Son of T.R. Dues and Amanda Winnell … one of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister) … majoring in communications
Keenan Eck
BAN, 6-4, 205, Jr.
Apple Valley, Calif./Apple Valley/Black Hills State/ Citrus College
X: @keenaneck14
Instagram: @keenan.exk
Played defensive line for coach Brandon Hayashi at Citrus College … (2024): Earned all-conference first-team honors finished with 26 tackles, six sacks, 10½ tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … his six sacks were the second most in the Owls division … (2022 – Black Hills State): Appeared in all 11 games as a true freshman … totaled 8½ sacks, 13 tackles, four forced fumbles and four quarterback hurries twice tallied two sacks in a game, first at South Dakota Mines (10/1) and then against CSU Pueblo (11/12) … (High School): Played three years on varsity at Apple Valley High School … earned Mojave River All-League honors … totaled 79 tackles and 23 sacks over his high school career … also forced six fumbles and recovered one … in senior year, made 61 tackles and had 20 sacks over 15 games ... (Personal): Son of Christina Eck … one of two children (1 sister) … majoring in sport leadership
Played cornerback and was used on multiple positions on offense for coach Derek Katis at Marion-Franklin High … as a senior, he had 16 touchdowns and finished with 1,478 all-purpose yards defensively, he had 37 tackles, two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, three pass breakups and did not allow a passing touchdown … in eight of 11 games, was not targeted at cornerback as a junior, he finished with five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown … runs a 4.3 40-yard dash … rated four-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports, On3 and three-star by Rivals … ESPN tabs as the No. 9 player in Ohio and No. 26 cornerback nationally … 247Sports lists him as the No. 9 player in Ohio and No. 27 cornerback nationally … On3 ranks him as the No. 13 player in Ohio and No. 34 cornerback nationally … Rivals has him as the No. 30 player in Ohio ... (Personal): Son of Dawayne Galloway Sr. and Tamara Kenner … one of nine children (4 brothers, 4 sisters) … majoring in business. 23 62 51 66 79 16 89 58 31
Played right tackle for coach Brent Dearmon at North Alabama … played in 29 career games on 1,138 snaps … (2024 – Jr.): Started all 12 games at right tackle … allowed just two sacks … (2023 – So.): Played in eight games, including three starts at right tackle … (2022 – Fr.): Played in nine games on the offensive line … DUPAGE JC: (2020-21): Played offensive line for two seasons under coach Matthew Rahn … (High School): Played tight end and defensive end at Finneytown Secondary High for coach Gerald Wammack earned all-conference first team honors also lettered in basketball and track (Personal): Son of Michael Clay and Angela Chatman … one of 12 children (3 brother, 8 sisters) … graduated with his bachelor’s degree in health from North Alabama in May 2025 and pursuing a master’s in business administration.
Devin Grant
DL, 6-2, 267, r-Sr.
San Antonio, Texas/Antonian/Incarnate Word
X: @Devingrantt
Instagram: @devingranttt
Played linebacker for coach Clint Killough at Incarnate Word … (2024 – r-Jr.): Earned All-Southland Conference Second Team honors … saw action in 14 games, including 13 starts finished with 31 tackles, including 17 solo stops tied for fifth in the Southland Conference with 8½ sacks, 11 tackles for loss and a forced fumble finished with five tackles, including four solo stops, three sacks and four tackles for loss against McNeese State … had three tackles, including 1½ sacks against Lamar … (2023 – r-So.): Played in eight games for the Cardinals, totaling 13 tackles, including 1½ sacks, 5½ tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery Colorado (2022 – r-Fr.): Played in 10 games and had 15 tackles, including two tackles for loss, one tackle for zero yards, three third-down stops, two quarterback pressures and two quarterback chase downs … recorded two assisted tackles against Air Force … (2021 – Fr.): Redshirted played in three games for the Buffaloes, the final three of the season, and started the final two games finished with 13 tackles, 11 solo, with three for loss, two third down stops, a quarterback pressure and touchdown save in 145 defensive snaps … named the defensive scout team player of the week against Northern Colorado … (2020 – COVID): Played in two games on special teams, the last two games of the regular season, on the kick return and punt return units dressed for all five regular season games (High School): Played offensive line for coach Van Fuschak at Antonian High … earned all-state honors at defensive end as a senior, helping Antonio College Prep to a 9-4 record … named to the All-American Bowl, played in his hometown … as a senior, he had 76 tackles (51 solo) with 12 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback hurries … KSAT-TV named him to its Elite 12 team … as a junior, he was named all-state as a defensive end and the No. 1 ranked defensive end in TAPPS Division I District 2 … compiled 27 tackles, including 6.5 sacks … as a sophomore, he was named All-TAPPS Division 1 District 2 as a running back and the TAPPS Division 1 District 2 Newcomer of the Year finished with 48 carries for 417 yards and five touchdowns and five receptions for 199 yards and one touchdown on offense registered 19 tackles (17 solo) with six tackles for loss and two sacks, 16 quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery played basketball and ran track & field he was the TAPPS Division I District 2 Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore in football, basketball and track & field … his personal best in the 100-meters was 11.2 seconds … he averaged 11.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game on the hardwood, helping Antonian to a 37-6 record and Texas Class 6A State Championship, the school’s first in 20 years (Personal): Son of Jamine and Sarah Hardaway … one of two children (1 sister) … graduated with his bachelor’s degree in communications from Incarnate Word in May 2025 and pursuing a master’s degreee in executive sport management.
Donovan Haslam
OL, 6-3, 341, r-Jr., Perry, Ga./Perry/Austin Peay
X: @DonovanHaslam63
Instagram: @don2groovy
Spent three years on the offensive line for coach Jeff Faris at Austin Peay … played multiple positions in 24 career games, including nine starts … (2024 – r-So.): Played in 12 games and started nine at left tackle … (2023 – So.): Redshirted … played in two games off the bench on the offensive line… (2022 – Fr.): Played in 10 games off the bench on the offensive line … (High School): An offensive lineman for coach Kevin Smith at Perry High … Class 4A All-State selection as a senior by the Atlanta JournalConstitution and also named to All-Middle Georgia Football First Team by the Macon Telegraph … helped the Panthers reach the Class 4A state quarterfinals in 2021 … Class 4A All-State selection as a junior by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (Personal): Son of Octavius and Lakesta Riley … one of two children (1 sister) … majoring in sport leadership … Athletics Director's Honor Roll.
25
Kade Hensley
K, 5-10, 190, r-Sr.
Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill/Coastal Carolina
X: @KadeHensley2
Instagram: @kade_hensley25
Kaleb Gray
S, 6-1, 174, r-So. Galveston, Texas/Ball/Dodge City CC
X: @KalebGray123
Instagram: @k9.gray
Played defensive back for coach Ryan Lusby at Dodge City Community College … (2024 - r-Fr.): Started all nine games in which he played … tallied 32 tackles, including 19 solo stops, 1½ tackles for loss, five pass breakups and three forced fumbles … collected a season-high seven tackles, one pass breakup and one forced fumble vs. Hutchinson CC … totaled six tackles vs. Iowa Central … had five tackles, including three unassisted tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup against Highland CC … (2023 - Fr.): Redshirted … (High School): Played safety for coach Sheldon Bennight at Ball High member of Ball High team that finished 9-3 and advanced to the district playoffs … (Personal): Son of Kevin Gray and Pamela Gray and mother, Sheronda Lipkins one of five children (1 brother, 3 sisters) majoring in sport management.
Played wide receiver for coach Mack Brown at North Carolina … (2024 – r-Fr.): Saw action in eight games and started four finished with seven catches for 159 yards, a touchdown and a long catch of 58 yards … had a season-high two receptions for 51 yards with a long of 42 against JMU … hauled in one reception for 29 yards and recovered a muffed punt against NC Central … grabbed first career touchdown catch against Charlotte on a 58-yard pass … started against Minnesota and recorded one catch for 7 yards … (2023 – Fr.): Appeared in three games before redshirting finished the season with three receptions for 20 yards receptions came against West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl … (High School): Played wide receiver for coach Jupiter Wilson at Hickory Ridge High … early enrollee who was a four-star prospect, ranked as the nation’s No. 353 player, the 50th-rated wide receiver and the No. 13 player in North Carolina by the 247Sports Composite … All-American Bowl honoree … tallied 133 receptions for 2,505 yards and 27 TDs over his four-year prep career … notched 32 receptions for 552 yards and six TDs as a senior … a member of the preseason AllObserver team as he headed into his senior year … caught 49 passes for 916 yards and 12 TDs as a junior … posted 22 catches for 379 yards and three TDs in a shortened season as a sophomore … added 30 receptions for 658 yards and six TDs as a freshman … (Personal): Son of Rodney and Angela Hamilton one of five children (3 brothers, 1 sister) majoring in communications
Field goal kicker for coach Tim Beck at Coastal Carolina … (2024 – r-Jr.): Saw action in all 13 games as the team’s placekicker connected on 16-of-19 field goal attempts, including a season-long 49-yarder and hit all 45 extra point attempts to lead the Chants with 93 points recorded 5-of-6 field goals from 40-49 yards hit two or more field goals in four games and at least one in 10 games finished with four field goals in five attempts against William & Mary … was 2-for-2 against Jacksonville State, Georgia Southern and Georgia State …. (2023 – r-So.): Appeared in nine games … made 10-of-13 field goal attempts for the season also hit all 26 extra point tries hit the game-winning 24-yard field goal as time expired against Appalachian State career-long 49-yard field goal in the Hawaii Bowl (2022 - r-Fr.): Played in all 13 games took over the field goal and PAT kicking duties during fall camp led the team in scoring with 70 points made 8-of-11 field goal attempts and 46-of-47 of his extra points … made three PATs in games versus Old Dominion, at Marshall and in the 2022 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl game versus East Carolina … had a season-high five made PATs in four games - versus Army, Buffalo, Georgia State and Appalachian State made a 43-yard field goal in the home win versus Southern Miss … recorded two field goals in wins over Georgia State and Southern Miss … made his first career field goal, a 25-yarder in the season-opening win over Army was good on each of his first five field goal attempts of the season knocked through a season-long 48-yard field goal in the home win over Gardner-Webb made a 44-yard field goal in the home victory over Buffalo and again in the road win at Georgia State … recorded four PATs in wins over Gardner-Webb, Georgia Southern and at ULM … (2021 – Fr.): Redshirted … (High School): Finished his career 16-for-19 on field goals and holds the Science Hill school record with a 50-yard field goal missed his senior season due to an injury a Vegas National Kicking champion … two-time TOP 12 national kicking selection … an Army AllAmerican bowl finalist his junior season … made 12-of-15 field goals as a junior … named the All-Region Kicker of the Year and was an all-state selection as a junior (Personal): Son of Bill and Brandy Hensley … one of two children (1 brother) … graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Coastal Carolina in kinesiology in May 2025 … pursuing a master’s degree in business administration.
Played safety and wide receiver for coach Eric Seigel at Bel Air High … as a senior, had 41 tackles, including 23 solo stops, a sack and had an interception he returned 70 yards … had 24 catches for 238 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 265 yards and two touchdowns … as a junior, he was named Maryland 3A All-State First Team … Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference Player of the Year, All-3A North Region and the Aegis (Harford County) Football Player of the Year … finished with 32 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups and forced a fumble … offensively, he had 65 catches for 696 yards and eight touchdowns … had 19 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns … rated a three-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports, On3 and Rivals … On3 lists him as the No. 14 player in Maryland, No. 24 by 247Sports, No. 29 by ESPN and No. 37 by Rivals … ranked No. 45 safety nationally by On3, No. 54 by ESPN and No. 56 by 247Sports ... (Personal): Grandson of James and Chiquita Horton … enrolled in exploratory pathway.
Kannon Katzer
RB, 5-9, 189, r-Jr.
Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane/Ferris State
X: @kannon_katzer
Instagram: @kannon.katzer
Played running back for coach Tony Annese at Ferris State … FERRIS STATE (2024 - r-Jr): Appeared in all 15 games … helped lead Ferris State to a 49-14 win over Valdosta State in the Division II National Championship where he added a 97-yard performance on 14 carries … put down the best season of his career rushing for 1,128 yards on 128 rushes and 11 touchdowns, averaging 75.2 yards per game … recorded three 100-yard games, including a career-high 200 yards rushing and three-touchdown showing vs. Central Oklahoma … CITRUS CC (2023 - r-Jr.): Played in 11 games for coach Brandon Hayashi at Citrus CC … tallied 975 yards on 162 rushes and 16 touchdowns … added 25 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns … totaled five 100-yard games, including a season-high 131 yards on 22 carries against No. 19 Cerritos recorded at least two touchdowns in five of the last six games (2022 – r-Fr.): Played for coach Jake Dickert at Washington State … made his collegiate debut against Colorado State where he had six carries for 54 yards including a 1-yard touchdown run … (2021 – Fr.): Redshirted … did not see game action … (2020 COVID): Did not participate in the fall … (High School): Played running back for coach Terry Cloer at Mt. Spokane High … named 3A AP All-State First Team, Greater Spokane League MVP and Washington 3A State Player of the Year … as a senior, rushed for 2,543 yards and 34 touchdowns, totaling 3,171 all-purpose yards and 39 total touchdowns … set the GSL single-season touchdown and rushing yards records … (Personal): Son of Shak Katzer and Melissa King … one of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister) … majoring in integrated studies.
Played defensive end for coach Eliah Drinkwitz at Missouri … in 37 career games (nine starts), compiled 77 tackles, 2½ sacks, 11 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, one fumble recovery and three QB pressures … posted 30 games with one-plus tackle and 12 contests with three-plus tackles, including a career-best nine against South Carolina State (2023) and Clemson (2023) … carded at least one tackle for loss in eight contests, including a career-high two versus Auburn (2024) … logged a career-high one sack twice against Ole Miss (2023) and Arkansas (2024) … secured one PBU in contests with Howard (2022), Virginia (2023), UCF (2023), Auburn (2024) and Arkansas (2024) … recorded lone fumble recovery against Houston (2022) … played 246 career snaps at Mizzou … (2024 – Jr.): Saw action in all 13 games … compiled 20 tackles, one sack, 4½ tackles for loss, two pass breakups and one quarterback pressure … tied for sixth on the team in tackles for loss … registered one-plus tackle in 10 games and three-plus tackles on four occasions, including a year-best four stops against Oklahoma … secured one tackle for loss three times, including a season-high two versus Auburn … carded one sack in a contest with Arkansas … notched one PBU against Auburn and Arkansas … logged one QB pressure opposite Auburn … on the field for 246 snaps
GEORGIA TECH: (2023 – So.): Lettered for coach Brent Key at Georgia Tech … saw action in 13 career games (five starts), and carded 38 tackles, 1.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a quarterback pressure finished third on the team in tackles for loss registered one-plus tackle on 11 occasions and three-plus tackles five times, including a season-best nine stops against South Carolina State and Clemson … posted one tackle for loss in four games, including a season-high 1.5 in contests with Bowling Green and Clemson … notched a season-high one sack against Ole Miss … USF: (2022 – Fr.): Lettered for coach Jeff Scott at USF … saw action in 11 career games, making four starts … compiled 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery and one quarterback pressure … registered one-plus tackle on nine occasions, including a season-high four stops against Houston … recorded a season-high one tackle for loss in a contest versus Houston … posted lone PBU against Howard … tallied one fumble recovery versus Houston … (High School): Lettered two years (2019-20) at Orlando Jones under coach Elijah Williams and one year (2021) at West Orange under coach Mike Granato … helped West Orange to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship quarterfinals during lone season, compiled 71 tackles, 4½ sacks, 23 tackles for loss, six QB pressures, one interception, five pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble returned one fumble recovery for a touchdown … on offense, logged 23 receptions for 383 yards (16.65) with six touchdowns … while at Jones, helped lead the Fightin’ Tigers to a 22-3 two-year ledger, including a FHSAA 5A State Championship game showing in 2019 … (Personal): son of the late Lashira Benn … one of two children (1 sister) … majroing in integrated studies.
Jaylan Knighton
RB, 5-10, 185, r-Sr.
Lauderhill, Fla./Deerfield Beach/SMU
X: @jaylan_knighton
Instagram: @gf.jk4
Played running back for coach Rhett Lashlee at SMU … will have one year of eligibility … SMU (2024 - r-Jr.): Appeared in two games before missing the rest of season due to injury … had eight rushes for 35 yards against BYU on Sept. 6 … selected as Preseason DCTF All-Texas First Team Offense … earned Athlon Sports Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Fourth Team Offense … named to the Doak Walker Preseason Watch List … member of the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List … (2023 - Jr.): Selected to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team … appeared in 12 games … led the team in rushing with 745 yards … tied for team lead in rushing touchdowns with seven … posted two games with at least 100 yards rushing … ran for a season-best 150 yards and two touchdowns against Charlotte had 13 receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown finished season with 834 total yards, highest on the team … ran for the second-longest run in program history with a 95-yard touchdown at Charlotte … earned Athlon Sports Preseason All-AAC Second-Team … selected as Phil Steele Preseason Fourth Team All-AAC … named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list … member of the College Football Network Preseason All-AAC First Team … named to the Senior Bowl Watch List … earned AAC Weekly Honor Roll (Oct. 2, Nov. 13) … MIAMI (2022 - So.): Played for coach Mario Cristabal at Miami … saw action in 10 games, making four starts … registered 78 carries for 423 yards and one touchdown … added nine receptions for 82 yards … (2021 - Fr.): Played in eight games, making six starts … led the Hurricanes with 145 rushes for 561 yards and eight TDs … registered 20 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns … (2020 - COVID): Saw action in nine games, making two starts … rushed for 209 yards and one TD, averaging 4.0 yards per carry on 52 attempts … caught 11 passes and had one TD catch … suffered a seasonending injury against Duke … (High School): Played running back for coach Jevon Glenn at Deerfield Beach High selected to participate in 2020 Under Armour All-America Game helped lead Deerfield Beach to the semifinals in the Florida Class 8A state playoffs finished the 2019 season with 1,414 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, averaging 9.7 yards per carry, while adding 13 receptions for 267 yards and two touchdowns … ended career as all-time leading rusher in Broward County history with 5,150 yards … (Personal): Son of Rodney and Shelita Knighton one of five children (1 brothers, 3 sisters) … graduated in summer 2025 with his bachelor’s degree in sociology from SMU.
Carson Lee
OL, 6-2, 327, r-Sr.
Greenwood Village, Colo./Cherry Creek/Eastern Michigan X: @CarsonLee75
Instagram: @carsonlee75
Two-year starter at center and guard for coach Chris Creighton at Eastern Michigan … (2024 – r-Jr.): Saw action in 11 games at center and guard and started 10 games … helped pave the way for the offense to register 4,534 yards of total offense and 36 touchdowns … finished with 486 yards of total offense against Kent State, including 273 on the ground recorded 285 rushing yards against Central Michigan … (2023 – r-So.): Appeared in 10 games and started the final six of the season earned Academic All-MAC honors… (2022 – r-Fr.): Did not see action … COLORADO (2021 – Fr.): Redshirted … played in two games … 2020 (COVID): Played in the final two regular season games at Arizona and against Utah and in the Alamo Bowl against Texas… saw action on special teams in those games on the FG/PAT unit … (High School): Played three seasons at Cherry Creek High for Dave Logan, compiling a 35-5 record there the last three seasons ... his senior season he helped Cherry Creek to a 14-0 record and Colorado State Championship, his 50th game of varsity football in his career was a first-team All-Colorado and first-team All-Metro East selection at left tackle as a junior … Cherry Creek averaged 144.9 yards passing and 145.9 yards rushing per game, attaining over 2,000 yards in both categories ... playing guard as a sophomore, he earned second-team All-Colorado honors and first-team All-Metro East honors … played left tackle and center for Grand Junction as a freshman, earning second-team all-conference honors… also played baseball and basketball in high school ... honor roll in high school and graduated a semester early to join the Buffs for the spring 2020 semester... (Personal): Son of Shane and Nicole Lee ... one of two children (1 brother) … father played football for Wyoming and Mesa State ... third generation in his family to win a state championship on an undefeated team as his grandfather won a prep title in Wyoming at Laramie High School in 1968 with an 11-0 record and his father was a starting lineman for the 1988 Grand Junction state championship team that finished 14-0 ... … earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan in May 2024 and working working toward a master’s in business administration.
Darrian Lewis
S, 5-9, 198, r-Sr.
Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary/Akron
X: @DarrianLewis5
Instagram: @baby_lewis3
Played cornerback for coach Joe Moorhead at Akron … (2024 – r-Jr.): Appeared in 12 games while starting 11… finished with 74 tackles, including three tackles for loss … had one interception… recorded six pass breakups … registered a season-high 12 tackles, including a tackle for loss and a pass breakup against Colgate finished with eight tackles against Ohio, Eastern Michigan and Buffalo registered seven tackles against Toledo had five games of seven or more tackles … had at least one pass breakup in six games … (2023 – r-So.): Played in 12 games finished with 75 tackles, including 51 solo tackles, and four tackles for loss assisted on a sack ... had one fumble recovery... registered a season-high 14 tackles at Central Michigan ... had nine tackles and two tackles for loss against Morgan State ... (2022 – r-Fr.): Appeared in all 12 games, including nine starts ... registered 56 tackles, including 30 solo stops, one sack, 3½ tackles for a loss and an interception ... added six pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery ... posted a season-high nine tackles, including four solo stops, versus Eastern Michigan ... registered a pair of tackles for loss and an interception at Liberty ... tallied two pass breakups at both Northern Illinois and Buffalo … (2021 – Fr.): Redshirted (High School): Four-year letterwinner at St. Vincent-St. Mary High under coach Bobby Nickol ... as a captain, helped lead SVSM to a combined 29-9 record during his four-year prep career en route to collecting 12 touchdowns and a school-record nine interceptions ... as a senior, earned All-Ohio First Team accolades as well as All-Northeast (Inland) District First Team honors as the Fighting Irish advanced to the third round of the Division III playoffs … SVSM posted 8-2, 7-3 and 8-2 marks during his junior, sophomore and freshman campaigns, respectively ... also three-year letterwinner and starting point guard on SVSM's nationally ranked basketball program … (Personal): Son of Derik and Lakisha Lewis … one of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister) … majoring in sport leadership.
Spent the 2025 spring at UNLV before transferring to WVU … has played in 40 career games with three starts … collected 44 career tackles, including 4½ tackles for loss and a pass breakup … (2024 - r-Jr): Played linebacker for coach Jeff Lebby at Mississippi State … played in 12 games primarily in a reserve role … earned a career-best 21 tackles while also posting a tackle for loss … recorded four total tackles, assisted on tackle for loss, had one QB hurry in the season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky … tallied two tackles, one solo and one assisted tackle at Arizona State … registered a career-high six tackles vs. Toledo … recorded four assisted tackles, including assisting on a tackle for loss vs. UMass … (2023 - r-So.): Appeared in all 12 games with three starts … totaled 20 tackles, while recording at least one tackle in seven of the final eight games played in 340 snaps, primarily on the defensive line with 173 snaps … blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown vs. SE Louisiana … finished with four tackles in his first start against Alabama recorded a season-high five tackles including a tackle for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries vs. Western Michigan … (2022 - r-Fr.): Appeared in 12 games finished with one tackle (2021 - Fr.): Redshirted after appearing in the last four games of the season … totaled two tackles on the season, including one solo stop … (High School): Prepped at Germantown High under coach Tim Shramek … as a senior, had 84 tackles, including 13 sacks … added four forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered … as a junior, made 53 stops with five sacks … chipped in two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery … returned one fumble for a touchdown … (Personal): Son of John Lewis and Sally Hawkins … one of six children (4 brothers, 1 sister) … pursuing a Regents bachelor of arts degree.
Jordan McCants
WR, 5-11, 173, r-Jr. Birmingham, Ala./Hewitt-Trussville/Jacksonville State
X: @McCants03
Instagram: @stillmontanaa
Played wide receiver for coach Rich Rodriguez at Jacksonville State … appeared in 28 career games and started 13 … (2024 - r-So.): Started all 13 games … hauled in 15 receptions for 146 yards with a long of 18 … had a season-high four receptions for 43 yards against Florida International … (2023 - r-Fr.): Appeared in all 12 games as a redshirt freshman …. caught one pass, a 28-yard reception vs. Liberty … (2022 - Fr.): Redshirted while appearing in three games late in the season … made his debut against Southeastern Louisiana… (High School): led HewittTrussville High to a 9-3 record and to the second round of the AHSAA Class 7A Playoffs … hauled in 42 catches for 656 yards and six touchdowns as a senior … also played for coach Drew Gilmer at Clay-Chalkville High in Clay, Alabama … as a junior at Clay-Chalkville, was an all-region first team selection (Personal): Son of Darius McCants and Latisha Lambert one of two children (1 brother) …majoring in business finance.
Marshon Oxley
BAN, 6-2, 214, r-Jr.
South Central Los Angeles, Calif./Inglewood/Colorado State/Hutchinson CC
X: @MarshonOxley
Instagram: @hotboyshonn
Played defensive end for coach Drew Dallas at Hutchinson CC (2024 - r-So.): NJCAA All-American First-Team honors … All-KJCCC First Team Defense finished with 42 tackles, including 12 sacks had multiple sacks in four games and multiple tackles for loss in four games … COLORADO STATE (2023 - r-Fr.): Played for coach Jay Norvell at Colorado State … saw action in 11 games … recorded 26 tackles, including 12 solo stops, four sacks and 5½ tackles for loss … forced a pair of fumbles and had 2½ tackles for loss at UNLV … (2022 - Fr.): Redshirted … (High School): Played for coach Mil’von James at Inglewood High … named conference defensive MVP and all-conference first team finished with 60 tackles with 20 sacks a two-sport athlete, also participating in track ... (Personal): Son of Marcel and Myra Oxley one of five children (1 brother, 3 sisters) … majoring in integrated studies.
Camdon Pitchford
WR, 5-9, 163, Fr.
Columbus, Texas/Columbus
X: @PitchfordCamdon
Instagram: @cpitchford_2
Played wide receiver and defensive back for coach Matt Schobel at Columbus High … (High School): Earned Class 3A Texas Sportswriters Association All-State Second Team honors … member of the Texas High School Coaches Association 2024-25 AAA Football Super Elite Team Class 3A All-District team selection finished his senior year with 87 receptions for 1,205 yards and 21 touchdowns … his 87 receptions tied for 24th best in Texas high school 3A history … Columbus High’s Male Most Valuable Athlete … also played basketball and tennis … averaged 11.9 points per game and 6.2 assists his senior year … (Personal): Son of Gregory Pitchford and Jennifer Way … one of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister) … brother Colton plays wide receiver at Jacksonville State … majoring in integrated studies.
Logan Ramper
WR, 6-2, 216, r-Sr.
Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley/Slippery Rock
X: @Logan_Ramper
Instagram: @loganramper
Played wide receiver for coach Shawn Lutz at Slippery Rock … (2024 – r-Jr.): Appeared in 10 games, including seven starts … ranked No. 17 in program history for receiving touchdowns at Slippery Rock .... pulled in 42 receptions for 748 yards and eight touchdowns … the Rock's leader in receiving touchdowns, yards per reception and receiving yards per game … ranked No. 36 in the nation in receiving touchdowns … had one touchdown on (2023 – r-So.): Appeared in all 14 games, including 11 starts … totaled 32 receptions for 417 yards and six touchdowns … had one touchdown in four consecutive games including a four-reception, 60-yard performance against Millersville … (2022 – r-Fr.): appeared in four games against California, Edinboro, Kutztown and Shepherd … (2021 – Fr.): Redshirted … (High School): Played wide receiver and defensive back for coach Josh Oswalt at Cumberland Valley … recorded 23 receptions for 338 yards and three touchdowns during senior season … added 37 tackles and five interceptions on defense also competed in basketball (Personal): Son of Travis and Allison Ramper … one of four children (3 sisters) … graduated with his bachelor’s degree in public health in May 2025 from Slippery Rock … currently pursuing a master’s degree in population health.
Elijah Simmons
DL, 6-0, 294, r-Jr. Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte/Garden City CC X: @Esimms50 Instagram: @getbucksmari
Played defensive line for coach Kiyoshi Harris at Garden City Community College … GARDEN CITY CC (2024 - r-So.): Appeared in 11 games finished the season with 21 tackles, one sack, 5½ tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery … best performance of the season came against Independence CC making four tackles, including a sack and three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … had three solo tackles against Hutchinson CC … KENT STATE (2023 - r-Fr.): Attended Kent State in the spring … (2022 - Fr.): Redshirted … (High School): Played defensive line for coach Sam Griener at West Charlotte finished his career with 81 tackles, three tackles for loss, 4½ sacks and one forced fumble … collected 11 tackles including three tackles for loss and two sacks, while forcing one fumble his senior season … totaled 34 tackles as a junior and added 36 tackles including 2½ sacks his sophomore season … also played basketball and was captain of the baseball team … (Personal): Son of Michael Moore and Amie Simmons … enrolled in sport management. 24 12 88 45 38 18 94
Justin Smith-Brown
WR, 5-11, 184, r-Sr.
Port St. John, Fla./Space Coast/S.C. State
X: @jaybrown_321
Instagram: @justin.eb6
Played wide receiver for coach Chennis Berry Jr. at South Carolina State … had 81 catches for 1,196 yards receiving with 540 yards coming after the catch and seven touchdowns … (2024 - r-Jr.): Started all 12 games …. named All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference First-Team … helped lead the Bulldogs to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship … caught 54 passes for 749 yards and four touchdowns finished No. 2 in MEAC in receiving recorded five or more catches in five games had a season-best seven catches for 101 yards against Norfolk State … also had seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown against Delaware State … (2023 - r-So.): Played in nine games and started eight … named All-MEAC Second Team … led the team in receiving with 20 receptions for 328 yards finished No. 4 in the MEAC in receiving collected three touchdowns and a long reception of 52 yards … (2022 - r-Fr.): Played in four games … made two receptions for 52 yards with a long of 42 … had one rush for five yards also returned one kickoff for 17 yards (2021 - Fr.): Redshirted … (High School): Played wide receiver and cornerback for coach Jake Owens at Space Coast finished with 69 career catches for 1,002 yards and nine touchdowns had 675 yards on 43 catches and six touchdowns as a junior … (Personal): Son of Angelia Brown … one of two children (1 brother) … earned his bachelor’s degree in family consumer science business from South Carolina State … currently pursuing a graduate certification in applied sciences in coaching.
Ryan Ward
TE, 6-4, 243, r-Fr.
Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford/North Carolina
X: @ryanward__1
Instagram: @ryanward__1
Played tight end for coach Mack Brown at North Carolina … will have four years of eligibility to play four years … UNC: (2024 –Fr.): Redshirted … made four appearances against Charlotte, JMU, Duke and Pitt … (High School): Prepped at Rutherford High for coach Steven Dunn … named USA Today All-New Jersey and Jersey Sports Zone All-Zone Public Team as a senior … an all-state, three-time all-conference and two-time all-county selection … posted 85 receptions for 1,823 yards and 27 touchdowns on offense, while tallying 139 tackles, 17 sacks and 31 tackles for loss on defense during his prep career … caught 24 passes for 654 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 carries for 49 yards and five touchdowns his senior year tallied 91 tackles, 6½ sacks, 22 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown as a senior … as a junior, notched 35 receptions for 776 yards and 13 touchdowns … added 26 tackles, 4½ sacks, nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception return for a touchdown … posted 26 receptions for 393 yards and five touchdowns during his first two prep seasons also competed in basketball, track and field and lacrosse earned all-conference honors in the discus and javelin … (Personal): Son of Michael and Lora Ward … one of two children (1 brother) … brother, Evan, plays football at Rutgers … majoring in finance.
Aidan Stire
P, 6-0, 185, Fr.
Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown
X: @aidanstireshop
Instagram: @aidanstireshop
Punted and kicked for coach Sean Biser at Morgantown High … Received the 2024 Groza Award, signifying the top specialist in the Ohio Valley … 2024 AAAA All-State First Team as a punter and defender on the soccer team … went 38/38 on PATs his senior year … registered 33 touchbacks on 40 kickoff attempts with an average hang time of 3.8 seconds recorded a long field goal of 48 yards and a long punt of 67 yards averaged 39 yards per punt as a senior … as a junior, he had 39 touchbacks on 50 kickoffs … also was good on 34/35 PATs … recorded a punt average of 41.96 yards (Personal): Son of Stephen and Teresa Stire … one of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister) … majoring in sport exercise and performance.
Nick Taylor CB, 6-1, 184, So.
Atlanta, Ga./Gainesville/Appalachian State
X: @nicktaylormade1
Instagram: @tmade_tmz
Played cornerback for coach Shawn Clark at Appalachian State … will have four years eligibility to play three years … APPALACHIAN STATE: (2024 – Fr.): Appeared in seven games, starting one (against Georgia State) at cornerback … saw action on 147 snaps finished the season with 10 tackles and one pass breakup (High School): two-time all-region performer for coach Josh Niblett at Gainesville High … standout defender as a senior for a team that won its first 12 games and finished 12-1 totaled 51 tackles, one interception, five breakups, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2023 … as a junior, he was named to the all-region team as a standout at Fayette County High … recorded 36 tackles, one interception and two breakups in 2022 … also appeared frequently at quarterback during his time at Fayette County … started boxing at the age of five and has enjoyed great success in that sport … was a four-sport athlete until his junior year of high school (Personal): Son of Mario Taylor and Kristen Colyott … one of four children (2 brothers, 1 sister) … majoring in sport management.
47 19 46
Cam Torbor
LB, 6-3, 242, Fr.
Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS
25
Armoni Weaver
WR, 5-9, 161, Fr.
Spartanburg, S.C./Westside HS
X: @ArmoniWeaver
Instagram: @5.moneyyy
Played wide receiver and cornerback with his brother, WVU signee ChaMarryus Bomar for coach Brian Lane at Westside High … named to the AAAA all-state team as a senior by the South Carolina Football Coaches Association … finished his senior season with 26 catches for 541 yards, seven touchdowns and a long reception of 74 yards in nine games … defensively, tallied 35 tackles with 19 solo stops and two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns … saw action in the return game, taking two kickoffs for a total of 101 yards, including an 89-yard touchdown … rated a three-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports, On3 and Rivals ... 247Sports lists him as the No. 76 cornerback and the No. 26 player in the state of South Carolina … On3 ranks him as the No. 31 athlete and the No. 23 player in the state of South Carolina … ESPN tabs him as the No. 32 athlete and the No. 17 player in the state of South Carolina … Rivals has him as the No. 24 athlete and No. 16 player in the state of South Carolina ... (Personal): Son of Lamarr Bomar and Tenisha Weaver … one of five children (3 brothers, 1 sister) enrolled in exploratory pathway.
Started at tight end and defensive end for coach Tyler Phares at Bridgeport High … started all 14 games as a senior … earned Class AAA First-Team All-State selection as a defensive lineman … finished with 27½ tackles, five sacks, 12½ tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, six pass deflections and a blocked kick helped BHS lead the state in scoring as a tight end with three catches for 74 yards in addition to being one of the leading blockers for a run game that set school records for rushing yards (5,446 yards) and rushing touchdowns (100) … helped lead the Bridgeport football team to a 14-0 record and the Class AAA state championship in 2024 … transferred to Bridgeport High his senior year after previously attending Buckhannon-Upshur High ... starter on the Bridgeport basketball team that was 26-1 in 2024-25 and won the Class AAA state championship, where he was named to the all-tournament team ... named Class AAA All-State Second Team, averaging 8.2 points and 6.4 rebounds … in addition, helped Bridgeport’s boys swim team to a Class AAA state championship, where he was part of relay teams that finished first (Personal): Son of Robert and Jackie Zuliani … one of two children (1 sister) … majoring in business. 11
X: @cameron_torbor
Instagram: @cam0torbor
Played linebacker for coach Chip English at Hoover High … (High School): Played high school football for two years, first as a reserve defensive end as a junior and earning a starting spot as a linebacker as a senior earned all-state first team as a senior by Alabama Sports Writers Association … tallied 97 tackles, including 65 solo stops, and eight sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, an interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two passes defended as a senior … starred on Hoover High basketball team, helping Bucs win back-to-back 7A state championships … (Personal): Son of Reggie and Michelle Torbor … father played at Auburn and in the NFL for eight seasons with the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills … one of two children (1 brother) … majoring in engineering techology.
Rich Rodriguez returned to West Virginia University as the 36th head football coach on Dec. 12, 2024.
The architect of the no-huddle, zone-read spread option offense started his coaching career as the youngest head coach in the nation at 24 and is currently ranked No. 4 in Power Four for most wins by an active coach.
Every stop this football CEO makes, he continues to keep building programs based on a culture of hard work and his hardedge, earned success, hold the rope and spot the ball mentality that he instills in each student-athlete. With each year, he continues to add wins and honors and his teams play at hall of fame levels.
He has spent his entire 30-plus year career, including 27 as a head coach, showcasing an outstanding resume as a coach. Rodriguez is a master tactician, innovator, developer of talent, program builder and a winner.
Rodriguez has guided six different schools during his head coaching tenure, producing a 190-129-2 overall record and winning nearly 60% of his games. He has earned conference or national coach of the year honors seven times (WVIAC 1993, 1994; Big East 2003, 2005; Pac-12 2014; C-USA 2024 and NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1993).
He has led his squads to eight or more wins 15 times, 10 or more wins five times and has won the conference or division championship seven times (Glenville State 1993-96, West Virginia 2003-05, ‘07, Arizona 2014, Jacksonville State 2022, ‘24).
He has led his programs to 14 bowl games, including three BCS games (2006 Sugar, 2008 Fiesta, 2014 Fiesta) and two NAIA Division I playoff appearances (the championship game in 1993 and the quarterfinals in 1994). He has coached offenses that have produced 10 conference players of the year, has coached 56 NFL players and more than 30 All-Americans during his career.
Rodriguez coached arguably two of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks in the history of college football (Pat White – West Virginia, Denard Robinson, Michigan) and several other outstanding signal-callers (Shaun King – Tulane, Woody Dantzler – Clemson, Rasheed Marshall, West Virginia and Kahlil TateArizona).
He returns to West Virginia after leading Jacksonville State to outstanding success, guiding the Gamecocks from NCAA FCS level to the FBS ranks over the past three seasons. The 2024 Conference USA Coach of the Year compiled a 27-10 record (three-straight nine-win seasons), earned the 2024 C-USA regular season and conference championships, won the 2023 New Orleans Bowl and had a first-place finish in the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2022.
QUICK FACTS
Birthday: May 24
Hometown: Grant Town, West Virginia
Education: West Virginia, ’86
(Bachelor’s degree – business management)
Salem, ‘87
(Master’s degree – business administration)
Wife: Rita
Children: Raquel and Rhett
Coaching Record:
At WVU: 60-26 (7 seasons)
Overall: 190-129-2 (27 seasons)
RICH RODRIGUEZ
RICH RODRIGUEZ
In 2024, the Gamecocks boasted eight first or second team all-conference members and three all-freshman team members. The 2023 season saw the Gamecocks make history under Rodriguez, becoming the first program to win a bowl game in its first season of FBS competition. In 2022, the Gamecocks posted a 9-2 record and a 5-0 mark in ASUN Conference play en route to the conference title to wrap up its FCS Era.
Prior to Jacksonville, he served as the associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Louisiana-Monroe, where he was new head coach Terry Bowden’s choice to lead the Warhawks’ offense in rebuilding after ULM suffered a winless campaign in 2020. The Warhawks improved in every offensive category in 2021. He spent the 2019 season as the offensive coordinator at Ole Miss.
At Arizona, Rodriguez helped establish the Wildcats as one of the most explosive offensive programs in the Pac-12. During his tenure, Arizona tied or set more than 100 offensive school records and all-time leaders were set for career rushing and all-purpose yardage.
Rodriguez led the Wildcats to a 43-35 record and five bowl games. Arizona won the 2014 Pac-12 South Division title and advanced to the Fiesta Bowl, finishing the season with a 10-4 mark, one of just three 10-win seasons in the program’s history. He was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year at the season’s end.
YEAR-BY-YEAR
He compiled 33 wins in his first four years with the Wildcats, the most in school history over a four-year period. The Wildcats also defeated a top-10 team and advanced to a bowl game in each of those four seasons, the only time either of those feats have happened in school history.
Prior to Arizona, he spent three seasons at Michigan, where he coached quarterback Denard Robinson. As a sophomore in 2010, Robinson set the single-season Division I FBS record for rushing yards by a quarterback and became the first player in NCAA history to pass and rush for 1,500 yards on his way to earning first-team AllAmerica honors.
Rodriguez was 60-26 in seven seasons at West Virginia, where he won the Big East Conference championship four times (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007) and was named the Big East’s Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005. The Mountaineers won the 2006 Sugar Bowl and the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.
His 2007 team had a third straight 11-win season, winning the Big East Conference championship and facing Big 12 Champion Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. The Lambert Trophy winners, signifying the Eastern college supremacy, WVU was ranked the entire season and was as high as No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll heading into the final regular season game and finished the season No. 6 in both polls.
Year School Position Record
Big
(27 Seasons)
The offense set records for most points in the season, most touchdowns and most rushing touchdowns. Pat White finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting after winning his second straight Big East Offensive Player of the Year award and Ryan Stanchek and Pat McAfee were named to All-American teams and Scooter Berry was named to freshman AllAmerican teams.
In 2006, West Virginia posted another 11-win campaign (the first consecutive 10-win totals in school history), beating Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl and finishing 10th in the final polls. Behind consensus All-Americans Steve Slaton and Dan Mozes (the Rimington Award winner) and Big East Player of the Year Pat White, the Rodriguez offense again ranked among the nation’s most potent and dangerous.
In 2005, picked to finish third in the new Big East alignment, Rodriguez and his Mountaineers ran the table in the conference, going 7-0 to win a third consecutive Big East championship and first outright title since 1993.
WVU, with a 10-1 regular season record, was undefeated on the road despite playing a nucleus of freshmen and sophomores. The young Mountaineers were invited to play SEC champion Georgia in the Nokia Sugar Bowl, and WVU stunned the higher-ranked Bulldogs 38-35 in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome for West Virginia’s first-ever BCS win.
Finishing the season 11-1, West Virginia was ranked fifth and sixth in the final polls.
West Virginia returned to the Gator Bowl following the 2004 season that saw the Mountaineers tie for the Big East championship once again. WVU was ranked as high as sixth during the regular season, spending 15 straight weeks in the Top 25, finishing with an 8-4 mark.
In 2003, replacing 22 seniors (11 starters), repeating that success seemed unlikely, especially after the young WVU squad started 1-4. Entering the Big East portion of the schedule, however, Rodriguez convinced his team of the opportunity ahead, and the rest proved one of the great chapters in West Virginia football history.
After losing a remarkable game 22-20 at No. 2 Miami, West Virginia won seven straight games from that point, posting a 6-1 conference record and tying Miami for the Big East championship to earn a New Year’s Day Gator Bowl berth
In 2002, just his second season at WVU, Rodriguez engineered the best turnaround in Big East history, as the Mountaineers worked together for a 9-4 record, a Big East runner-up finish, back-to-back road wins over ranked teams at Virginia Tech and Pitt and a Continental Tire Bowl berth. West Virginia finished second in the nation in rushing at 283 yards per game, and the Mountaineers, with a stable offense and an aggressive defense, were fourth nationally in turnover margin. That led to a six-game improvement in the win column, one of the three best in the nation.
Before accepting the job at West Virginia, Rodriguez was Tommy Bowden’s offensive coordinator and associate head coach at Clemson in 1999 and 2000, when the Tigers went 15-9 over two seasons. He went to Clemson from Tulane, where he was Bowden’s offensive
coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 1997 and 1998. He helped lead the Green Wave to a 19-4 mark, including a 12-0 season, Conference USA Championship and Liberty Bowl victory in 1998.
Rodriguez went to Tulane after a seven-year stint as the head coach at NAIA Glenville State in Glenville, West Virginia. His teams won or shared four consecutive West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and he was named WVIAC Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994, as well as the NAIA Coach of the Year after leading his team to a national runner-up finish.
His head coaching career started earlier than most in 1998, when Salem College made the 24-yearold Rodriguez the youngest head coach in college football after he’d served the previous two seasons as an assistant at the school.
But the Rodriguez roots are deepest in the Mountain State, where his career record in 15 seasons as a college head coach is 95-60-2.
Rodriguez was a three-time letterman at defensive back for the Mountaineers from 1982-84, playing in the Gator, Hall of Fame and Bluebonnet Bowls. He came to WVU as a walk-on, earned a scholarship from Coach Don Nehlen and recorded 54 career tackles and three interceptions, including a team-
season-long 43-yard pick against Pacific in 1983 and a 14yard interception in 1984’s 17-14 win over Penn State, WVU’s first defeat of the Nittany Lions in 29 years.
After serving two seasons as a student assistant coach and graduating from WVU in 1986 with a degree in physical education and safety, he began his coaching career at Salem College (now Salem International) as secondary coach and special teams coordinator. In 1987, he served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at the school while completing a master’s degree in physical education.
In 1988, he was promoted to head coach of the Salem Tigers, becoming the youngest college head coach in America at the age of 24. He was 2-8 during a trying season after an announcement that Salem would drop football at the end of the year.
Returning to WVU as a volunteer assistant coach in 1989, he worked with the outside linebackers that season, as the Mountaineers went 8-3-1 and earned a spot in the Gator Bowl.
From 1990-96, Rodriguez turned around the football fortunes at Glenville State College, where as head coach he earned four consecutive WVIAC conference championships from 1993-96, Glenville’s first league titles since 1959. The Pioneers were twice a participant in the national playoffs, advancing to the 1993 NAIA national championship game.
Rodriguez’ record at Glenville was 43-28-2 in seven seasons. He was named WVIAC coach of the year in 1993 and 1994 and NAIA national coach of the year in 1993; his players set five national career records for Division II. He
coached three players who earned WVIAC Player of the Year honors: Jed Drenning (1992-93), Chris George (1994) and Scott Otis (1995).
Rodriguez, who received the state College Coach of the Year award for all sports from the West Virginia Sports Writers Association in 1993 (an honor he repeated in 2003 and 2005 at WVU) also served as Glenville’s athletic director in 1995-96. He was inducted into the Glenville Sports Hall of Fame in October, 2003.
A native of Grant Town, West Virginia, in Marion County, Rodriguez is a 1981 graduate of North Marion High School, where he was a four-sport letterman and an all-state honoree in football and basketball, leading Coach Roy Michael’s Huskies to the 1980 Class AAA state football championship Following the 2002 season, Rodriguez was named Big East coach of the year by The Sporting News
THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY RAQUEL, RICH, RITA AND RHETT
and state college coach of the year for all sports by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
He received the 2003 Frank Loria Award for coaching distinction from the West Virginia chapter of the National Football Foundation. In 2003, he was the unanimous choice of his peers for Big East Coach of the Year, and the District I coach of the year for the American Football Coaches Association, one of five district AFCA winners, and for his efforts in guiding the Mountaineers to an 11-1 mark in 2005, he was once again awarded league coach of the year honors from his peers. He began a term in 2005 on the AFCA Board of Directors.
Rich and his wife Rita, a native of Jane Lew, West Virginia, have two children, Raquel and Rhett.
WHAT THEY‘RE SAYING ABOUT RICH RODRIGUEZ
“So excited to see Rich Rod back at his Alma Mater! I know he regrets ever leaving and sounds more motivated than ever to bring the Mountaineers back to National prominence! Can’t wait to see WVU in 2025 and beyond with Rich Rod back!“
Kirk Herbstreit - Lead Analyst, ESPN College GameDay
“There’s an inherently powerful connection to home, especially at a proud program like West Virginia. Rich Rodriguez’s return to Morgantown brings connective tissue to the program’s most successful moments of this generation and percolates with the promise of recreating them for the next.”
Pete Thamel - ESPN.com
“The always-passionate West Virginia fans don't have to wonder if Rich Rod can get the Mountaineers back in the national championship discussion. They have already seen him do it at his alma mater. He has had quite a journey since then and returns to a college football landscape that is radically different from the one he left 17 years ago. West Virginia will compete for a Big 12 championship and the playoffs and it will be sooner rather than later. Rich Rod may be a little older since his previous tour of duty in Morgantown. But he's a lot wiser.“
Tony Barnhart - TMG College Sports (Athlon)
“I have always strongly believed that the most important part about choosing a coach is finding the right fit. Both for the coach and the program! It is obvious that Coach is a perfect fit for West Virginia, and I am confident the Mountaineers will return to a place of prominence within the Big 12 and all of College Football in short order.”
Joel Klatt - FOX Football Analyst
"Fit matters in college football, and nobody fits better at West Virginia than Rich Rodriguez. It’s awesome that his career has come full circle with a coming-home moment in Morgantown — where you know he will build a competitor in the Big 12. We still talk about Pat White, Steve Slaton and the highpowered offenses from Rodriguez's first stint with the Mountaineers. Who will the next stars be? We can’t wait to find out."
Bill Bender - The Sporting News
“West Virginia’s decision to bring back Rich Rodriguez may go down as the best one of the coaching cycle. It’s a great fit overall — as evidenced by all of his success the first go-around — but I also particularly love the way RichRod’s staffing and schemes have both evolved to fit college football today. “
Nicole Auerbach - NBCSports
“West Virginia going back to the future with Rich Rodriguez is more than just a nostalgic reunion — it’s a great move for the Mountaineers going forward as well. Rodriguez has won everywhere he’s ever been, adapting to the changing ways the sport is played and college athletics has evolved. He gets West Virginia like no one else could, and West Virginia gets him. A lot of sequels aren’t as good as the original, but RichRod 2.0 has a chance to be a smash hit.”
Pat Forde - Sports Illustrated
“It might not have been a country road that took Rich Rodriguez home to West Virginia, but it’s definitely the place he belongs. Rich Rod’s return is going to up the excitement again at Puskar Stadium, not to mention the anxiety around the Big 12.”
Eric Olson - Associated Press
“I think this is the best hire of this year's coaching carousel. Rich Rodriguez was a great fit at West Virginia the first time. That program had a lethal combination of scheme and speed. Just as importantly, no one understands what it takes to win at WVU better than he does. It’s home for him. He’ll bring an edge back to the Mountaineers, and he takes over at an ideal time with the Big 12 more up for grabs than it’s ever been given we just saw the team predicted to finish last in the league win the conference.”
Bruce Feldman - The Athletic
“Every memory someone from my generation has about West Virginia Football includes Rich Rodriguez. He redefined the program. I can’t wait to see where version 2.0 takes us.”
Josh Pate - Josh Pate’s College Football Show
"Rich Rod is one of the OGs of modern offensive football. You see his influence each Saturday around the country. West Virginia is lucky to have him back. The program enjoyed some of its greatest successes when he led the Mountaineers to national prominence. More than that he was the face of the program. I fondly remember my time visiting the campus and program and seeing the inner workings of a then national powerhouse. Mountaineers everywhere can look forward to more of the same.”
Dennis Dodd - CBSSports.com
“Rich Rodriguez has been an offensive innovator and proven winner over the course of his career - and there is no better example than his first stint at West Virginia. He assembled a truly legendary roster of players and maximized their potential in ways only he could do. I’m looking forward to his return to the Mountaineers in this new era of college football, eager to see whether he can revolutionize the game once again.”
Andrea Adelson - ESPN.com
“If anyone can recapture the magic of Morgantown, it’s Rich Rodriguez. He’s as proven as they come. I would not bet against him returning West Virginia to prominence.”
Kirk Bohls - Houston Chronicle
“Richard Rodriguez has won everywhere he's been, with the exception of Michigan, which says more about the Wolverines than it does RichRod. And his return to Morgantown is a cool completion of his career. Rodriguez's greatest days were coaching West Virginia a generation ago, and now, at 61, he's still young enough to have a second great act with the Mountaineers.”
Berry Tramel - Tulsa World
“There are very few game-changers in college football today, but Rich Rodriguez is one of them. Rich Rod brought the spread to the forefront with Pat White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine and transformed the sport offensively in an exciting way few could have imagined. There’s a reason why people still talk about those West Virginia teams nearly 20 years later, and it’s because of Rich Rodriguez.”
Scott Dochterman - The Athletic
“The offense that everyone runs in college football, that even the NFL uses. That’s all Rich Rodriguez. It’s his baby, his trademark, and it never looked better when Pat White was running it. You better believe it can happen again. The game is about stressing defenses, and nobody does that quite like Rich.”
Matt Hayes - Senior National College Football Writer, USA Today Sports Network
“RichRod’s return is one of the biggest stories of the offseason and a real shot of adrenaline into the Mountaineer program. He’s not just a proven winner everywhere he’s been, but Rodriguez has shown he’s been able to adapt well to the changing environment of college football while still producing a winner. It wouldn’t surprise at all if he’s quickly able to get WVU into the running for a CFP bid sooner than later in a wide-open Big. 12.”
Bryan Fischer - Sports Illustrated
“It’s hard to go home again, but this reunion feels right. RichRod’s style, a blend of creative and hard-edged, is the embodiment of West Virginia football.”
Ralph Russo - The Athletic
“There is no better fit in the country for RichRod than West Virginia. His ability to recruit, motivate and place players in the best position to win is unmatched. I’ve never been around a person who hates losing more than Rich.”
Ross Dellenger - Yahoo! Sports
“I’m happy that Rich is back, and I think he’ll do a great job there. Him, being a West Virginia person, grew up about six or seven miles from where I grew up. I’m glad that he came back, and he had great success there in the past. We’re just excited for him.”
Nick Saban - ESPN GameDay Analyst
RICH RODRIGUEZ VS ALL OPPONENTS
ZAC ALLEY
Zac Alley joined the Mountaineer Football Staff in December 2024 as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
He rejoined Rich Rodriguez after serving as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Oklahoma this past season. He coached under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State in 2022-23 and at Louisiana-Monroe in 2021.
At Oklahoma in 2024, Alley helped lead the Sooners’ defense to a No. 3 ranking in defensive touchdowns, No. 5 in fumbles recovered, No. 10 in team tackles for loss, No. 11 in first-down defense, No. 19 in total defense, No. 23 in rushing defense, No. 25 in sacks and No. 30 in scoring defense.
One of Alley’s standouts, linebacker Danny Stutsman, earned NCAA Consensus All-American honors after leading the Sooners with 110 tackles, including a team-high 44 solo stops, for an average of 9.2 tackles per game with eight tackles for loss.
Alley coordinated a 2023 Jacksonville State defensive unit that ranked 33rd out of 133 teams in scoring defense (21.2 ppg) and 43rd in total defense (352.8 ypg), and helped the Gamecocks to a 9-4
THE ALLEY FILE
Year at WVU: 1
Year in Collegiate Coaching: 15
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Wife: Jordana
High School: Charlotte Country Day College: Clemson, 2014 (bachelor’s); Clemson, 2017 (master’s) Bowl Games Coached: 14
record, a 6-2 Conference USA mark (third place) and New Orleans Bowl win over Louisiana.
Jax State also ranked fourth in the country in 2023 in opponent yards per rush (2.8), eighth in tackles for loss yardage (414), ninth in turnovers gained (25), 10th in interceptions (16), 12th in opponent yards per play (4.8), 13th in sacks per game (2.9) and15th in rushing defense (111.5 ypg).
In his first year at Jacksonville State in 2022, Alley presided over a stingy defense that helped the Gamecocks amass a 9-2 record and a 5-0 league mark en route to the Atlantic Sun Conference championship.
Alley was the youngest defensive coordinator in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision when he took over at ULM in spring of 2021 at the age of 27. A member of 247Sports’ “30 Under 30” list, Alley joined the Warhawks after a 0-10 season in 2020 and helped lead them to four victories. Under his direction, the Warhawks improved in virtually every defensive statistical category from the previous season, including going from No. 125 in rushing defense before his arrival to No. 69.
Prior to ULM, he served as Boise State’s co-special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach in 2019-20. He helped the Broncos to a 17-4 record in those two seasons, which included a 13-game win streak in Mountain West Conference play. In 2020, FootballScoop.com named Alley one of its special teams coordinators of the year.
He also served a defensive coaching internship with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers in the spring of 2017, assisting the linebackers coach.
Alley served four years (2015-18) as a graduate assistant at Clemson. In those four seasons, with Alley working primarily with the defensive tackles and linebackers, Clemson posted a 55-4 (.932) record and won four Atlantic Coast Conference titles and two national championships (2016 and 2018).
He started working as a student assistant at Clemson as a freshman in 2011 and spent four years in that role. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management in 2014 and his master’s degree in human resource development in 2017.
TRAVIS TRICKETT
Travis Trickett returned to WVU in January 2025 as the senior offensive assistant on the Mountaineer coaching staff.
He spent time on the Mountaineer football staff from 2019-21 as tight ends and inside receivers coach before becoming the offensive coordinator at USF. He spent the last two seasons at Coastal Carolina as offensive coordinator.
He helped the Chanticleers to an 8-5 record and a bowl win in 2023. Coastal ranked 19th in the nation in completion percentage and 23rd in team passing efficiency.
Trickett went to Coastal after serving one season at South Florida as the Bulls’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022. In his lone season, he oversaw improvement in the Bulls’ offensive production despite guiding an offense that had a first-year primary ball carrier, three different starting quarterbacks and 14 members of the two-deep miss all or parts of the season.
Trickett orchestrated major improvements at USF in total offense, rushing offense, scoring offense, third-down conversions, red-zone conversions, pass efficiency and passing touchdowns.
During his three years at West Virginia, the Mountaineer offense improved each year, and he mentored Winston Wright at receiver and Mike O’Laughlin at tight end. In 2020, the Mountaineers had one of the most improved offenses in the nation in terms of total yards, showing gains of more than 60 yards rushing per game, 30 yards passing, more than 90 yards of total offense and seven more points per game in a 6-4 season that finished with a win in the Liberty Bowl.
Prior to West Virginia, Trickett was the offensive coordinator at Georgia State (2017-18), where he helped the Panthers finish with a school-record seven wins and their first winning season at the FBS level. In 2016 as Florida Atlantic’s offensive coordinator, his unit set FAU season records for
rushing yards, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns. He worked at Samford from 2011-15 and coached three different positions, became the offensive coordinator and helped the Bulldogs to five straight winning seasons, a Southern Conference championship and NCAA FCS playoff berth in 2013.
Trickett started his coaching career as a student assistant at West Virginia from 2003-06 before spending a year as a graduate assistant at Alabama and two years as graduate assistant at Florida State, working on the coaching staffs of Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher, Nick Saban and Rich Rodriquez.
A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Trickett earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from West Virginia in 2007 and his master’s degree from Florida State in sports administration in 2009.
Trickett, and his wife, Tiffany, also a WVU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, have three children, Maverick, Camilla and Holden.
JACK BICKNELL JR.
Jack Bicknell
Jr. joined the Mountaineer football coaching staff as the offensive line coach in January 2025.
He rejoined Rich Rodriguez as a member of his staff after the two worked together at Ole Miss in 2019. Bicknell has more than 35 years experience coaching offensive lines at the collegiate and NFL levels and comes to WVU after serving as the offensive line coach at Wisconsin in 2023.
Prior to his time at Wisconsin, he oversaw the North Carolina offensive line in 2022, helping lead the Tar Heels to a 9-4 mark in the regular season, a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game and an appearance in the Holiday Bowl.
Bicknell spent the 2021 season at Louisville, leading an offensive line that helped the Cardinals rank No. 22 nationally and No. 3 in the ACC in
at WVU: 1
in Collegiate Coaching: 32
Hometown: North Plainfield, N.J. Wife: Helen
Children: John, Katelyn, Alyse
Grandchildren: Jay, Asher, Noelle, Haven, Ben High School: Orono (Maine)
College: Boston College, 1986 (bachelor’s) Bowl Games Coached: 7
rushing and No. 21 nationally in total offense. Louisville ranked first in the ACC in fewest sacks and tackles for loss allowed.
Prior to Louisville, he coached the offensive lines at Auburn and Ole Miss. He helped guide the Tigers to the Citrus Bowl and spent three years rebuilding the Rebels’ offense.
In 2019 under Rodriguez as offensive coordinator, the Rebels were one of the top rushing teams in the nation, finishing second in the SEC and ninth in the country.
In 2017 and ’18, Bicknell’s offensive line helped Ole Miss quarterbacks lead the SEC in passing yards per game.
Prior to joining Ole Miss, Bicknell spent two seasons as assistant offensive line coach with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Bicknell came to Miami after spending the 2013 season as the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While in Pittsburgh, Bicknell’s unit helped running back Le’Veon Bell amass 1,259 yards from scrimmage, the most by a Steelers rookie.
Before joining the Steelers, Bicknell served as the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012, when he directed a unit that was instrumental in helping running back Jamaal Charles return to All-Pro form after an ACL injury cut short his 2011 season.
Bicknell began his NFL coaching career with the New York Giants in 2009 and was a member of a coaching staff that helped lead the franchise to its fourth Super Bowl title with a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots.
Before his time in the NFL, Bicknell spent eight seasons as the head coach
at Louisiana Tech (1999-2006), where his 43 victories werer the fourth-most in school history. In 2001, he was named WAC Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a conference championship in their first year of membership. Bicknell also served as the Bulldogs’ offensive line coach from 1997-98.
Bicknell began his coaching career at his alma mater, Boston College, as a graduate assistant from 1985-86.
Following his two seasons with the Eagles, Bicknell joined the staff at New Hampshire in 1987 and spent 10 seasons there, coaching the defensive line (198792) before moving to the offensive line (1993-96). He returned to BC in 2007 as the Eagles’ assistant head coach/ offensive line coach for two seasons (2007-08) before joining the Giants in the NFL.
A three-year letterwinner as an offensive lineman, Bicknell played collegiately for his father, Jack, at Boston College from 1981-85 where he was the center for 1984 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Doug Flutie.
Bicknell comes from a family of coaches. His father was the head coach at Boston College (1981-90) prior to becoming the head coach of the Barcelona Dragons (1991-03) of NFL Europe. His brother, Bob, has coached in NFL Europe, at the collegiate level and in the NFL.
Born in North Plainfield, New Jersey, Bicknell attended Orono (Maine) High School. He and his wife, Helen, have three children; John, Katelyn and Alyse, and five grandchildren, Jay, Asher, Noelle, Haven and Ben.
JEFF CASTEEL
Jeff Casteel rejoined the Mountaineer coaching staff as the bandits coach, reuniting with Rich Rodriguez once again after serving as his defensive line coach in 2001, codefensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2002 and defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2003-07 at WVU and from 2012-16 as the defensive coordinator at Arizona.
Casteel most recently served as the senior defensive analyst and director of high school relations at WVU from March 2020 – June 2023.
Casteel has 35 years of defensive coaching experience, including 27 years as a coordinator. He has helped guide teams to 14 conference championships and 15 bowl appearances and has coached numerous All-Americans and professional players. He was the Rivals Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2007, Big East Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2008, a Broyles Award nominee (five times) and the Football Scoop Linebacker Coach of the Year in 2014.
THE CASTEEL FILE
Year at WVU: 16
Year in Collegiate Coaching: 36
Hometown: Paden City, W.Va.
Wife: Rosemary
Children: Jake, Sarah
High School: Paden City
College: California Univ. (Pa.), 1984 (bachelor’s) California Univ. (Pa.), 1986 (master’s) Bowl Games Coached: 15
COACHING EXPERIENCE
(Pa.)
2012-16
During his tenure at WVU, the Mountaineers experienced one of their greatest periods of success, including winning three BCS bowl games - 2006 Sugar Bowl, 2008 Fiesta Bowl and the 2012 Orange Bowl.
Casteel returned to West Virginia in 2020 after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Nevada for three years. In 2019, the Wolfpack finished 7-6 and earned a spot in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. In 2018, five of his starters earned AllMountain West honors. From his first year to his second year, the Nevada defense improved from allowing 208.2 yards per game rushing to 142 and dropped the total defense from allowing 471.3 yards to 378.3 yards per game. Four of his players earned All-Mountain West Conference honors.
At Arizona, Casteel helped lead the Wildcats to the 2014 Pac-12 South championship and four bowl appearances, including the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. The defense aided in setting a school record for most wins over a four-year period.
While at WVU, the defense helped the WVU football program win six Big East
Conference championships and produced four All-Americans, three Academic All-Americans, nine all-conference honorees and 23 professional players. The Mountaineers finished No. 3 in the nation in total defense in 2010, No. 7 in 2007 and No. 15 in 2005.
He also spent time at UTEP as the defensive ends coach (2000) and at Shepherd University, first as the defensive line and strength coach from 1988-90 and as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1991-2000.
Casteel earned his bachelor’s (1984) and master’s degrees (1986) from California University of Pennsylvania. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater from 1984-86, before becoming the defensive coordinator at Palmetto High School in Miami, Florida, and was a training camp assistant with the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League in 1989.
Casteel, and his wife, Rosemary, have two children, Jake, who will join his father on the Mountaineer coaching staff as a defensive analyst, and Sarah, a West Virginia graduate.
2023-24 West Virginia Senior Defensive Analyst/ Director of High School Relations
2025 West Virginia Bandits
PAT KIRKLAND
Pat Kirkland is in his first year as the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant coach on the WVU football coaching staff, marking the third time that Kirkland has worked with Rich Rodriguez, having served on his staff at WVU in 2007 and at Jacksonville State from 2022-2024. Kirkland was the special teams’ coordinator and linebackers coach under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State for three years.
In 2024, his special teams ranked No. 2 in Conference USA in kickoff return and kick return defense, net punting, punt returns and punt return defense. The kick return defense ranked No. 22 nationally and punter Jack Dawson was No. 17 nationally.
During the 2023 season, the Gamecocks averaged 62.1 yards per kickoff with 39 touchbacks. On defense, Jax State led Conference USA in sacks largely due to his Bandits group racking up 39 sacks in 13 games, resulting in 291 lost yards.
Kirkland’s move to Jacksonville State translated into immediate success, helping the Gamecocks to a 9-2 record, including a 5-0 conference record and the 2022 ASUN Conference Championship.
THE KIRKLAND FILE Year at WVU: 6 Year in Collegiate Coaching: 26
Hometown: Akron, Ohio Children: Saddie High School: Revere College: Muskingum, 1997 (bachelor’s) Muskingum, 2000 (master’s) Bowl Games Coached: 7
His bandits room was led by J-Rock Swain, who earned All-ASUN First Team honors and helped the Gamecocks lead the country in fumbles recovered and to the 12th-best red zone defense in the nation.
His special teams units were also difference makers for Jax State in 2022, ranking fourth nationally in net punting, 10th in kickoff returns and seventh in blocked punts. Alen Karajic broke school records for scoring in a game by a kicker and for consecutive field goals made during the year, as well.
Kirkland’s resume includes 10 years of head coaching experience at the University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia, where he led the Golden Eagles to a 70-41 record and runner-up finish in the Mountain East Conference six times, including his 2021 team that finished 8-2.
At Charleston, he coached 42 allconference first team players, as well as numerous all-region and All-America selections. He had players earn Mountain East Conference Player of the Year honors on offense and defense, with his latest being running back Tyreik McAllister, the MEC’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.
His 2015 team at Charleston finished 10-1 ranked No. 15 in the nation after earning a spot in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. That team was also second
nationally in total defense leading to Kirkland earning the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Award at season’s end.
During the last four years at UC, Kirkland had nine players in NFL camps and two who were drafted, along with Reese’s Senior Bowl participant defensive lineman John Cominsky, who is currently a defensive end for the Detroit Lions
Kirkland spent five seasons at WVU, spending time on both sides of the ball, with the majority coming on defense. He helped lead the Mountaineers to a win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl as the defensive secondary coach and led WVU to the Gator Bowl as the fullbacks and tight ends coach. He also spent time as WVU’s director of recruiting.
Before his time at WVU, Kirkland was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Glenville State, where his defense was consistently one of the best in the nation.
A native of Akron, Ohio, Kirkland also spent two years as the secondary coach at Muskingum, where he had four allconference players in the secondary.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Muskingum, where he was a first-team all-conference defensive back after leading the league in interceptions. management in 2014 and his master’s degree in human resource development in 2017.
LOGAN BRADLEY
Logan Bradley joined the WVU coaching staff as the inside receivers coach in March 2025.
Bradley arrived from Auburn, where he was the assistant tight ends coach (2025) and was an offensive analyst for the two years prior to that (2023-24). He managed the organization of practice scripts and game day call sheets for the head coach and created the offensive playbook using Visio electronic software. He was responsible for setting up and managing drills, handled opponent film breakdown and assisted in recruiting for the offense.
THE BRADLEY FILE
Year at WVU: 1
Year in Collegiate Coaching: 12
Hometown: Cedar Hill, Texas
Wife: Olivia
Children: Sawyer, Rhodes, Brooks
High School: Cedar Hill
College: Ole Miss, 2018 (bachelor’s) Liberty, 2021 (master’s) Bowl Games Coached: 7
Before Auburn, Bradley served as an offensive analyst (202122) and an offensive graduate assistant at Liberty (2019-20) and was a recruiting analyst at Ole Miss (2018-19). He volunteered with the Miami Dolphins (2018) and was a wide receiver student assistant (2014-17) and a defensive secondary student assistant (2017-18) at Ole Miss.
During his career, Bradley was part of coaching staffs that participated in seven postseason bowl games.
A native of Cedar Hill, Texas, Bradley earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies with concentrations in sports recreation, education and history from Ole Miss in 2018 and his master’s degree in sport administration from Liberty in 2021.
He and his wife, Olivia, have three children: Sawyer, Rhodes and Brooks
GABE FRANKLIN
Gabe Franklin is in his first year as the safeties coach on the Mountaineer coaching staff.
A four-year letterwinner and three-time allleague cornerback at Boise State, Franklin had a successful tenure at his alma mater where he served as the safeties coach in 2016 and oversaw the nickels starting in 2019. He was with the Broncos for five seasons and helped the defense improve immediately. In his debut season, the Bronco defense allowed just 23.3 points per game, a mark that ranked No. 29 nationally. That number dropped to 22.9 points allowed per game in 2017 and 22.1 points per game in 2018. During his time at Boise, four safeties earned All-Mountain West honors.
Prior to coming to West Virginia, Franklin served in various roles around the Mansfield, Texas, community, including founding F4 Sports
14
Hometown: Oakland, Calif.
Wife: Kelly
Children: Addison, Aiden, Evan, Emery
High School: Bishop O’Dowd
College: Boise State, 2004 (bachelor’s) North Texas, 2023 (master’s) Bowl Games Coached: 7
Academy and teaching high school business while coaching football and soccer at Timberview High.
He also spent five seasons at UTEP, where he served as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He joined the UTEP staff as cornerbacks coach in 2011 before being elevated to defensive backs coach in 2013 and recruiting coordinator in 2014. In his final two seasons there, the Miners’ secondary combined for 72 pass breakups.
Franklin began his coaching career at Bishop O’Dowd High School, his prep alma mater, in Oakland, California, in 2007. The following season, he joined the staff at California as an administrative assistant on the defensive side, a role in which he served for two seasons before a one-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at San Diego in 2010.
Franklin finished his career in Boise as the NCAA’s all-time leader in passes defended (72) and tied for fourth in Western Athletic Conference history with 18 interceptions, just two
behind the all-time leaders. His 18 picks also rank tied for fourth in Boise State history.
He was a three-time All-WAC selection, being named to the conference’s second team from 200203 before cracking the first team in 2004 after four interceptions, 17 pass breakups and 61 tackles. During his career, Boise State went 44-7, won three conference titles and a pair of bowl games.
Following his collegiate career, Franklin signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers in 2005. He also had stints with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, and played for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe in 2007.
Franklin graduated with his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boise State in 2004 and earned his master’s degree in business administration from North Texas in 2023.
He and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Addison and Emery, and two sons, Aiden and Evan.
RYAN GARRETT
Ryan Garrett is in his first year as the wide receivers coach on the Mountaineer coaching staff.
Garrett joined WVU coach Rich Rodriguez’s staff for the third time. He first became a member of his staff as a graduate assistant coach at LouisianaMonroe in 2021, before serving as the wide receivers coach at Jacksonville State in 2022.
In 2024, he helped lead the Gamecocks to a 9-5 record, the Conference USA championship and a spot in a second straight bowl game. The JSU offense finished No. 4 in FBS in rushing, No. 6 in first-down offense, No. 8 in passing yards per completion, No. 11 in scoring offense and No. 21 in total offense.
Garrett’s top receiver, Cam Vaughn, finished with 49 catches for 804 yards and five touchdowns, ranking No. 3 in CUSA in yards per reception, No. 6 in receiving yards, No. 8 in touchdown receptions and No. 9 in catches.
The Gamecocks made history during the 2023 season, posting a 9-4 record during their first
THE GARRETT FILE
Year at WVU: 1
Year in Collegiate Coaching: 11
Hometown: Hendersonville, N.C.
Wife: Abby
High School: North Hendersonville College: Ole Miss, 2018 (bachelor’s) Bowl Games Coached: 4
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2015-17 Ole Miss
Assistant
2018-19 Ole Miss
2019-20
season at the FBS level and winning the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Perry Carter earned All-Conference USA Honorable Mention honors after leading the Gamecocks in receiving.
Carter averaged 17.74 yards per catch during the regular season, which was third in CUSA. He finished the year with 672 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
In Garrett’s first season at Jax State in 2022, he helped guide the Gamecocks to a 9-2 record that included a 5-0 mark in conference play and the 2022 ASUN Conference title. The Gamecocks had one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, ranking No. 5 nationally in yards per reception and No. 10 in scoring offense. Fourteen different Gamecocks caught at least one pass in 2022, while nine of those found the end zone at least once.
In 2021, he helped the Warhawks head coach and former Mountaineer Terry Bowden lay the foundation for
a turnaround of their program after they inherited a team that had gone winless the season before.
Garrett spent the 2020 season as the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach at West Virginia State under coach John Pennington, a former receiver for Rodriguez at WVU. He started his coaching career at Ole Miss, where he began as a student assistant and eventually served as an offensive graduate assistant working with the Rebels’ quarterbacks under Rodriguez in 2019. That season, the Rebels ranked third in total offense in the SEC, averaging 445.3 yards per game, behind only Alabama and LSU.
Garrett graduated from North Henderson High School (Hendersonville, N.C.) where he was captain of the football team and was named all-conference as a wide receiver. He played at Emory & Henry College (Virginia) for a year before transferring to Ole Miss and entering the coaching profession.
WILLIAM GREEN
William Green is in his first year as the defensive line coach on the Mountaineer football coaching staff.
Green rejoined Rich Rodriguez and defensive coordinator Zac Alley after spending time on their staffs at Jacksonville State and Louisiana Monroe.
In 2024, he helped lead Jax State to a 9-5 record, the Conference USA championship and a spot in a second straight bowl game. The defense finished No. 5 nationally in fumbles recovered, No. 10 in red zone defense, No. 15 in turnovers gained and No. 22 in turnover margin. The Gamecocks were No. 2 in Conference USA in tackles for loss, No. 3 in sacks and No. 4 in rushing defense. Defensive end J-Rock Swain was named AllConference USA second-team.
Three defensive linemen made the AllConference USA lists in 2023 as the Gamecocks led the league in sacks with 39 during a 9-4 season, which saw the program win its first FBS Bowl Game in its initial year of FBS play.
THE GREEN FILE
Year at WVU: 1
Year in Collegiate Coaching: 12
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
High School: Spain Park College: Florida, 2011 (bachelor’s) Jacksonville State, 2015 (master’s) Bowl Games Coached: 3
The Gamecocks posted a 9-2 record in 2022 that included a 5-0 record in ASUN play and a conference championship. His defensive line played a huge role in the nation’s No. 12 red-zone defense, as well as a unit that led the nation with 15 fumble recoveries.
Green helped Alley guide the ULM defense in 2020, when his defensive line set the tone for a rushing defense that improved 56 spots in the FBS national rankings the year before.
Prior to going to ULM, Green turned in his first stint at Jax State and coached the Gamecocks’ defensive line and was also the run game coordinator. In four seasons, JSU went 28-13 (.683), including an 18-6 record (.750) in Ohio Valley Conference games, won back-to-back league titles in 2017-18 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision those same two seasons. Prior to being hired as JSU’s defensive line coach in 2017, Green was a graduate assistant for his alma mater,
Florida, in 2016 after serving as a graduate assistant with the Gamecocks in 2014 and 2015.
Green played for the Gators from 2008-11, seeing action in 53 games. He recorded 53 tackles, 11 for loss, 2½ sacks and a career-best 21 tackles in his senior season. He was a member of Florida’s national championship team as a freshman in 2008.
Green prepped at Spain Park High School in Hoover, where he was an AllAmerican linebacker and defensive end for John Grass and the Jaguars in 2007.
Green was also an all-state firstteam selection and named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Super 12 Team in a senior season that saw him register 114 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery in SPHS’s AHSAA Class 6A runner-up season before signing with Florida.
Following his playing days at Florida, Green went to training camp with the Cleveland Browns and then played in the Arena Football League.
MICHAEL NYSEWANDER
Michael Nysewander joined the Mountaineer football coaching staff in January 2025 as the tight ends coach.
Nysewander rejoined Rich Rodriguez after serving as his inside receivers/tight ends coach for the past two years at Jacksonville State.
In 2024, he helped lead the Gamecocks to a 9-5 record, the Conference USA championship and a spot in a second straight bowl game. The JSU offense finished No. 4 in FBS in rushing, No. 6 in first-down offense, No. 8 in passing yards per completion, No. 11 in scoring offense and No. 21 in total offense.
Jax State made history during the 2023 season, posting a 9-4 record during their first season at the FBS level and winning the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Tight end
THE NYSEWANDER FILE
Year at WVU: 1
Year in Collegiate Coaching: 9
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Wife: Alexandra
Children: Nicholas, Isabella
High School: Hoover
College: Alabama, 2015 (bachelor’s) Bowl Games Coached: 6
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-22
2022-23
2023-24
Sean Brown was a big part of that success, earning All-Conference USA Second Team honors, finishing with 19 receptions, with five going for touchdowns.
He joined the Gamecocks after spending three seasons at Ole Miss, where he served as head coach Lane Kiffin’s senior analyst.
During those three seasons, the Rebels went to three bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl and had a 10-win campaign in 2021.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Nysewander graduated from Alabama in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. While with the Crimson Tide, he was an H-back/tight end and helped head
coach Nick Saban’s program to three national championships and SEC championships. Kiffin was his offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2014-16.
Following his college playing career, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a rookie free agent. He started his coaching career as a member of the offensive and special teams’ staff for Kiffin at FAU in 2017 for two years before becoming the assistant director of player development. He then was the running backs coach at Samford before rejoining Kiffin at Ole Miss.
Nysewander and his wife, Alexandra, have two children, Nicholas and Isabella.
LARRY PORTER
Larry Porter is in his first year as the running backs coach on the Mountaineer football coaching staff.
Porter, a 27-year coaching veteran, came to West Virginia after serving as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at North Carolina for the past four years. He is a two-time national recruiter of the year, a threetime Broyles Award nominee, has developed numerous NFL running backs and special teams prospects and has been part of 21 bowl teams since 2002.
During the 2024 season, the Tar Heels were led by two-time All-American and two-time Doak Walker Award finalist and eventual first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton.
During his first season back at Carolina in 2021, Porter’s running back unit led the ACC in rushing.
Porter also had stints at Auburn from 2017-20 (special teams coordinator/tight ends/H-backs),
special teams coordinator and running backs coach at UNC (2014-16), running backs coach at Texas (2013), Arizona State (2012), LSU (2005-09), Oklahoma State (2002-04), Arkansas State (1999-01) and Tennessee-Martin (1998) and was the head coach at Memphis (2010-11).
In his first season at UNC, Porter was part of an offensive staff that set several school records and gained more than 5,000 yards of total offense. Rotating three running backs, the group produced 1,119 rushing yards and scored 11 TDs.
Porter developed two 1,000yard rushers at LSU in Jacob Hester (2007) and Charles Scott (2008) and produced six NFL Draft selections (Hester, Joseph Addai, Quinn Johnson, Charles Scott, Trindon Holliday, Stevan Ridley). He coached 1,000-yard rushers for three straight seasons while at Oklahoma State. In 2004, Vernand Morency earned All-Big 12 honors
after rushing for 1,474 yards and 12 touchdowns. A year earlier, Tatum Bell earned first team All-Big 12 honors with 1,286 yards and 16 touchdowns. Morency was a third-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2005 and Bell was a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Prior to his arrival in Stillwater, Porter spent three years at Arkansas State, where he coached Jonathan Adams to back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Porter lettered for four years (199093) at Memphis, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1996. He is a member of the Memphis Athletics M Club Hall of Fame. Porter and his wife, Sharmane, have three children; sons Brandon and Omari, and daughter, Olivia.management in 2014 and his master’s degree in human resource development in 2017.
RHETT RODRIGUEZ
Rhett Rodriguez is in his first year as the quarterbacks coach for the Mountaineer football program.
Rodriguez came to Morgantown from Jacksonville State, where he served as an offensive analyst for the 2024 season and helped lead the Gamecocks to the CUSA regular season and conference championships.
Rodriguez was a quarterback at LouisianaMonroe, in the Sunbelt Conference, in 2021 and at Arizona, in the Pac-12 Conference, from 2017-20.
At ULM, he served as a team captain and was heavily involved in the weekly game planning as he assisted in breaking down opponent tendencies and analyzing film for the entire offensive unit. Aside from practically being another coach on the field,
he completed 51% of his passes for the Warhawks, throwing for 799 yards and four touchdowns. His teammates voted him as the offensive representative on the player leadership council to not only the head coach but to the athletic administration.
Rodriguez signed with Arizona after a stellar high school career at Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson. His best season with the Wildcats came in 2018 under Coach Kevin Sumlin. He completed 51.8% of his passes, throwing for 516 yards and three touchdowns. During his time as a quarterback at Arizona, he was heavily involved in Tucson community events and served as president of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
After his playing career ended, Rodriguez was a business associate for Northern Trust in Tempe, Arizona, in 2022-23, before making the career switch to collegiate coaching. At Northern Trust, he worked in the financial world developing exchange strategies and fund trading. He also conducted seminars with studentathletes on financial planning and strategies for the future.
He received his bachelor’s in business administration from Arizona in 2020 and master’s degree in 2021 from Arizona in entrepreneurship before adding a second master’s degree in psychology from LouisianaMonroe in July 2022.
ROD WEST
Rod West is in his first season as the cornerbacks coach on the Mountaineer football staff.
He came to WVU from Appalachian State where he spent the last four years as the cornerbacks coach. He added the title of defensive passing game coordinator in 2022. During his time in Boone, he helped the Mountaineers win a pair of Sun Belt East titles and secure a win over No. 6 Texas A&M in 2022.
A fast riser in the coaching profession, West was named to the 2021 American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 list.
In 2024, the App State defense finished No. 13 in fourth-down defense, No. 27 nationally in fumble recovered and No. 35 in first down defense.
West had a pair of All-Sun Belt cornerbacks in 2023, as Tyrek Funderburk earned All-American Second-Team recognition by Action Network and also was an All-Sun Belt first-team performer. He finished with four interceptions, including
two returns for touchdowns. Ethan Johnson, the other starting cornerback, was named All-Sun Belt Second-Team.
Under West in 2021, Steven Jones Jr. was an All-American first-team honoree at cornerback, and Shaun Jolly joined Jones as an All-Sun Belt first-team selection.
App State ranked in the top 15 nationally with 15 interceptions, as Jones tied for the FBS lead with five during the regular season, including three pick-sixes.
The following year, Jones also earned All-America honorable mention honors before receiving an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
App State newcomer Dexter Lawson Jr. had a team-high three interceptions before moving on to the CFL.
Before arriving in Boone, West spent the three previous three-plus seasons on staff at Richmond, including serving as co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach starting with the 2022 spring season.
In 2019, West served as the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, helping Richmond finish first in the CAA in passing defense at 194.8 yards per game. West
spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons as Richmond’s dimes coach and was also the co-special teams coordinator in 2018. The Spiders’ 2017 squad finished fifth in the CAA in passing defense at 197.7 yards per game.
West began his coaching career in 2009 at Kentucky Christian. He also had stints at Division II national runner-up Delta State (2010), Texas A&M-Commerce (2011-12) and Morehead State (2013-14).
He coached at Chattanooga from 2015-16, serving as the cornerbacks/ dimes coach as well as recruiting coordinator.
A native of Selma, Alabama, West played at Alabama State from 2005-08 and was a two-year starting defensive back. He was a member of the Dean’s List his final three years and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2009.
He and his wife, Marcie, were married in 2013. They have one daughter, Maya, and one son, Major. Marcie was a three-time All-American volleyball player at Florida and played in four NCAA Tournaments from 200407.
DEREK DRESSLER
Derek Dressler joined the WVU football staff as the assistant offensive line coach in January 2025.
He arrived from Jacksonville State where he served as the assistant offensive line coach. In his three seasons, the Gamecocks’ offense had three all-conference linemen, the No. 5 FCS rushing offense in 2022 (251.0) and the No. 3 FBS rushing offense in 2023 (236.7) and 2024 (251.2).
Dressler played offensive line for Concord University from 2015-2018. During his career, he earned All-Mountain East
THE DRESSLER FILE
Year at WVU: 1
Year in Collegiate Coaching: 7
Hometown: Covington, Va.
High School: Covington
College: Concord, 2018 (bachelor’s)
West Virginia State, 2021 (master’s) Jacksonville State, 2023 (master’s) Bowl Games Coached: 2
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2019-21 West Virginia State Defensive Line Coach/ Graduate Assistant/ Head Equipment Manager/ Video Coordinator
2021-22 Bryant
Interior Offensive Line/ Offensive Graduate Assistant/ Video Coordinator
2022 Concord
Offensive Line/ Run Game Coordinator/ Tight Ends Run Game Coach
2022-24 Jacksonville State
Offensive Line Analyst/ Defensive Scout Team Coordinator
2025 West Virginia
Assistant Offensive Line
Conference First Team as a senior and Second Team as a junior.
As a senior, he was named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Region Third Team after starting all 11 games at center and not missing any of Concord’s 684 offensive plays. He was a member of a Mountain Lion offense that averaged more than 27 points per game.
Prior to Jacksonville State, he had a brief stint at his alma mater as the offensive line coach, run game coordinator and tight ends run game coach.
Dressler also had stops at Bryant University as the interior offensive line coach, offensive
graduate assistant and video coordinator, and at West Virgnia State University as a graduate assistant coach, head equipment manager and video coordinator before being promoted to defensive line coach in 2020.
He graduated with honors from Concord in December 2018 with a bachelor of science degree in recreation and tourism management, earned his master’s degree in sport studies from West Virginia State University in May 2021 and a master of science in sport management from Jacksonville State in August 2023.
HENRY WEINREICH
Henry Weinreich is in his first year as the nickels/ sams coach on the Mountaineer football staff. He came to West Virginia from Oklahoma, where he worked with WVU defensive coordinator Zac Alley as a defensive analyst, focusing on the linebackers and safeties. Aside from game-day duties, he was responsible for opponent breakdowns and scouting reports. During his tenure, he helped mentor two All-SEC performers, including consensus All-American Danny Stutsman. Prior to Oklahoma, Weinreich worked at Jacksonville State from 2020-23, serving as a graduate assistant before being promoted to defensive analyst, where he worked
with the Gamecock linebackers. Aside from game-day duties, he was responsible for opponent breakdowns and scouting reports. During his tenure, he coached three all-conference performers.
Prior to Jax State, Weinreich was at West Georgia as a graduate assistant, working with the linebackers as well as the scout offensive and special teams units. He coached linebacker Korie Rogers, who was an honorable mention All-American.
Weinreich also turned in coaching stints on the defensive side of the ball at Rhodes College (2018-19) where he had two all-conference selections, and at Washington University (2017-
18), coaching yet another allconference performer.
Weinreich played college football at Rhodes as a linebacker and safety. He was a four-time allacademic athlete and part of the 2013 Southern Athletic Association championship team. He was a fouryear special teams performer and a starter on defense as a senior, helping the Lynx to a 26-14 record during his career.
Weinreich received his bachelor’s degree (2017) from Rhodes in chemistry, a master’s degree from Jacksonville State in sports management (2021) and his MBA from Jax State in (2023).
PAT WHITE
Legendary Mountaineer
quarterback Pat White is in his first year on the Mountaineer coaching staff as the assistant quarterbacks coach and assistant to the head football coach.
White is back in Morgantown after serving as an offensive assistant coach with the Los Angeles Chargers for two years, before working as an athlete/skill trainer and coach for the past year.
With the Chargers, he was the quarterback and wide receiver offensive assistant, providing coaching insight to each room. He helped secure the No. 2 passing offense in the NFL and a spot in the playoffs.
He also served as the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Campbell (2022), was the interim offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama State (2021), the running backs coach at USF (2020) and the quarterbacks coach at Alcorn State (2018-19).
THE WHITE FILE
Year at WVU: 1
Year in Collegiate Coaching: 6
Years in NFL Coaching: 2
Hometown: Daphne, Ala.
Wife: Cristina
Children: Daphne, Clara, Pat II and Dubois
High School: Daphne
College: West Virginia, 2008 (bachelor’s)
As a player, White was the nation’s most versatile threat at quarterback, becoming the first college quarterback to start and win four consecutive bowl games from 2005-08.
The Daphne, Alabama, native set 19 WVU, Big East and national records during his illustrious career, including finishing as the all-time rushing quarterback in NCAA history with 4,480 yards (now ranks second).
West Virginia was 35-8 with White as the starting quarterback. He led the Mountaineers to bowl wins in the 2006 Sugar, 2007 Gator, 2008 Fiesta and 2008 Meineke Car Care. White set the Big East records in touchdowns responsible for (103), total offense (10,529) and became the first player in Big East history to pass for more than 10,000 yards. He posted a 7-2 record against Top 25 opponents during his career.
White was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by the
Miami Dolphins, playing the 2009 season with the Dolphins. He signed with the Washington Redskins in 2013 and then played one season for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League in 2014. He announced his retirement from professional football in 2015.
Also a standout on the diamond, White was selected by the Anaheim Angels in the fourth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft but opted to attend WVU. White was drafted in the later rounds of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in 2008 by the Cincinnati Reds and in 2009 by the New York Yankees. White, a member of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame, graduated from WVU in 2008 with a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree. He and his wife, Cristina, have two daughters, Daphne and Clara and two sons, Pat II and Dubois. management in 2014 and his master’s degree in human resource development in 2017.
MIKE JOSEPH
Mike Joseph has overseen the strength and conditioning unit at West Virginia since 2008, serving as the director until being named assistant athletics director in 2018 and assistant athletics director/head coach for football strength and conditioning in 2019.
Joseph has made it a priority to evolve the program in all areas, not only with strength and speed but also combining sport science and technology to develop a total elite athlete. He uses data analysis for measuring heart rate, movement, effort and sleep patterns as well as placing a high importance on recovery and nutrition. This has paid huge dividends in not only the physical makeup, but the mental side as well. The sports science allows the staff to monitor load management, external and internal stressors, and develop a routine to maximize performance and preparation. The goal is to develop a well-prepared athlete/team utilizing all resources.
He administers, coordinates, develops, implements and teaches strength and conditioning programs for all WVU studentathletes with an emphasis on the football program.
Joseph has coached 27 football players who earned All-America honors and more than 100 athletes who were either drafted or signed free-agent contracts in the NFL.
Joseph, who was presented with his Master Strength and Conditioning Coaching distinction in 2014, served for five years as the assistant strength coach at Notre Dame (2003-08), working with football and was responsible for the strength and conditioning programs for baseball, volleyball and softball prior to coming back to West Virginia.
Joseph worked with the head strength coach with football, assisted with workouts, testing, conditioning, speed and agility training and in-season and offseason training schedules on a daily basis. He also was responsible for developing and training the quarterbacks, tight ends, linebackers, fullbacks and injured players.
He also had the same responsibilities with baseball, volleyball and softball. He supervised and maintained facility and equipment and
Assistant Athletics Director/ Head Coach for Strength and Conditioning
scheduling all student-athletes for the school’s 27 sports.
He spent two years as an assistant strength coach at Eastern Michigan (2001-03) and as a graduate assistant at WVU (1999-2001). He also worked at Healthworks Fitness and Rehabilitation in Morgantown in the summer of 2001.
Prior to that, he was the strength and conditioning coach at Fairmont State (Aug. 1998 – May 1999), camp instructor at the Mountain State Speed and Strength Camp hosted by WVU from May 2000 until April 2001, a guest speaker and instructor at many camps and clinic and a classroom instructor and state director for the National Association of Speed and Explosion.
While at Fairmont State, Joseph was a four-year letterman and threeyear captain on the football team
from 1994-97. He was a three time first-team all-WVIAC selection and was named the WVIAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1996.
A 1997 regional All-American, a Burger King Scholar Athlete and a WVIAC Scholar Athlete, Joseph was selected the vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and to the Fairmont State Student Council.
Joseph earned his bachelor’s degree from Fairmont State in 1999 and received his master’s degree in from West Virginia in physical education with an emphasis in sport movement and development. He is certified by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) and the National Strength Coaches Association (NSCA).
He and his wife, Andre, have two sons, Quincy and Brolin.
PARKER WHITEMAN
Parker Whiteman returned to West Virginia as the assistant head strength coach/ director of skill development for the Mountaineer football program.
He reunited with Rich Rodriguez, with whom he worked at four previous stops. In 2024, he was the head strength and conditioning coach at Jacksonville State and was part of Rodriguez’s staffs at West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona.
Last season, the Gamecocks finished with a 9-5 record, won the Conference USA championship and earned a spot in a second straight bowl game.
Before last season, Whiteman served a five-year stint as the head of football strength and conditioning at Sam Houston, where the Bearkats were one of the most dominant
Assistant Head Strength Coach Director of Skill Development
programs in FCS. Prior to leading SHSU into FBS and Conference USA alongside the Gamecocks in 2023, the Bearkats produced four winning seasons, two conference titles and the FCS National Championship in 2020.
The Keyser, West Virginia, native spent 11 seasons with Rodriguez, beginning prior to the 2006 season when he was hired as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at WVU. After being part of two seasons that saw the Mountaineers go 21-4 with a Big East Championship and trips to the Gator and Fiesta Bowls, Whiteman made the move to Michigan to be Rodriguez’s assistant strength and conditioning coach for three seasons.
He spent the 2011 season as a strength and conditioning coach at BARWIS Methods at Arizona before
being named the Wildcats’ director of skill development in 2012. He spent the next six seasons on Rodriguez’s staff at UA, helping the Wildcats to five bowl games and a Pac-12 Division title.
Whiteman spent another brief stint at BARWIS Methods before joining the Bearkats prior to the 2019 season.
He played football at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he earned his degree in physical education and health in 2004. He then received his master’s in exercise science from McDaniel College in 2006.
He started his career as a strength coach at Velocity Sports Performance in 2004 and spent two seasons as a strength intern/ coach for the Baltimore Ravens before joining Rodriguez’s staff at WVU.
DUSTY RUTLEDGE
Senior Associate Athletics Director/ Chief of Staff
Dusty Rutledge returned to West Virginia University and rejoined Rich Rodriguez’s staff as the senior associate athletics director/chief of staff for Mountaineer football.
Rutledge implements strategic planning and staffing for the football office and oversees the areas of recruiting, operations, scouting and office administrative staff. He also serves as one of football’s liaisons to various units in the Athletics Department including senior administration, marketing, digital media, development, communications, creative and student-athlete enhancement.
Additionally, Rutledge directs the program’s student employment program, provides budgetary discretion and assists Rodriguez and staff in promoting the brand of West Virginia football.
Rutledge comes to West Virginia from Jacksonville State, where he served as chief of staff for Rodriguez since 2021. Rutledge came to JSU from Louisiana-Monroe, where he also held the same position.
He has contributed to the growth and success of several collegiate programs during his long and distinguished career with stops at Ole Miss, Arizona, Michigan and a previous seven-year stint at West Virginia from 2001-07.
In between football positions, he spent time as facility manager and director of sales of Barwis Training Methods, which is a holistic athletic and neurological training facility in Michigan. Additionally, he worked with Indiana football from 1997-2000 and has vast experience coaching not only high school football, but at different levels of college football.
The ties between Rutledge and Rodriguez go back more than 35 years. Rutledge was the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator under Rodriguez for three seasons at Division II Glenville State (1994-96), and was a part of the Pioneers’ three West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) titles.
Originally from Rockford, Ohio, Rutledge graduated from Fairmont State in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree and coached the offensive line for the Fighting Falcons from 1988-93. In three of his years at Fairmont, he also played and was a member of the active roster. To this day, he remains one of college football’s last player-coaches.
CHUCK LILLIE General Manager
Chuck Lillie is in his first year as the general manager for the Mountaineer football program.
He came to West Virginia from Oklahoma, where he was the assistant general manager since April 2024. While there, he worked with current WVU assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Zac Alley and nickels/sams coach Henry Weinreich.
At WVU, Lillie is the lead negotiator on all player acquisition deals, and oversees the scouting and recruiting operation and roster management process, including high school, junior college and portal recruitment and player retainment.
At OU, Lillie oversaw roster management in conjunction with the head coach, overseeing the recruiting and scouting process for all players. He assisted the general manager and communicated with player representatives in negotiating NIL deals.
Lillie went to Oklahoma after spending the previous four seasons at Kansas State as the director of scouting. He was responsible for evaluation of prospects’ film, hosting prospects and assisting in the recruiting operation efforts of the staff.
Prior to Kansas State, Lillie spent five years on Clemson’s support staff, working four years in the program’s recruiting department and one season as a defensive graduate student intern.
During his time as a defensive graduate assistant, Lillie assisted coaches with day-to-day preparations for practices, diagramed opponents’ offensive plays, developed weekly opponent gameplans and assisted in the weekly breakdowns of Clemson’s upcoming opponents.
Lillie also was a pro scouting intern with the New York Giants during the 2019 NFL preseason before returning to Clemson as a playoff analyst during that season, when the program finished as national runnerup.
A native of Baltimore, Lillie graduated from Clemson with a bachelor’s degree in sports communications in 2017 and master’s degree in athletic leadership in 2020.
COLE DIAL
Assistant Athletics Director/ Football Operations
Cole Dial is in his first year on the Mountaineer staff as the assistant athletics director for football operations.
Dial directs and oversees the daily operations of the football office, manages budgets and expenditures, works with the administration on capital projects, plans and administers travel and works with senior administration on all football issues including policy, personnel and scheduling.
He also provides administrative daily support to Rodriguez in the areas of practice planning and scheduling, fundraising, personal appearances and community involvement. He serves as the football liaison to all units of the Athletics Department.
He comes to West Virginia from Jacksonville State, where he spent the last three years in the same capacity as director of football operations for the Gamecocks. He was a key member of the management team in organizing, planning, overseeing and supervising all aspects of the football program.
Dial went to Jacksonville State after six seasons at LouisianaMonroe, including the Warhawks’ director of football operations his final two years and the previous four seasons as the director of recruiting and player personnel. He helped ULM sign the Sun Belt Conference’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2017, according to Rivals.com.
Prior to joining ULM, Dial spent six years (2010-15) working with the football program at Syracuse. From 2010-12, he served as quality control for administrative support and special teams before moving into the role of operations and recruiting administrator in the fall of 2013. His recruiting efforts helped the Orange sign their highest-rated recruiting class in 15 years.
The Marietta, Georgia, native started his career in athletics as a coach at Walton High School in Marietta from 2008-10.
Dial received a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Reinhardt University in 2010.
RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ
Assistant
Athletics Director/
Football Management and Strategy
Raquel Rodriguez joined the Mountaineer Football staff in January 2025 as the assistant athletics director for football management and strategy. She came to WVU after serving as the creative content coordinator for football at Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Alabama, for three years. She was responsible for all football content, including photography, video and graphics production and managed all social media platforms. Rodriguez introduced a new helmet logo, which has become one of the Gamecock’s primary logos, designed the new turf and uniforms, assisted with new Loring and Debbie White Football Complex designs and directed the gameday content strategy.
As a member of the football administrative team at WVU, she is responsible for collaborating and providing assistance with support staff, on-campus recruiting and campus partners.
Along with the chief of staff and the football operations unit, she manages the day-to-day operations and planning for the program.
Rodriguez is a liaison with the Athletics Department external units in marketing, communications, creative content and social media to further the effectiveness and efficiency of the brand and awareness for the football program.
Rodriguez brings a background in creative content, social media management, reporting and producing.
The Morgantown, West Virginia native graduated from Arizona in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in sport management. She was a two-year captain of the Wildcats’ cheerleading squad and administered the program’s social media platforms.
RASHEED MARSHALL
Director of Player Relations
West Virginia University Sports Hall of Famer and Mountaineer Legend Society member Rasheed Marshall returned to WVU in March 2023 as the director of player relations for the football program.
The 2004 Big East Offensive Player of the Year and standout WVU quarterback executes the program’s culture by having a daily presence at study hall, mandatory meals, weight room, training room and student-athlete activities.
Marshall has daily communication with the head coach regarding the pulse of the team and assists the head coach with the leadership council, player counseling meetings, educational meetings, leads the Big Brother program and develops the materials for the student-athletes. He is responsible for all roll calls, including team meetings and meals. He executes the onboarding for transfer student-athletes and coordinates the mental health education program for all student-athletes. He manages all player housing and is the liaison for financial aid and stipend checks for the student-athletes.
In addition, he supports the 5th Quarter program, including educational programming in the areas of character development, leadership development, real life, social responsibility and career development.
He also serves as the liaison to the sport psychologist, counseling center, campus/city law enforcement, student conduct, student life, drug and alcohol assistance, student-athlete development, campus recreation, housing, admissions and other student-related programs.
Marshall came to WVU after serving a personal trainer at Team Marshall Fitness in Pittsburgh, his hometown, since 2013. He was as a regional head quarterbacks coach at Sports International Academy and an on-air football analyst for ESPN+ and AT&T SportsNet since 2015.
Marshall was a member of the Mountaineer football program from 2001-05, including the final three years as the starting quarterback. Along
with the Big East Offensive Player of the Year honors, he also was named the ECAC Player of the Year in 2004. His record as the starting quarterback was 24-12 and he helped WVU to four bowl game (2000 Music City, 2002 Continental, 2004 and 2005 Gator Bowl).
He finished his career with a Big East record 2,040 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns and passed for 5,558 yards and 44 touchdowns. His 68 touchdowns set the WVU career mark, and he was second in career rushing by a quarterback and in total offense and fourth in passing yards.
Marshall was a fifth-round pick by the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers (2005) as a wide receiver. He was a member of the 49ers (2005), Pittsburgh Steelers (2007) and Los Angeles Rams (2007) and Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League (2007).
Marshall graduated with his bachelor’s degree in physical education with a certificate in strength and conditioning from West Virginia in 2005. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame and Mountaineer Legends Society in 2024.
DAN NEHLEN
Director of Football Equipment Operations
Dan Nehlen has been a member of the West Virginia Football staff since 1981, first as a student manager, then assistant equipment manager in 1986 and head equipment manager in 1988. He transitioned to the director of football equipment operations role in 2023.
The son of Hall of Fame and former Mountaineer coach Don Nehlen, he is responsible for maintaining and procuring all equipment and uniforms for the football program as well as overseeing the football student managers.
Nehlen also coordinates the extensive movement of equipment when West Virginia hits the road.
A native of Canton, Ohio, Nehlen received a bachelor’s degree in physical education and safety in 1985 from West Virginia. He and his wife, Janie, have two children, Ryan and Danielle and three grandchildren. Ryan is an offensive analyst and special assistant to the head coach on the WVU Football staff.
DR. A.J. MONSEAU
Medical Director/Head Team Physician
A.J. Monseau, M.D., WVU Medicine Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine physician, has been the head team physician and medical director for WVU Athletics since 2017.
In 2016, Dr. Monseau served as the team physician for WVU Men’s Basketball. He also served as team physician for USA Wrestling at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Monseau leads the University’s staff of team physicians and works in conjunction with the athletic training staff to provide healthcare to all student-athletes. This includes injury prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, education, and counseling.
Originally from the Northern Panhandle, Monseau received his medical degree from and completed his residency training at the WVU School of Medicine. He then completed fellowship training in primary care sports medicine at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He returned to his alma mater after completing his fellowship in 2011. Currently, Monseau is a professor in the WVU Department of Emergency Medicine. In addition to working as an attending physician in the J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, he also sees sports medicine patients through WVU Medicine Orthopaedics. He is board certified in emergency medicine and primary care sports medicine.
Athletics have always been a part of Monseau’s life. After completing a three-sport career at Wheeling Park High School, Monseau carried his love of sports through his undergraduate education, during which he competed on the West Liberty University (then West Liberty State College) wrestling team for his father, who is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach. Though he gave up competing when he began medical school, he made sure to choose a specialty that would allow him to remain connected to competitive sports.
MICHAEL POLASCIK
Assistant Athletics Director/Head Football Athletic Trainer
Michael Polascik joined the West Virginia University football coaching staff as the assistant athletics director/head athletic trainer for football in April 2025.
A native of Snellville, Georgia, Polascik came to WVU after serving as the director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer for football at Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Alabama for four of the past five years. He also worked in athletic training at the Andrews Institute for a year.
At Jacksonville State, he was the sports medicine administration supervisor and responsible for the day-to-day operation of the athletic training unit. He was the physician liaison that coordinated with the Andrews Orthopedic team, was responsible for providing on-field evaluation for all football student-athletes, supervised the sports medicine staff and was in charge of the monthly continuing education program for the entire staff.
At WVU, Polascik manages all aspects of the athletic training unit for the football program. He coordinates the prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and management of athletic-related injuries for assigned student-athletes. Polascik administers emergency care and assists in making medical referrals and manages system of injury records on appropriate student-athletes. He also coordinates communication among parents, physicians, student-athletes, coaches, team dietitian as well as sports mental health professionals.
He also was an assistant athletic trainer at Jacksonville State (201719), football intern/assistant athletic trainer at Tennessee (2016-17), graduate assistant athletic trainer at Virginia Tech (2014-16), Georgia College & State Baseball (2014), Georgia Military College Football (2013), Alabama football intern (2013), Tattnall Square Academy Football (2012) and Atlanta Falcons Physical Therapy Center (2010-12).
Along with his certification in athletic training, Polascik also is certified in functional movement screen and blood flow restriction.
Polascik graduated with his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Georgia College and State University in 2014 and earned his master’s degree in education from Virginia Tech in 2016.
JONATHAN BRAINARD
Director of Sportrs Nutrition - Football
Jonathan Brainard joined the Mountaineer Football staff as the director of sports nutrition in April 2025.
At West Virginia, Brainard develops and oversees the nutritional needs for the football studentathletes. He counsels individuals and groups on daily nutrition for performance and health. He researches the most recent scientific evidence and turns it into practical sports nutrition recommendations and tracks and documents the outcomes of nutrition services. He serves as a food and nutrition resource for the program, providing education and maintaining professional competency and skills required for practice.
Brainard also develops and counsels in hydration protocols, addresses nutritional challenges to performance, evaluates nutritional supplements, develops all menus and oversees fueling and refueling stations.
Brainard came to West Virginia after serving as a special forces’ performance dietitian for KBR Inc., for the past year. He provided care and was the regiment dietitian for four battalions. He developed and implemented individual nutrition strategies for more than 500+ special operations personnel, enhancing recovery, mission readiness and performance under extreme circumstances. He also developed, designed and implemented comprehensive guidelines and strategies for fueling, hydration and recovery during travel and long work hours.
Prior to KBR Inc., he served as the vice president and director of nutrition for NU-U Food Company for two years, was the director of performance dietetics at Wyoming for six months, assistant director of sports nutrition at Tennessee for two years and was a performance nutrition intern at Georgia for a year.
Brainard is a certified registered dietitian, a certified specialist in sports dietetics and a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
The Terre Haute, Indiana native, graduated from Indiana State with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2016 and a master’s degree in dietetics in 2018.
Zach Seger has been of a member of West Virginia’s Student-Athlete Academic Services staff, working with the Mountaineer football program since 2016. He started as an assistant academic coordinator for football before becoming an academic counselor in 2017. In 2019, Seger was promoted to assistant director for studentathlete academic service and to associate director of student-athlete academic services in 2022.
Seger oversees the day-to-day operations of the football academic unit. He provides academic support and guidance to football studentathletes, to help them succeed in the classroom, maintain eligibility and ultimately help them earn their degree.
He maintains accurate records and knowledge of student-athlete academic schedules to notify coaches regarding classes, tests, grades and study sessions. He also maintains constant communications with professors, advisors, and other on-campus units to ensure the success of our football student athletes.
Prior to being named assistant director, Seger was responsible for coordinating all tutoring and textbook distribution at the Reynolds Family Academic Center. He organized and implemented academic programs that ensures their growth in the classroom, in the community and on an individual level.
Serving as the assistant academic coordinator for football at WVU, he assisted with the organization and implementation of academic support programs and advised student-athletes in selecting area of study and organizing their individual schedules. He worked with atrisk student athletes, facilitated daily tutor schedules and monitored study hall.
The Windber, Pennsylvania, native graduated cum laude from West Virginia University in 2014 with a degree in sport management. He earned his master’s degree in Higher Education Management from Pitt in 2016.
FOOTBALL STAFF
ROBERT MORRIS AUGUST 30 PITT SEPTEMBER 13
SEPTEMBER 6
MILAN PUSKAR STADIUM • MORGANTOWN GENERAL
COACHING STAFF A30 at
Head Coach: Bernard Clark Jr. (Miami, ‘89) Record at Robert Morris: 24-46 (7 years)
DAVID BOOTH KANSAS MEMORIAL STADIUM • LAWRENCE, KAN. GENERAL INFORMATION COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Lance Leipold (Wisconsin-Whitewater, ‘87)
Record at KU: 22-28 (4 years)
Overall Record: 168-67 (19 years)
Leipold’s Record vs. WVU: 1-2
Football Phone: (785) 864-3392
TEAM/PLAYER INFORMATION
2024 Record: 5-7
Conference Record/Finish: 4-5/10th
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 25/30
Starters Returning/Lost: 6/16
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Enrollment: 27,638
President: Douglas A. Giroud
Athletic Director: Travis Goff
Stadium/Capacity: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium/51,500
School Colors: Crimson and Blue Nickname: Jayhawks Conference: Big 12
MILAN PUSKAR STADIUM • MORGANTOWN GENERAL INFORMATION COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (BYU, ‘84)
Record at Utah: 167-86 (20 years)
Overall Record: 167-86 (20 years)
Whittingham’s Record vs. WVU: 1-0
Football Phone: (801) 581-7684
TEAM/PLAYER INFORMATION 2024 Record: 5-7
Conference Record/Finish: 2-7/T-13th
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 50/71
Starters Returning/Lost: 11/11
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake (BYU, 2000) Record at BYU: 72-43 (9 years) Overall Record: 72-43 (9 years) Sitake’s Record vs. WVU: 0-2 Football Phone: (801) 422-1141 TEAM/PLAYER INFORMATION
Location: Provo, Utah Enrollment: 35,743 President: C. Shane Reese Athletic Director: Brian Santiago Stadium/Capacity: LaVell Edwards Stadium/62,073 School Colors: Blue and White Nickname: Cougars Conference: Big 12
Game delayed 2 hours, 19 minutes due to lightning and rain
One of WVU’s most anticipated home openers in years saw a FOX national broadcast as well as the network’s Big Noon Kickoff Show in town to start the season. A sellout crowd of 62,084 was treated to a competitive first half before a two hour and 19 minute rain and lightning delay to start the third quarter dampened the festivities.
After a scoreless first quarter, Penn State started the scoring at the 14:53 mark of the second, when quarterback Drew Allar connected on a 50-yard touchdown pass to receiver Harrison Wallace. The Nittany Lions opted to go for two, but the conversion failed, putting the score at 6-0.
The visitors went to the air again at the 9:46 mark as Allar connected with Kaytron Allen for a 20-yard touchdown reception and a 13-0 advantage.
West Virginia got on the scoreboard later in the second quarter, when kicker Michael Hayes II scored WVU’s first points of the season on a 38-yard field goal. Hayes II lit the scoreboard again with just 37 seconds left before halftime as his 39-yard field goal closed the home team’s deficit to 13-6.
However, the final 32 seconds of the second quarter proved to be a killer for the Mountaineers. The Nittany Lions marched 73 yards in three plays, highlighted by a 55-yard completion, before Allar’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Wallace gave the visitors a 20-6 edge at the break.
Not all the fans returned for the third quarter after the lightning delay, and Penn State essentially put
the game away on its first drive of the second half. Receiving the ball first, the Nittany Lions drove 78 yards in nine plays as Nicholas Singleton’s 40-yard scoring run gave Penn State a 27-6 advantage for the only score in the quarter.
West Virginia’s lone score in the second half came at the 12:49 mark of the fourth, when running back CJ Donaldson Jr., scored from 1-yard out to end a 10-play, 70-yard drive. When WVU’s two-point conversion failed, the visitors led 27-12.
Penn State put an insurance score on the board with 9:00 left in the game. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula connected with tight end Tyler Warren for a 19-yard touchdown catch, giving the Nittany Lions four touchdown receptions in the game.
One last scoring chance for West Virginia ended at the 2:37 mark, when backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol was intercepted at the Penn State 30-yard line.
Allar passed for 216 yards and three scores to lead the Nittany Lion attack. Wallace hauled in 117 yards receiving and two scores, while Singleton rushed for 114 yards and one touchdown. The Penn State defense was led by Kevin Winston with 12 tackles.
West Virginia received 161 yards passing from Garrett Greene. Aside from the two field goals from Hayes, Josiah Trotter led the defense with 10 stops.
The Mountaineers turned in 85 yards rushing and 161 passing for 246 yards of total offense. Penn State was solid with 222 yards on the ground and 235 passing for 457 yards of offense.
The loss marked the fourth year in a row that West Virginia has dropped its season opener and second year in a row to Penn State.
TJ JACKSON II
GAME 2
intermission on the dynamic legs of Greene, who scampered 40 yards for the score and a 14-point lead for the home team.
1st WVU Jahiem White 14 rush (Michael Hayes II kick)
WVU Justin Robinson 12 pass from Garrett Greene (Hayes II kick)
2nd WVU Kole Taylor 39 pass from Greene (Hayes kick)
UA Griffin Woodell 7 rush (John Opalko kick)
UA Jacari Carter 33 pass frim Myles Burkett (Opalko kick)
WVU Greene 40 rush (Hayes II kick)
3rd WVU Hudson Clement 10 pass from Greene (Hayes II kick)
WVU CJ Donaldson Jr. 2 rush (Hayes II kick)
4th WVU Nicco Marchiol 12 rush (Kocan kick)
UA WVU
First Downs 21 31
Rushes/Yards 35/68 32/305
Passing Yardage 306 248
Passes 18/39/0 20/26/0
Punts 4/168/42.0 1/46/46.0
Fumbles/Lost 2/0 2/1
Return Yardage 79 54
Penalties/Yards 7/62 5/44
Time of Possession 35:18 24:42
WVU RUSHING: Donaldson Jr. 14-125, White 10-100; Greene 7-68; WVU PASSING: Greene 17-23-0-236; WVU RECEIVING: Clement 4-39, Taylor 2-47; WVU TACKLES (TFL/QS): Wilson 6, Cutter 5, Lathan 5 (1/0); WVU INTERCEPTIONS: None.
UA RUSHING: Uga 9-57; UA PASSING: Burkett 18-39-0-306; UA RECEIVING: McGee 4-90; UA TACKLES (TFL/QS): Lunan 11, Joe-Kamara 10, Holmes 10; UA INTERCEPTIONS: None.
Attendance - 50,073
West Virginia secured its first victory of the 2024 season with a convincing 49-14 win over UAlbany at Milan Puskar Stadium.
A strong ground game, mixed with a solid passing attack, paced the Mountaineer offense, which turned in two 100-yard rushers against the Great Danes.
CJ Donaldson Jr. led the way with 125 yards on 14 carries for an 8.9 yards per carry average and one touchdown. Teammate Jahiem White followed with 100 yards rushing on 10 carries for a 10.0 per carry average and one score.
It was White who got the scoring started for the Mountaineers with 9:34 remaining in the opening quarter. His 14-yard run was his first score of the season and gave WVU a 7-0 lead.
The margin was extended with 5:41 left in the quarter, when quarterback Garrett Greene connected with receiver Justin Robinson for a 12-yard scoring play.
Greene’s second touchdown pass came early in the second quarter on a 39-yard connection to tight end Kole Taylor.
Trailing 21-0, UAlbany found its rhythm and quickly closed the gap with two straight scores. Quarterback Myles Burkett led an 87-yard drive that ended with Griffin Woodell’s 7-yard run. Next, it was Burkett’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Jacari Carter that pulled the Great Danes within 21-14 with 1:54 left in the first half.
However, West Virginia did not settle for running out the first-half clock and scored one more time before
UAlbany received the first possession of the third quarter and drove 84 yards to the WVU 1-yard line, but the Mountaineer defense held on four plays to change the complexion of the game.
The Mountaineers went on to score twice in the quarter and once more in the fourth for 21 second-.0half points and 28 unanswered when you account for Greene’s late score before the half.
After the defense held, the offense took over at the 1-yard line, and Greene marched the unit 99 yards for the first time since 2020, hitting Hudson Clement for a 10-yard touchdown reception and a 35-14 lead.
West Virginia took advantage of a 44yard completion to receiver Jaden Bray to set up a 2-yard run from Donaldson, giving the Mountaineers a 42-14 lead heading to the fourth.
The scoring ended with 7:16 remaining, when backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol led a five-play, 87-yard drive, which he capped with a 12-yard touchdown run.
Aside from the two running backs, West Virginia got good offensive numbers from Greene who finished with 236 yards passing and accounted for four scores.
Burkett topped the Great Dane offense with 306 yards passing, while Seven McGee had four catches for 90 yards. Defensively, Dontae Lunan, Thomas Joe-Kamara and Ron Holmes combined for 31 of 59 tackles made by the unit.
West Virginia finished with 305 rushing yards and 248 passing for 553 offensive yards. UAlbany had 68 yards on the ground and 306 through the air for 374 total yards.
The win improved WVU to 22-0 vs. FCS teams.
KOLE TAYLOR
MORGANTOWN (SEPT. 7, 2024)
GAME 3
PITTSBURGH, PA. (SEPT. 14, 2024)
Pitt erased a 10-point deficit in the final 4:54 to defeat West Virginia, 38-34, in the 107th renewal of the “Backyard Brawl.”
1st WVU CJ Donaldson Jr. 10 pass from Garrett Green (MIchael Hayes II kick)
Pitt Ben Sauls 31 field goal
Pitt Desmond Reid 9 pass from Eli Holstein (Sauls kick)
2nd WVU Jahiem White 5 rush (Hauyes kick)
Pitt Reid 19 pass from Holstein (Hayes kick)
WVU Hayes 44 field goal
3rd Pitt George 24 punt return (Sauls kick)
WVU Donaldson 4 run (Hayes kick)
4th WVU Hayes 23 field goal
WVU Robinson 28 pass from Greene (Hayes kick)
Pitt Reynolds 40 pass from Holstein (Sauls kick)
Pitt Derrick Davis Jr. 1 rush (Sauls kick)
WVU PITT
First Downs 22 24
Rushes/Yards 45/188 29/78
Passing Yardage 210 301
Passes 16/30/2 21/30/0
Punts 4/135/33.8 4/172/43.0
Fumbles/Lost 1/0 0/0
Return Yardage 34 72
Penalties/Yards 7/67 12/112
Time of Possession 36:17 23:43
WVU RUSHING: Donaldson Jr. 19-79; WVU PASSING: Greene 16-30-2-210; WVU RECEIVING: Taylor 4-43; WVU TACKLES (TFL/ QS): Garnes 8, Wilson 7; WVU INTERCEPTIONS: None.
The game lived up to its reputation as one of college football’s best and fiercest rivalries as 66,087 fans at Acrisure Stadium were entertained in the back-and-forth affair with momentum changes throughout the game.
West Virginia struck first on its second possession as running back CJ Donaldson Jr., took a swing pass from quarterback Garrett Greene 10 yards for the score and a 7-0 lead.
Before the end of the first quarter, it was Pitt who had the lead behind a 31-yard Ben Sauls field goal and a 9-yard pass from quarterback Eli Holstein to Desmond Reid.
The Mountaineers opened the second quarter with a 75-yard drive and regained the lead on tailback Jahiem White’s 5-yard run. White’s run put the visitors on top 14-10 with 11:45 remaining in the first half.
Later in the second quarter, Holstein drove the Panthers 65 yards and found Reid again for a 19-yard touchdown pass and a 17-14 lead.
Just before halftime, the Mountaineers got a 44-yard field goal from Michael Hayes II to tie the contest at 17-17 at intermission.
Not only was the game tied, but the first half saw four lead changes, and the Panthers held a 222-194 advantage in total offense.
Pitt grabbed the momentum at the 8:27 mark of the third quarter by blocking an Oliver Straw punt and returning it 24 yards for a touchdown and a 24-17 advantage.
However, West Virginia quickly answered just 3:28 later with an 81-yard drive that saw Donaldson Jr. rush in from 4 yards out. The big play in the drive was a 44-yard completion from Greene to receiver Jaden Bray.
Just like halftime, the two rivals again were tied after three quarters, but West Virginia scored the first 10 points of the fourth for a 34-24 lead with only 4:54 remaining.
Hayes II kicked his second field goal of the game, as it was good from 23 yards. The Mountaineers marched 68 yards on their next possession and Greene finished it with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Justin Robinson. As both teams did throughout the game, Pitt flipped the momentum one last time, and it carried the Panthers to victory. Holstein turned in a 23-yard run and then hit Daejon Reynolds for a 40-yard touchdown bomb to close the deficit to three.
After holding the Mountaineers to a three-and-out, the Panthers embarked on a 77-yard scoring drive in just 1:27 to win the game. The final points came from a Derrick Davis 1-yard rush to complete the comeback.
Greene finished with 49 yards rushing and 210 passing while throwing for two scores. Donaldson was strong with 79 yards rushing and scored a rushing and receiving touchdown.
Pitt got 301 yards passing and three touchdowns from Holstein, who also led the Panthers in rushing with 59 yards. Donovan McMillon, Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles dominated the Pitt defense as the trio combined for 38 tackles.
Final numbers again showed how even the game was with WVU coming in at 398 total yards to Pitt’s 379.
JUSTIN ROBINSON
GAME 4
28
MORGANTOWN (SEPT. 21, 2024)
West Virginia erased an 11-point deficit in the final 5:39 to rally and defeat Kansas, 32-28, at Milan Puskar Stadium.
1st WVU Jahiem White 1 rush (Michael Hayes II kick)
2nd KAN Devin Neal 11 rush (Tabor Allen kick)
WVU - Garrett Green 5 rush (Hayes II kick)
3rd KAN Luke Grimm 7 pass from Jalon Daniels (Allen kick)
WVU Hayes II FG
KAN Daniel Hishaw 11 rush (Allen kick)
4th KAN Grimm 32 rush (Allen kick)
WVU Kole Taylor 8 pass from Greene (Taylor pass from Traylon Ray)
WVU Rodney Gallagher III 15 pass from Green (Hayes II kick)
KAN RUSHING: Neal 27-110, Hishaw 9-72; KAN PASSING: Daniels 15-25-1-184; KAN RECEIVING: Grimm 6-75; KAN TACKLES (TFL/QS): Burroughs 6, Dye 6, Grant 6); KAN INTERCEPTIONS: Dotson, Bryant.
Attendance - 52,428
Quarterback Garrett Greene was a warrior in the final two drives of the fourth quarter and willed the Mountaineers to victory. Taking a beating while delivering big plays, Greene finished with 87 yards rushing and 295 passing, while accounting for three touchdowns in the victory.
West Virginia’s first scoring drive saw Greene connect with receiver Hudson Clement for receptions of 38 and 39 yards, which set up running back Jahiem White’s 1-yard run for a 7-0 lead.
The Jayhawks tied the game at 7-7 in the second quarter, when running back Devin Neal scored on an 11-yard scamper. The drive covered 83 yards in 13 plays and used 6:16 off the clock.
The Mountaineers started a drive with 1:42 left in the half and regained the lead when Greene rushed in from 5 yards out for a 14-7 advantage.
Kansas went on a 14-3 run to start the third quarter and took a 21-17 advantage into the fourth.
The Jayhawks got touchdowns from a Jalon Daniels 7-yard pass to receiver Luke Grimm and a Daniel Hishaw 11yard run. Both drives covered 75 yards, while the Mountaineers countered with a 40-yard field goal from kicker Michael Hayes III.
After a one hour and 58 minute lightning delay, Kansas continued its second-half domination in the fourth when Grimm took an end around 32 yards for a touchdown with 5:39 left to play. With Grimm’s score, the Jayhawks had outscored the Mountaineers 21-3 in the second half before Greene stepped in to take control.
Using a two-minute offense, Greene marched the Mountaineers 75 yards in 2:12, hitting tight end Kole Taylor for an 8-yard touchdown reception. In the scoring drive, Greene completed passes of 16 and 26 yards, and after a successful two-point conversion, WVU trailed 28-25 with 3:23 remaining.
Desperately needing a stop, the Mountaineers forced a punt, giving the ball back to the offense at its own 33yard with 2:22 left.
A 10-yard run and a 13-yard run by Greene to go along with an 11-yard pass completion set up Greene’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Rodney Gallagher III to complete the comeback. It was the first touchdown of Gallagher’s Mountaineer career, and the West Virginia defense forced a Kansas fumble in the closing seconds to preseve WVU’s first Big 12 victory of the season.
Aside from Greene’s big numbers, Clement hauled in seven catches for 150 yards, including an impressive 47 yards after the catch. Defensively, Josiah Trotter and Trey Lathan combined for 21 tackles, but it was Tyrin Bradley Jr.’s numbers that earned him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. His seven tackles, sack, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery topped all defensive performers.
Kansas got 110 rushing yards from Neal, 184 passing from Daniels and 130 all-purpose yards from Grimm to lead the visitors.
Final numbers showed that West Virginia dominated the passing game and Kansas took honors in the running game. WVU collected 148 yards rushing and 295 passing for 443 total yards. Kansas rushed for 247 and passed for 184 to total 431 yards of offense.
With the win, WVU leads the all-time series with Kansas by a 11-2 count.
GAME 5
STILLWATER, OKLA. (OCT. 5, 2024)
West Virginia used an explosive first half and a dominant rushing attack to upset Oklahoma State on the road in Stillwater by a 38-14 count.
1st WVU Michael Hayes II 39 FG
WVU Traylon Ray 10 pass from Nicco Marchiol (Hayes kick)
2nd WVU Jahiem White 10 rush (Hayes kick)
WVU Garrett Greene 15 rush (Hayes kick)
OSU Rashod Owens 8 pass from Alan Bowman (Logan Ward kick)
WVU CJ Donaldson Jr. 15 rush (Hayes kick)
4th WVU Donaldson 1 rush (Hayes kick)
OSU De’Zhaun Stribling 43 pass from Garret Rangel (Ward kick)
OSU RUSHING: Gordon 13-50; OSU PASSING: Bowman 10-192-116; OSU RECEIVING: Lofton 3-73; OSU TACKLES (TFL/QS): Roberson 12 (2/1); OSU INTERCEPTIONS: None.
Attendance - 52,202
It marked the second straight victory for Neal Brown’s team at Boone Pickens Stadium and the win lifted West Virginia to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference.
The Mountaineers rushed for 259 yards in the first half and exploded for 31 points, including 21 in the second quarter to defeat the Cowboys.
Running back Jahiem White led the ground game with 158 yards on 19 carries for an 8.3 average. White added a touchdown to his numbers and collected a long run of 26.
West Virginia jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, taking the game’s opening possession 55 yards and getting a 39-yard field goal from kicker Michael Hayes II. The drive took 5:40 off the clock, which set the tone for the game as WVU dominated the time of possession.
On the next drive, filling in on the play for the injured Garrett Greene, backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol converted with Traylon Ray for a 10yard scoring strike in the final minute for a 10-0 advantage.
Greene returned in the second quarter and led his offense to three scoring drives. The first came at the 11:16 mark on White’s 10-yard rush, ending a 63-yard drive.
The WVU quarterback called his own number later in the quarter and scampered to a 15-yard touchdown run to cap an 87-yard drive.
Oklahoma State ended the 24-point WVU run at the 1:54 mark of the second quarter when quarterback Alan Bowman connected with Rashod Owens for an 8-yard scoring toss.
However, the Cowboys left Greene with 1:54 before halftime, and the senior quarterback made the most of the two-minute offense. Greene marched the Mountaineers 75 yards in 1:26, and the nine-play drive resulted in a 15-yard touchdown run by CJ Donaldson Jr., for a 31-7 WVU advantage.
OSU was held to 115 yards of total offense in the first half, while the visitors racked up 345 total yards.
The Mountaineers were in no hurry on offense in the second half and mainly focused on controlling the clock. Both teams had chances in the third, but the quarter went scoreless.
West Virginia busted through for its only points in the second half with 9:01 remaining. Donaldson scored his second touchdown in the game as he ended a 5:02 drive with a 1-yard run.
The Cowboys added a second-half score at the 8:30 mark of the fourth quarter, when backup quarterback Garret Rangel found receiver De’Zhaun Stribling for a 43-yard aerial scoring play to put the final score at 38-14.
West Virginia won the time of possession battle by a 42:40 to 17:14 count and basically kept the ball away from OSU star running back Ollie Gordon, who finished with just 50 yards rushing.
Adding to White’s impressive rushing numbers for WVU, Greene played through injury to total 86 yards on the ground and 159 passing, while Donaldson added 77 yards rushing to go with his two touchdowns.
Final numbers saw West Virginia with a stout 389 yards rushing and 169 passing for 558 yards of offense in the dominating performance. Oklahoma State finished with 36 yards rushing and 191 passing for 227 total yards.
JAHIEM WHITE
GAME 6
MORGANTOWN (OCT. 12, 2024)
The No. 11/13 Iowa State Cyclones stormed into Milan Puskar Stadium and earned a 28-16 victory over West Virginia in front of 55,202 fans and a FOX national audience.
1st WVU Jahiem White 8 rush (Michael Hayes II kick)
The win spoiled the debut of West Virginia’s black coal rush uniforms in which the Mountaineers honored the rich tradition of the coal mining industry in the state. Home fans were encouraged to wear black to match their team, but it was the white-clad uniforms of the visitors who rode out of town with the victory.
Things started well for West Virginia as the Mountaineers took the game’s first possession 75 yards in 14 plays. After taking 7:42 off the clock, tailback Jahiem White’s 8-yard run gave the home team a 7-0 lead.
Following a missed ISU field goal, the Mountaineers would get offensive again with a drive early in the second quarter, but kicker Michael Hayes II missed a 36-yard field goal, which seemed to open the door for the Cyclones. ISU promptly tied the game when quarterback Rocco Becht hit receiver Jaylin Noel for a 60-yard touchdown strike.
Iowa State broke the tie on its next possession with a 17-play, 91-yard drive that took 8:08 off the clock. Running back Carson Hansen bolted in from 11 yards out for a 14-7 lead.
Just before halftime, the Mountaineers closed their deficit when Hayes atoned for his earlier miss with a 43-yard field goal, putting the score at 14-10 in favor of the visitors.
Third-quarter action proved to be a defensive battle as neither team could score. West Virginia did march to the Iowa State 29-yard line, but a Garrett Greene interception ended the drive
and seemed to be all the spark Iowa State needed.
Becht took advantage of the miscue by leading his offense on a 65-yard drive, which ended with a Hansen 3-yard run for a 21-10 ISU advantage.
A second interception gave the ball back to the Cyclones, who capitalized again off the WVU turnover. The third rushing touchdown of the night for Hansen gave the Cyclones a commanding 28-10 lead with 4:35 left to play.
Greene was not done though and connected on passes of 18, 21, 10 and 8 yards. His 10-yard throw to White gave the Mountaineers their second touchdown in the game.
After a failed two-point conversion, WVU trailed 28-16 and when its onside kick attempt failed, the Cyclones finished the game by running out the clock and capturing the big road win. West Virginia actually outrushed Iowa State as Greene collected 87 yards to go with his 206 passing. Josiah Trotter again topped the Mountaineer defensive effort with 12 total tackles.
Iowa State got 265 yards passing on 18-of-26 attempts from Becht. To go with his three touchdown runs, Hansen finished with 96 yards rushing. Jayden Higgins topped all receivers as he caught six Becht passes for 102 yards. The Cyclone defense was led by safety Malik Verdon with 10 tackles.
Final numbers showed West Virginia with 148 yards rushing and 206 passing for 354 yards of total offense. Iowa State came in at 129 yards on the ground and 265 from the arm of Becht for 394 total yards.
Aside from honoring the coal miners of the state, WVU officially inducted former tight end great and All-Big East performer Anthony Becht into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame at the end of the first quarter.
ASANI REDWOOD
GAME
MORGANTOWN (OCT. 19, 2024)
Kansas State used a 28-point second half to blow open a close game and defeat West Virginia, 45-18, at Milan Puskar Stadium in front of 54,327 fans and a FOX national television audience.
1st KSU Chris Tennant 44 FG
WVU MIchael Hayes II 44 FG
KSU Jadon Jackson 60 pass from Avery Johnson (Tennant kick)
The two teams turned in a competitive first half as only a fourdown stop by the Wildcats inside their 10-yard line kept the game from being tied at the half.
Midway through the first quarter, the two teams traded 44-yard field goals for a 3-3 tie. Kansas State’s Chris Tennant ended a 37-yard drive, while West Virginia’s Michael Hayes II’s three-pointer capped a 49-yard drive.
Just before the end of the quarter, Kansas State grabbed a lead they would never relinquish. Quarterback Avery Johnson connected with receiver Jadon Jackson for a 24-yard pass completion followed by a 60-yard touchdown strike to Jackson for a 10-3 Wildcat advantage. The entire 84-yard scoring drive took just two plays and 26 seconds to put the visitors in front.
Kansas State would make life miserable early in the second quarter with a pick six of WVU quarterback Garrett Greene. Safety Marques Sigle stepped in front of a Greene pass and returned it 43 yards and a 17-3 lead.
The Mountaineers answered the interception with a 13-play, 70-yard drive that put new life into the stadium crowd. Greene’s 7-yard pass to receiver Hudson Clement pulled the Mountaineers to 17-10 with 6:38 left in the first half.
West Virginia had one more chance to tie the game, but its 89-yard drive ended on downs at the K-State 3-yard line, putting the Wildcats up 17-10 at halftime.
Third-quarter action saw Kansas State take the opening drive 74
yards, while using 5:17 off the clock for a 24-10 advantage. Johnson connected through the air for a 16-yard touchdown to tight end Garrett Oakley for the score.
The Mountaineers were without three starters on offense to begin the third quarter as Greene, left tackle Wyatt Milum and running back Jahiem White all were ruled out with injuries. The injuries showed as West Virginia could only muster 16 offensive yards in the quarter. Meanwhile, the Kansas State offensive machine was in full force and scored at the 4:42 mark, when Johnson threw his third touchdown pass with this 1-yard pass going to freshman tight end Will Anciaux.
K-State’s string of unanswered points reached 21 in the fourth quarter with a DJ Giddens 1-yard run. WVU backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol stopped the scoring binge by leading a 69-yard drive and ending it with a 12-yard scoring pass to receiver Traylon Ray with 8:20 left.
However, a successful two-point conversion after the score would be the last points on the night for WVU, while Kansas State added one more touchdown with 5:46 remaining in the game. Giddens cashed in on an 18-yard scamper for his second score, putting the final number at 45-18.
Johnson finished his night with 298 yards passing on 19 completions and three touchdowns. The KSU defense was led by Austin Romaine with 12 tackles.
WVU’s offensive numbers were hurt badly by the loss of the three starters. The Mountaineers finished with 152 yards rushing and 143 passing for 295 yards of offense. K-State rushed for 114 and passed for 298 to give them 412 yards on the night.
The win gave the Wildcats a threegame winning streak in the series.
WYATT MILUM
GAME 8
TUCSON, ARIZ. (OCT. 26, 2024)
West Virginia built an 18-point fourth-quarter lead and then held off a furious Arizona comeback to defeat the Wildcats 31-26 at Arizona Stadium.
1st WVU Michael Hayes II 45 FG
WVU Leighton Bechdel 14 rush (Hayes kick)
2nd UA Quali Conley 1 rush (Tyler Loop kick)
WVU Hudson Clement 3 pass from Nicco Marchiol (Hayes kick)
3rd WVU CJ Donaldson 20 rush (Hayes kick)
UA Sam Olson 23 pass from Noah Fifita (Loop kick failed)
4th WVU Traylon Ray 54 pass from Marchiol (Hayes kick)
UA Tertairoa McMillan 34 pass from Fifita (Olson pass from Fifita failed)
UA Fifita 3 rush (Loop kick)
WVU ARIZ
First Downs 16 18
Rushes/Yards 40/203 25/78
Passing Yardage 198 308
Passes 18/22/0 22/34/0
Punts 3/138/46.0 3/130/43.3
Fumbles/Lost 1/0 2/1
Return Yardage 0 44
Penalties/Yards 7/48 5/30
Time of Possession 35:04 24:56
WVU RUSHING: White 12-92; WVU PASSING: Marchiol 18-220-198; WVU RECEIVING: Ray 2-78; WVU TACKLES (TFL/QS): Wilson 8; WVU INTERCEPTIONS: None.
UA RUSHING: Conley 16-72; UA PASSING: Fifita 21-32-0-294; UA RECEIVING: McMillan 10-202; UA TACKLES (TFL/QS): Johnson 13 (1/0), Luttrell 11; UA INTERCEPTIONS: None.
Attendance - 49,888
It was West Virginia’s first trip to Tucson since 1998, when the Mountaineers played in the Insight. com Bowl. The Big 12 Conference game was 1,803 miles from Morgantown, but the Mountaineers overcame the mileage and injuries to several starters for the win.
Starting quarterback Garrett Greene and left tackle Wyatt Milum were missing, but backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol engineered an efficient offensive attack, managed the game and kept the Mountaineers away from turnovers to key the victory.
West Virginia came away with a Michael Hayes II 45-yard field goal on the game’s opening possession. In an effort to limit Arizona’s possessions, the offense took 6:51 off the clock in gaining the 3-0 lead.
Just before the end of the first quarter, WVU extended its advantage to 10-0 on trickery from its field goal unit. Holder Leighton Bechdel took the snap and motored 14 yards for the surprise score.
With 7:34 left in the first half, Arizona got on the board with a Quali Conley 1-yard touchdown run. However, West Virginia would take a 17-7 lead into the locker room at halftime, when Marchiol found receiver Hudson Clement on fourth down for a 3-yard score.
After holding Arizona on downs in the third quarter’s first possession, West Virginia started the second half strong with an eight-play drive, ending with a 20-yard touchdown run from CJ Donaldson Jr. The scoring run came on fourth down and gave the Mountaineers a 24-7 lead early in the third.
The Arizona offense was starting to find its rhythm as the Wildcats got on the board again with 1:18 left in the third. Quarterback Noah Fifita hit tight end Sam Olsen for a 23-yard touchdown pass. After the ensuing PAT was missed, the Mountaineers led 24-13 into the fourth quarter.
The visitors thought they put the game away at the 13:31 mark as Marchiol connected with receiver Traylon Ray on a 54-yard scoring reception and a 31-13 advantage.
The touchdown to Ray proved to be the game-winner as the Arizona offense continued to find its groove. The Wildcats marched 75 yards, highlighted by a 34-yard touchdown completion to Tetairoa McMillan, to cut their deficit to 31-19 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.
West Virginia punted the ball back to the Wildcats and six plays later the Mountaineers found themselves clinging to a 31-26 lead. A 49-yard completion to McMillan was a key play that led to a 3-yard scoring run for Fifita with 4:35 remaining.
It was quite evident that the Mountaineer offense could not give the ball back to the Wildcats. Converting two key third downs to move the chains and keep the clock running enabled WVU to hold on to the important road victory.
Marchiol completed 18-of-22 passes for 198 yards and two scores, while Jahiem White rushed for 92 yards to lead WVU. Arizona was paced by the 294 yards passing from Fifita with 202 yards going to McMillan.
Final numbers showed WVU with 203 yards rushing and 198 passing to total 401 yards of offense. Arizona came in at 78 yards on the ground and 308 through the air for 386 total yards. WVU possessed the ball 10 minutes more than Arizona, which kept the explosive Wildcat offense off the field.
LEIGHTON BECHDEL
GAME 9
CINCINNATI, OHIO (NOV. 9, 2024)
For the second straight game, West Virginia built a big second-half lead on the road and held on to claim a Big 12 victory with a 31-24 win at Cincinnati’s historic Nippert Stadium.
1st CIN Corey Kiner 2 rush (Nathan Hawks kick)
2nd WVU Anthony Wilson Jr. 79 interception return (Michael Hayes II kick)
WVU Hayes 24 FG
WVU Justin Robinson 10 pass from Nicco Marchiol (Hayes kick)
3rd WVU Marchiol 8 rush (Hayes kick)
CIN Evan Pryor 80 pass from Brendan Sors by (Hawks kick)
4th
CIN Sorsby 12 rush (Hawks kick)
WVU Tyrin Bradley Jr. 14 fumble return (Hayes kick)
Strong returns on special teams and two huge defensive touchdowns keyed the victory for the visitors as both units picked up a sputtering offense to lead WVU to its fifth win of the season.
After West Virginia took the opening drive down to the Bearcat 32-yard line and came away empty, Cincinnati struck first with a 13-play, 68-yard drive that saw running back Corey Kiner give the home team a 7-0 lead on his 2-yard touchdown run.
West Virginia got on the board in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7, when defensive back Anthony Wilson Jr. intercepted Bearcat quarterback Brendan Sorsby for a 79yard touchdown return.
The interception for a score ignited the Mountaineers, who went on to score the half’s next 10 points to grab a 17-7 lead at the intermission.
A 24-yard Michael Hayes II field goal at the 8:40 mark gave the Mountaineers their first lead of the game and one they would not reliniquish. The field goal was set up by a WVU fumble recovery by KK Tarnue, which was forced by linebacker Reid Carrico.
A 29-yard punt return by Preston Fox set up the offense in Bearcat territory, and three plays later backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol hit receiver Justin Robinson for a 10-yard score, giving the visitors the 10-point cushion at the half.
WVU scored its 24th straight point with 8:29 left in the third quarter on Marchiol’s 8-yard run. The big play in the 51-yard drive was a Marchiol 38yard completion to Traylon Ray.
Cincinnati stopped the Mountaineer scoring run in a big way, when Sorsby went to the air for an 80-yard touchdown pass to receiver Evan Pryor. The one-play drive came after Marchiol was intercepted in the end zone, which would have given WVU a commanding lead. Instead, the touchdown bomb closed the Bearcat deficit to 24-14 heading to the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati had the momentum and used an 11-play, 71-yard drive on a tired Mountaineer defense to pull within 24-21 when Sorsby scored on a 12-yard touchdown run at the 9:35 mark.
After a WVU three-and-out, Cincinnati had the home crowd ignited and took possession of the ball with 7:16 left in the game.
Without a doubt, the West Virginia defense was on its heels, but found a way to make a play that secured the important conference road victory.
Linebacker Trey Lathan sacked Sorsby for a 13-yard loss while forcing a fumble that was recovered by spur Tyrin Bradley and returned 14 yards for West Virginia’s second defensive score of the contest. The touchdown took the air out of the stadium and changed the momentum as the Mountaineers took a 31-21 advantage with 3:30 left.
The Bearcats added a 29-yard field goal with 35 seconds left, but the Mountaineers secured the ensuing onside kick to ensure the win.
Cincinnati dominated the statistics, but West Virginia won the turnover battle by scoring 17 points off Cincy miscues, which proved to be the difference. WVU ran for 92 yards and passed for 156 for 248 yards of offense. The Bearcats finished with 157 yards on the ground and a strong 279 yards passing for 436 total yards, while running 79 plays to WVU’s 43.
The win was West Virginia’s fourth straight over Cincinnati and second straight in the Big 12.
ANTHONY WILSON JR.
GAME 10
MORGANTOWN (NOV. 16, 2024)
Baylor won for the first time in seven tries at Milan Puskar Stadium with a 49-35 victory over West Virginia.
1st WVU Garrett Greene 3 rush (Michael Hayes II kick)
BAY Bryson Washington 22 pass from Sawyer Robertson (Isaiah Hankins)
BAY Josh Cameron 43 pass from Robertson (Hankins kick)
2nd WVU Traylon Ray 9 pass from Greene (Hayes kick)
BAY Monaray Baldwin 40 pass from Robertson (Hankins kick)
BAY Washington 51 rush (Hankins kick)
WVU Greene 1 rush (Hayes kick)
4th
BAY Washington 9 rush (Hankins kick)
BAY Dawson Pendergrass 15 rush (Hankins kick)
WVU Kole Taylor 11 pass from Greene (Hayes kick) BU WVU
First Downs 26 29
Rushes/Yards 34/183 49/262
Passing Yardage 329 237
Passes 26/36/0 19/39/1
Punts 3/136/45.3 3/89/29.7
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 1/0
Return Yardage 80 103
Penalties/Yards 9/80 3/27
Time of Possession 28:07 31:53
WVU RUSHING: Greene 22-129; WVU PASSING: Greene 19-39-1-237; WVU RECEIVING: Taylor 5-56, Clement 3-71; WVU TACKLES (TFL/QS): Carrico 16, Wilson Jr. 15; WVU INTERCEPTIONS: None.
BAY RUSHING: Washington 18-123; BAY PASSING: Robertson 26-36-0-329; BAY RECEIVING: Cameron 5-101, Baldwin 3-82; BAY TACKLES (TFL/QS): Thomas 12 (1/1); BAY INTERCEPTIONS: Gordon.
Attendance - 52,376
The game was an offensive showdown in three of the four quarters, but it was Baylor who completed key offensive plays down the stretch, while coming up with the big stops on defense to claim its firstever football victory in Morgantown.
The West Virginia offense set the tone on the game’s opening possession with a 12-play, 79-yard drive to start the scoring. It was quarterback Garrett Greene, returning from a two-game injury absence, rushing in from 3 yards out for a 7-0 Mountaineer advantage.
The lead didn’t last long as Baylor turned in the next two scores to take a 14-7 lead after one quarter of play. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson connected with running back Bryson Washington for a score before Robertson went deep for a 43-yard completion to receiver Josh Cameron, giving Baylor its first lead of the game.
Second-quarter action was fast and furious as the two teams combined for six touchdowns. The Mountaineers tied the game at 14-14 at the 13:04 mark, when Greene connected with receiver Traylon Ray for a 9-yard scoring toss.
The score remained tied until the 4:22 mark when the Bears regained the lead and never looked back. Robertson connected with Monaray Baldwin for a 40-yard touchdown reception, giving the Bears a 21-14 advantage and then five touchdowns in the final 4:00 of the half put the game at 35-28 at halftime.
Following Baldwin’s score, Washington scored his second touchdown on a 51-yard run up the middle. CJ Donaldson Jr. matched the
score for the home team with a 23-yard jaunt, putting the score at 28-21with 1:47 left in the half.
However, Baylor carved up the Mountaineer defense in just 55 seconds, as Washington collected his third touchdown with an 8-yard scamper with 47 seconds left. That proved to be too much time for Greene. The senior quarterback took his team 75 yards, highlighted by a 44-yard completion to receiver Hudson Clement and Greene’s 20-yard run. He got into the end zone on a 1-yard rush, completing an exciting first half with the visitors holding a 3528 margin.
After a 63-point first half, surprisingly, neither team scored in the third quarter with West Virginia failing to convert two key fourth downs in Baylor territory to hurt its cause.
Baylor took control of the game for good at the 8:07 mark of the fourth as Washington got touchdown number four on a 9-yard run. Running back Dawson Pendergrass got in on the action to close the scoring for the visitors with a 15-yard scoring run and a 49-28 Baylor advantage.
The Mountaineers did manage a late score for their only points of the second half, when Greene connected with tight end Kole Taylor for an 11-yard scoring reception, putting the final total at 4935.
Baylor was impressive on offense as Washington scored four touchdowns and rushed for 123 yards. Robertson threw for 329 yards and three scores, and Cameron topped all receivers with 101 yards on five catches. For WVU, Greene accounted for 366 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, while linebacker Reid Carrico collected 16 tackles.
Final numbers in the offensive showdown showed Baylor with 512 total yards to West Virginia’s 499. The all-time series now stands at 8-5 in favor of the Mountaineers.
GARRETT GREENE
GAME 11
MORGANTOWN (NOV. 23, 2024)
West Virginia became bowl eligible with a 31-21 Big 12 victory over UCF at Milan Puskar Stadium.
The cold and wet weather of November was prominent in Morgantown, and the Mountaineers were able to use a blue-collar running game to manage the clock and gain victory number six.
The Gallagher touchdown was key as the Mountaineers got the ball first to start the third quarter and made the most of it with a 56-yard scoring drive that broke the game open. Donaldson scored his second touchdown on the day with a 1-yard run, giving the home team a 28-7 cushion.
1st WVU CJ Donaldson Jr. 1 rush (Michael Hayes II kick)
WVU Jahiem White 3 rush (Hayes kick)
2nd UCF RJ Harvey 2 rush (Grant Reddick kick)
WVU Rodney Gallagher III 12 pass from Garrett Greene (Hayes kick)
3rd WVU Donaldson 1 rush (Hayes kick)
UCF Kobe Hudson 45 pass from Dylan Rizk (Reddick kick)
Possessing the ball for 37:45, which totaled over 15 minutes more than UCF, the Mountaineers were able to keep the high-powered Knight offense off the field, proving to be key for the victory.
West Virginia started fast and took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, which then provided an uphill fight for UCF all afternoon. Quarterback Garrett Greene led a 68-yard drive that ended with a CJ Donaldson Jr., 1-yard touchdown run. Donaldson also contributed rushes of 20 and 31 yards in the drive to set up the score.
Before the end of the quarter, Mountaineer running back Jahiem White got in on the scoring action with a 3-yard run for a 14-0 West Virginia lead. The 66-yard drive took 6:21 off the clock and was highlighted by three third-down conversions by the efficient and methodical WVU offense.
However, UCF also had a strong running game, led by senior RJ Harvey. Despite having a 28-yard run in the first quarter, it was his second quarter dashes of 22 and 24 yards that put the Knights on the board at the 8:30 mark. Harvey’s 2-yard touchdown run cut the Knights deficit to 14-7.
Just before the end of the half. West Virginia embarked on a 71-yard drive that saw Greene complete passes of 26 and 16 yards before hitting Rodney Gallagher III for a 12-yard scoring toss and a 21-7 advantage at the half.
By scoring on the last possession of the first half and then the first possession of the second half, West Virginia managed to keep the Knights in check the rest of the way, even though the visitors would not make it easy.
With 5:38 left in the third, Kobe Hudson hauled in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Rizk and the two teams headed to the fourth with a 28-14 score in favor of the Mountaineers.
West Virginia added a 35-yard insurance field goal by kicker Michael Hayes II with 12:15 left to play. The Knights then cut the lead on Harvey’s 9-yard touchdown run that was sparked by UCF pass completions of 23 and 20 yards.
Leading 31-21 with 5:19 to play, UCF didn’t get another chance as West Virginia’s offense never gave the ball back. The Mountaineers ran out the clock with two huge fourth-down conversions. The last was a gutsy 18yard completion from Greene to Hudson Clement, giving WVU a win in the home season finale.
Harvey took top offensive honors with 130 rushing yards and two scores for the Knights, but the day belonged to the WVU seniors, especially Greene who finished with 167 yards of total offense.
Final numbers showed West Virginia with 200 yards rushing and 118 passing for 318 yards of total offense. The Knights countered with 176 yards rushing and 172 passing for 348 total yards.
The win gave West Virginia a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series with UCF, including a 2-0 mark in Big 12 play.
RODNEY GALLAGHER III
GAME 12
LUBBOCK, TEXAS (NOV. 30, 2024)
West Virginia closed the regular season in disappointing fashion by dropping a 52-15 decision at Texas Tech.
1st TTU Gino Garcia 32 FG
2nd
WVU Michael Hayes II 52 FG
TTU Garcia 23 FG
TTU Tahj Brooks 2 rush (Garcia kick)
TTU Mason Tharp 1 pass from Behren Morton (Garcia kick)
TTU Brooks 37 rush (Jalin Conyers rush)
TTU Brooks 2 rush (Garcia kick)
3rd
TTU Caleb Douglas 31 pass from Morton (Garcia kick)
After a competitive first quarter that saw just a three-point deficit for the Mountaineers, the Red Raiders reeled off 29 second-quarter points not only to take command of the game, but put it out of reach for the visitors.
After West Virginia turned its opening drive over on downs, Texas Tech went to work with a 41-yard drive that saw kicker Gino Garcia convert on a 32-yard field goal.
The one first-half bright spot for West Virginia was that it was able to answer the field goal with one of its own. The Mountaineers took 4:41 off the clock and marched 41 yards to set up kicker Michael Hayes II for a 52-yard attempt. The successful field goal was a career long for the senior and tied the game at 3-3.
Just before the end of the quarter, Texas Tech regained the lead for good after an 80-yard drive set up Garcia’s 23-yard field goal. Leading 6-3 going to the second quarter, the Red Raiders proceeded to break the game open.
Starting at the 10:32 mark, Texas Tech unleashed a 20-yard touchdown run from Tahj Brooks, a 1-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Behren Morton to receiver Mason Tharp, a 37-yard run from Brooks and a quarter-ending 2-yard touchdown run from Brooks. Drives of 59, 75. 53 and 35 yards allowed by the Mountaineer defense put the homestanding Red Raiders up 35-3.
It didn’t help WVU’s chances of a comeback when Texas Tech took the opening drive of the third quarter 75 yards and grabbed a 42-3 advantage on Morton’s 31-yard touchdown strike to receiver Caleb Douglas.
West Virginia finally broke the 39 unanswered point run by Tech with 2:04 remaining in the third quarter. Quarterback Garrett Greene took the offense 91 yards and found Rodney Gallagher III for a 15-yard pass reception. When the two-point conversion failed, WVU went to the fourth quarter trailing 42-9.
The high-octane Red Raider offense was not through as it added 10 fourthquarter points. Garcia connected on his third field goal in the game, and backup quarterback Will Hammond capped a 54yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. For West Virginia, running back Jahiem White finished his strong day with a 21yard scamper, closing the scoring for the visitors.
Brooks is Tech’s all-time leading rusher. In his final home game, he added a 188-yard rushing performance to his impressive tenure in Lubbock. Morton passed for a strong 359 yards and two scores, while receiver Josh Kelly turned in 150 yards receiving.
West Virginia was led by Greene with 265 yards passing, while White rushed for 124 yards. Trey Lathan led the WVU defense with 10 tackles.
The score may have been lopsided, but the final stats were competitive. West Virginia totaled 158 yards rushing and 265 passing for 423 total yards. Texas Tech countered with 210 yards on the ground and 359 through the air for 569 total yards.
The loss ended West Virginia’s regular season at 6-6, while Texas Tech closed out an 8-4 campaign. With the win, Texas Tech broke a one-game losing streak in the series, which now stands even between the two schools at 7-7.
The contest marked the final game of Neal Brown’s tenure as head coach of WVU football. Brown finished his West Virginia career with a 37-35 overall record.
MICHAEL HAYES
GAME 13
FRISCO, TEXAS (DEC. 17, 2024)
Led by interim head coach Chad Scott, West Virginia played in one of the earlier bowls of the 2024 postseason and came up on the short end of a 4237 decision to No. 25/23 Memphis in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl.
1st MEM Mario Anderson 4 pass from Seth Henigan (Tristan Vanderberg kick)
2nd MEM Vanderberg 34 FG
MEM Greg Desrosiers 46 rush (Vanderberg kick)
WVU Hudson Clement 33 pass from Garrett Greene (Michael Hayes II kick)
MEM Vanderberg 42 FG
WVU Greene 56 rush (Hayes kick)
MEM Dameer Blankumsee 18 pass from Henigan (Blankumsee 2 pt. pass from Henigan)
WVU Hayes 46 FG
3rd
MEM Anderson 3 rush (Vanderberg kick)
WVU Clement 10 pass from Greene (Leighton Bechdel rush failed)
MEM RUSHING: Anderson 17-70; MEM PASSING: Henigan 1826-0-294; MEM RECEIVING: Taylor 5-116, Blankumsee 4-120; MEM TACKLES (TFL/QS): Martin 17 (1/0), Herring 10; MEM INTERCEPTIONS: Herring.
Trailing 17-0 in the second quarter, West Virginia turned a potential bowl nightmare into one of the more entertaining games of the postseason by scoring 37 points in the last three quarters.
Quarterback Garrett Greene closed his Mountaineer career by passing for 328 yards and two scores, while accounting for 95 yards rushing and another touchdown on the ground. His 423 all-purpose yards, combined with 166 yards receiving from Hudson Clement, were almost enough to overcome a leaky Mountaineer defensive secondary.
The Tigers started quickly and took a 7-0 first-quarter lead on Mario Anderson’s 4-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Seth Henigan.
Memphis scored its next 10 points early in the second quarter by taking advantage of a WVU fumble to add a 34-yard field goal from Tristan Vanderberg. Later in the quarter, a 46yard run from Greg Desrosiers put UM up 17-0 with 10:26 left in the half.
But instead of a blowout, West Virginia’s offense got on track led by Greene and Clement. The duo hooked up for a 33-yard scoring toss at the 7:28 mark.
The final 2:30 of the first half saw the two teams put up 21combined points, starting with a 42-yard Vanderberg field goal. Greene then used his legs for a 56yard touchdown run for a WVU counter score.
The Mountaineer defense could not stop the Tigers from going 75 yards in less than a minute to take a 28-14
advantage on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Hennigan to Demere Blankumsee. However, as time expired, West Virginia kicker Michael Hayes II converted on a 46-yard field goal, putting the score at 28-17 in favor of Memphis at the half. Overall, the second quarter saw the two teams combine for 38 points.
Memphis took the opening possession of the third quarter 75 yards to extend the lead to 35-17 on Anderson’s 3-yard run. West Virginia’s only points came at the 7:15 mark when Greene connected with Clement for a 10-yard touchdown toss that pulled West Virginia to 35-23 heading to the fourth.
A combined 21-point fourth quarter meant that the game would go down to the final possession. The Mountaineers closed their deficit to five points with 12:02 left in the game, when CJ Donaldson Jr., scored from 1-yard out to end an impressive 90-yard drive.
But just when it seemed as if the Mountaineers had all the momentum, an 89-yard pass play from Henigan to Blankumsee set up a 1-yard Brandon Thomas score. In just two plays, the Tigers upped their lead to 42-30.
Greene put the offense on his back and engineered a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a second 1-yard run from Donaldson, which closed the game to 42-37 with 4:17 remaining.
A Memphis missed field goal gave the Mountaineers one last possession, but Elijah Herring’s interception in the final seconds secured the victory for the Tigers.
Final numbers showed how entertaining the game was. West Virginia rushed for 206 yards and passed for 328 to total an impressive 534 yards of offense. Memphis countered with 180 yards rushing and 294 passing for 474 total yards.
The Mountaineers finished the 2024 season with a final record of 6-7.
2024 STATISTICS
SCORE BY QUARTERS
WEST VIRGINIA INDIVIDUAL GAME HIGHS
RUSHES 22
CJ Donaldson Jr vs Memphis (12/17/2024); Garrett Greene vs Baylor (11/16/2024)
YARDS RUSHING 158 Jahiem White at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024)
TD RUSHES 2 CJ Donaldson Jr vs Memphis (12/17/2024); CJ Donaldson Jr vs UCF (11/23/2024) Garrett Greene vs. Baylor (11/16/2024); CJ Donaldson Jr at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024
LONG RUSH 56 Garrett Greene vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
PASS ATTEMPTS 40 Garrett Greene vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
PASS COMPLETIONS 29 Garrett Greene vs Memphis (12/17/2024) Garrett Greene at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
YARDS PASSING 328 Garrett Greene vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
TD PASSES 3 Garrett Greene vs UAlbany (9/7/2024)
LONG PASS 54 Nicco Marchiol at Arizona (10/26/2024)
RECEPTIONS 11 Hudson Clement vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
YARDS RECEIVING 166 Hudson Clement vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
TD RECEPTIONS 2 Hudson Clement vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
LONG RECEPTION 54 Traylon Ray at Arizona (10/26/2024)
PUNTS 5 Oliver Straw at Cincinnati (11/09/2024)
PUNTING AVG 50.0 Oliver Straw vs UCF (11/23/2024)
LONG PUNT 57 Oliver Straw vs UCF (11/23/2024) Oliver Straw at Pitt (09/14/2024)
PUNTS INSIDE 20 3 Oliver Straw at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
LONG PUNT RETURN 29 Preston Fox at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
LONG KICKOFF RETURN 43 Preston Fox at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
TACKLES 16 Reid Carrico vs Baylor (11/16/2024)
SACKS 1.5 TJ Jackson II at Pitt (9/14/2024)
TACKLES FOR LOSS 4 TJ Jackson II at Pitt (9/14/2024)
WEST VIRGINIA TEAM GAME HIGHS
RUSHES 65 at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024)
YARDS RUSHING 389 at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024)
YARDS PER RUSH 9.5
UAlbany (9/7/2024)
TD RUSHES 4 at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024) UAlbany (9/7/2024)
PASS ATTEMPTS 40 vs Memphis (12/17/2024) at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
PASS COMPLETIONS 29 vs Memphis (12/17/2024) at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
YARDS PASSING 328 vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
YARDS PER PASS 10.6 at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024)
TD PASSES 3 UAlbany (9/7/2024)
TOTAL PLAYS 88 Baylor (11/16/2024)
TOTAL OFFENSE 558 at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024)
YARDS PER PLAY 9.5
UAlbany (9/7/2024)
POINTS 49 UAlbany (9/7/2024)
SACKS BY 5 at Pitts (9/14/2024)
FIRST DOWNS 31 at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024) UAlbany (09/07/2024)
PENALTIES 7 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) at Arizona (10/26/2024) Iowa St. (10/12/2024) at Pitts (9/14/2024)
PENALTY YARDS 67 at Pitt (9/14/2024)
TURNOVERS 3 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) Penn St. (8/31/2024)
PUNTS 5 at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
PUNTING AVG 50.0 UCF (11/23/2024)
LONG PUNT 57 UCF (11/23/2024) at Pitt (9/14/2024)
PUNTS INSIDE 20 3 at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
LONG PUNT RETURN 29 at Cincinnati (11/09/2024)
OPPONENT INDIVIDUAL GAME HIGHS
RUSHES 27 Devin Neal vs Kansas (9/21/2024)
YARDS RUSHING 188 Tahj Brooks at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
TD RUSHES 3 Tahj Brooks at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) Bryson Washington vs Baylor (11/16/2024) Carson Hansen vs Iowa St. (10/12/2024)
LONG RUSH 51 Bryson Washington vs Baylor (11/16/2024)
PASS ATTEMPTS 41 Behren Morton at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
PASS COMPLETIONS 28 Behren Morton at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
YARDS PASSING 359 Behren Morton at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
TD PASSES 3 Sawyer Robertson vs Baylor (11/16/2024) Avery Johnson vs Kansas St. (10/19/2024) Eli Holstein at Pitt (9/14/2024) Drew Allar vs Penn St. (8/31/2024)
LONG PAS 89 Seth Henigan vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
RECEPTIONS 10 Tetairoa McMillan at Arizona (10/26/2024)
YARDS RECEIVING 202 Tetairoa McMillan at Arizona (10/26/2024)
TD RECEPTIONS 2 Desmond Reid at Pitt (9/14/2024) Harrison Wallace III vs Penn St. (08/31/2024)
LONG RECEPTION 89 DeMeer Blankumsee vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
FIELD GOALS 3 Gino Garcia at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
LONG FIELD GOAL 44 Chris Tennant vs Kansas St. (10/19/2024)
PUNTS 5 Mason Fletcher at Cincinnati (11/9/2024) Damon Greaves vs Kansas (9/21/2024)
PUNTING AVG 46.6 Mason Fletcher at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
LONG PUNT 57 Owen Lawson vs UAlbany (9/7/2024)
PUNTS INSIDE 20 2 Joshua Sloan vs Memphis (12/17/2024) Mitch McCarthy vs UCF (11/23/2024) Michael Salgado-Medina at Arizona (10/26/2024)
LONG PUNT RETURN 20 Jordan Brown at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
LONG KICKOFF RETURN 51 Cale Cabbiness at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024)
TACKLES 17 Chandler Martin vs Memphis (12/17/2024) Xe’ree Alexander vs UCF (11/23/2024)
SACKS 2 Terrell Tilmon at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) TACKLES FOR LOSS 2 Terrell Tilmon at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) Nyjalik Kelly vs UCF (11/23/2024) Marques Sigle vs Kansas St. (10/19/2024) Beau Goodwin vs Iowa St. (10/12/2024) Jeff Roberson at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024) Kendal Daniels at Oklahoma St. (10/5/2024) INTERCEPTIONS 1 Elijah Herring vs Memphis (N) (12/17/2024) CJ Baskerville at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) John Curry at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) Corey Gordon Jr. vs Baylor (11/16/2024) Logan Wilson at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
OPPONENT TEAM GAME HIGHS
RUSHES 47 Kansas (9/21/2024)
YARDS RUSHING 247 Kansas (9/21/2024)
YARDS PER RUSH 6.3 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
TD RUSHES 4 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) Baylor (11/16/2024)
PASS ATTEMPTS 42 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
PASS COMPLETIONS 28 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
YARDS PASSING 359 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
YARDS PER PASS 13.1 Penn State (8/31/2024)
TD PASSES 4 Penn State (8/31/2024)
TOTAL PLAYS 79 at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
TOTAL OFFENSE 568 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
YARDS PER PLAY 8.5 vs Memphis (12/17/2024)
POINTS 52 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
SACKS BY 4 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024) Baylor (11/16/2024) FIRST DOWNS 31 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
PENALTIES 12 at Pitt (9/14/2024)
PENALTY YARDS 112 at Pitt (09/14/2024)
TURNOVERS 3 at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
PUNTS 5 at Cincinnati (11/09/2024) Kansas (9/21/2024)
PUNTING AVG 46.6 at Cincinnati (11/9/2024)
LONG PUNT 57 UAlbany (9/7/2024)
PUNTS INSIDE 20 2 vs Memphis (12/17/2024) UCF (11/23/2024) at Arizona (10/26/2024)
LONG PUNT RETURN 20 at Texas Tech (11/30/2024)
WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSIVE LEADERS
MOUNTAINEER NATIONAL HALL OF FAMERS
BRUCE LEE BOSLEY
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1982 as a player
WVU No. 77 Retired - 2016
ROBERT CLECKLER “BOBBY” BOWDEN
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 2006 as a coach
FRANK CIGNETTI SR.
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 2013 as a coach
MAJOR CLAYBOURNE HARRIS
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 2009 as a player
WVU No. 9 Retired - 2021
ALFRED EARLE “GREASY” NEALE
P ro Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1969 as a coach
lege Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1967 as a coach
DONALD EUGENE “DON” NEHLEN
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 2005 as a coach
IRA ERRETT “RAT” RODGERS
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1957 as a player
WVU No. 21 Retired - 2009
JOSEPH LEE
“JUMBO JOE” STYDAHAR
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1967 as a player
lege Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1956 as a player
TALLEY
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 2011 as a player
WVU No. 90 Retired - 2021
FIELDING HARRIS
“HURRY UP” YOST
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1951 as a coach
FLOYD “BEN” SCHWARTZWALDER
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1982 as a coach
CHARLES LOUIS “CHUCK” HOWLEY
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 2023 as a player
WVU No. 66 Retired - 2023
STEVE SLATON
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 2025 as a player
ROBERT LEE “SAM” HUFF
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1982 as a player
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1980 as a player
WVU No. 75 Retired - 2005
CLARENCE WILEY “DOC” SPEARS
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted: 1955 as a coach
SLATON
DARRYL VICTOR
STEVE
First Team All-Americans
2024 Wyatt Milum, Offensive Line Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, The Sporting News, College Football Network, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report
2023 Beanie Bishop Jr., defensive back Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele, Bleacher Report, College Sports Report, Zach Frazier, offensive line Action Network
2020 Darius Stills, defensive tackle Associated Press, Sporting News, ESPN, Bleacher Report, USA Today
Tykee Smith, safety Rivals, PFF College
Tony Fields II, linebacker Reese’s Senior Bowl
2018 Will Grier, quarterback Senior CLASS Award
2017 David Sills V, wide receiver CBS Sports, Sporting News, SI.com
2016 Tyler Orlosky, offensive line Senior CLASS Award
2015 Nick Kwiatkoski, linebacker ProFootballFocus
2014 Mario Alford, kick returner Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele
Kevin White, wide receiver Sporting News, American Football Coaches’ Association, Scout, Athlon, Sports, CBS Sports,SB Nation, NFL Network, Sports on Earth
2012 Tavon Austin, all-purpose American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, CBSSports.com, FoxSports.com, Pro Football Weekly, Phil Steele, SI.com
Stedman Bailey, wide receiver Football Writers Association of America, CBSSports.com, Phil Steele, SI.com
2011 Tavon Austin, all-purpose CBSSports.com, Phil Steele
2010 Robert Sands, safety Sporting News
2008 Pat White, quarterback Playboy Pat McAfee, punter/kicker CBSSports.com
2007 Ryan Stanchek, offensive tackle Football Writers Association of America Steve Slaton, running back Playboy
2006 Steve Slaton, running back Associated Press, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News Dan Mozes, center Playboy, American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, Rivals.com
2004 Adam Jones, defensive back Collegefootballnews.com, Collegesportsreport.com
2003 Grant Wiley, linebacker Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Southern Football Weekly, The Sporting News, CNNSI.com, CSTV, Collegefootballnews.com
1998 John Thornton, defensive tackle Sports Network
1996 Canute Curtis, linebacker American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football News, Football Writers Association of America, College Sports, Scripps-Howard, American Football Quarterly
1995 Aaron Beasley, defensive back American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp, Football News, United Press International, College Sports
1994 Todd Sauerbrun, punter American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp, Associated Press, Football News, United Press International, Football Writers Association of America, College Sports, College-Pro Football Weekly
1993 Rich Braham, offensive tackle Kodak, United Press International
1992 Mike Compton, center Playboy, Kodak, Walter Camp, Football News, The Sporting News, Associated Press, United Press International
1989 Major Harris, quarterback Kodak/AFCA, Playboy
1988 Rick Phillips, offensive tackle Scripps-Howard
Bo Orlando, strong safety Newspaper Enterprise Associatio Chris Haering, linebacker Newspaper Enterprise Association
1985 Brian Jozwiak, offensive tackle Walter Camp, Associated Press, United Press International, Football News, Playboy
1984 Willie Drewrey, special teams
The Sporting News
Rob Bennett, tight end
Walter Camp
Paul Woodside, place-kicker
Playboy
1983 Paul Woodside, place-kicker
The Sporting News
1982 Darryl Talley, linebacker Associated Press, United Press International, Sporting News, Kodak, Football News, WTBS, Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association
1974 Danny Buggs, wide receiver
Time
1973 Danny Buggs, wide receiver
American Football Coaches’ Association (Kodak)
1970 Dale Farley, linebacker
The Sporting News
Jim Braxton, tight end
Associated Press
1969 Carl Crennel, middle guard
Playboy
1955 Sam Huff, tackle
NEA Service, Look, Jet, NBC TV
Bruce Bosley, tackle Colliers, International News Service, United Press, Sporting News, New York News, Williamson Rating System, Hearst Newspapers, Paramount News, All America Board, Boston Record American, Gridiron Weekly, Players’ (Norman Sper)
1953 Bob Orders, center
NEA Service (Harry Wismer)
1952 Paul Bischoff, end
Paramount News
1924 Walter “Red” Mahan, guard
Midweek Pictorial, Metropolitan News
Fred Graham, end Referee Tom Thorp
1922 Russ Meredith, tackle New York World
1919 Russ Bailey, center Sioux City Tribune, Philadelphia Press
Ira Errett Rodgers, fullback Walter Camp, Frank G. Menke, The Knickerbocker, Chicago Tribune, Pittsburgh Post, Newark Sunday Call, St. Louis Star, New Haven Register, Troy (N.Y.) Record, Ohio State Journal, Philadelphia Press
1917 Ira Errett Rodgers, fullback
Newark Sunday Call
Russ Bailey, center Frank G. Menke, A.M. Weyland, Chicago Tribune, Pittsburgh Sun, Pittsburgh Press, New York Evening Journal
1916 Ira Errett Rodgers, fullback
Frank Cavanaugh, New York Sun, Newark Sunday Call
Second Team All-Americans
2024 Wyatt Milum, Offensive Line
Associated Press, Phil Steele, FOX
Sports, USA Today
2023 Beanie Bishop Jr., defensive back
American Football Coaches
Association, Associated Press, Sporting News, USA Today, FOX Sports
Zach Frazier, offensive line
Sporting News, USA Today, The Athletic, SI.com, FOX Sports, College Football Network
2021 Zach Frazier, offensive line
Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association
2020 Darius Stills, defensive tackle
Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp, Phil Steele, The Athletic
Tykee Smith, safety
Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News
2019 Colton McKivitz, offensive tackle
Walter Camp
2018 Yodny Cajuste, offensive tackle
Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele
David Long Jr., linebacker
Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Athletic, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele
David Sills V, wide receiver
American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp
2017 David Long Jr., linebacker
Pro Football Focus
David Sills V, wide receiver
Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, SB Nation, The All-American, Walter Camp
2016 Rasul Douglas, cornerback
Associated Press, CBSSports.com,
Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele, Pro Football Focus, USA Today, Walter Camp
Tyler Orlosky, offensive line
Associated Press, CBSSports.com,
Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele, SI.com, USA Today
2014 Josh Lambert, kicker
CBS Sports
Kevin White, wide receiver
Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, USA Today, Walter Camp, Phil Steele, Fox Sports, SI.com, College Sports Madness
2012 Tavon Austin, wide receiver
Walter Camp, CBSSports.com, Phil Steele
Stedman Bailey, wide receiver
Walter Camp, Associated Press, FoxSports.com
2011 Tavon Austin, all-purpose
Yahoo! Sports
2010 Keith Tandy, cornerback SI.com
2008 Pat McAfee, punter
Walter Camp
Ryan Stanchek, offensive tackle
Walter Camp
2007 Ryan Stanchek, offensive tackle
Sporting News, Walter Camp
2005 Garin Justice, offensive tackle
The Sporting News
Dan Mozes, center
Associated Press
1995 Aaron Beasley, defensive back
1994
Associated Press
Aaron Beasley, defensive back
Football News, United Press
International, College Sports
1993 Rich Braham, offensive tackle
1989
Associated Press
Major Harris, quarterback
Associated Press, Football News
1988 Chris Parker, defensive tackle
Associated Press
Rick Phillips, offensive tackle
Associated Press, United Press International
Brian Smider, offensive tackle
Sporting News
1985 Brian Jozwiak, offensive tackle
Newspaper Enterprise Association
1984 Brian Jozwiak, offensive tackle
Associated Press
Fred Smalls, linebacker
Newspaper Enterprise Association
1983 Paul Woodside, place-kicker
United Press International
1982 Paul Woodside, place-kicker
United Press International
1981 Mark Raugh, tight end
United Press International
1973 Danny Buggs, wide receiver
Associated Press, United Press International, Football News
1969 Carl Crennel, middle guard
Associated Press
1967 Carl Crennel, middle guard
Associated Press
1966 Garrett Ford, halfback
Associated Press, United Press International
1963 Pete Goimarac, center
Associated Press
1955 Bruce Bosley, tackle
Associated Press
1953 Bruce Bosley, tackle International News Service
Gene “Beef” Lamone, guard
Associated Press
Bob Orders, center
Central Press
1952 Ben Dunkerley, tackle
Associated Press
1934 Tod Goodwin, end NEA Service
1925 Walter “Red” Mahan, guard NEA Service
1924 Walter “Red” Mahan, guard NEA Service
1923 Charles “Trusty” Tallman, end Walter Camp
1922 Nick Nardacci, halfback
Chicago Tribune
Joe Setron, guard
Walter Camp
1919 Russ Bailey, center Walter Camp, Chicago Tribune
1917 Paul “Monk” Hager, end NEA Service
Frank Ice, tackle New York Sun
Third Team All-Americans
2024 Austin Brinkman, Long Snapper
Phil Steele
2023 Zach Frazier, offensive line
Associated Press, Phil Steele
2020 Tykee Smith, safety
Associated Press
2019 Colton McKivitz, offensive tackle
Associated Press
2018 David Sills V, wide receiver
Associated Press, Athlon Sports
2017 David Sills V, wide receiver
Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Sports on Earth
2016 Rasul Douglas, cornerback
SB Nation
Tyler Orlosky, offensive line
Athlon Sports
2015 Karl Joseph, safety
CBS Sports
2014 Mario Alford, kickoff returner
College Sports Madness
Josh Lambert, kicker
SB Nation
2011 Tavon Austin, All-Purpose
Associated Press
2010 Chris Neild, nose tackle
Rivals.com
Keith Tandy, cornerback Rivals.com
2009 Scott Kozlowski, punter
Phil Steele
2008 Pat McAfee, punter
Associated Press, Phil Steele
2007 Ryan Stanchek, offensive tackle
Associated Press
2003 Quincy Wilson, running back
Associated Press
2002 Avon Cobourne, running back
Associated Press
1998 Eric de Groh, center
Associated Press
1997 Amos Zereoue, running back
Sporting News
Henry Slay, defensive tackle
Associated Press
1993 Mike Collins, safety
Football News
1989 Reggie Rembert, wide receiver
Associated Press
1988 Chris Haering, linebacker
Associated Press
Major Harris, quarterback
Associated Press
John Stroia, offensive guard
Associated Press
1982 Paul Woodside, place-kicker
Associated Press
1981 Mark Raugh, tight end
Associated Press
Darryl Talley, linebacker
Associated Press
1972 Gerald Schultze, center
Associated Press
1971 B.C. Williams, guard
Associated Press
1968 Carl Crennel, middle guard
Associated Press
1962 Jerry Yost, quarterback
Associated Press
1957 Chuck Howley, guard
Williamson Rating System
1955 Sam Huff, tackle
United Press International
1954 Gene “Beef” Lamone, guard
Associated Press, NEA Service, Chicago Tribune, Williamson Rating System
1953 Tommy Allman, fullback
NEA Service
Bob Orders, center
United Press International, Football Digest
1935 Joe Stydahar, tackle NEA Service
1925 Walter “Red” Mahan, guard
Associated Press, International News Service, All-America Board, Chicago Tribune, A.M. Weyland
1924 Walter “Red” Mahan, guard Walter Camp
1923 Charles “Trusty” Tallman, end Athletic World
1919 Joe Harrick, tackle
Chicago Tribune
1917 Ira Errett Rodgers, fullback A.M. Weyland
Fourth Team All-Americans
2024 TJ Jackson II, defensive line
Phil Steele
2018 Yodny Cajuste, offensive Line
Athlon Sports
2017 Will Grier, quarterback
Athlon Sports
2016 Tyler Orlosky, offensive Line
SB Nation
2014 Josh Lambert, kicker
Phil Steele, Athlon Sports
2011 Don Barclay, offensive line
Phil Steele
Bruce Irvin, defensive line
Phil Steele
2010 Chris Neild, defensive line
Phil Steele
National Football Foundation
Scholar-Athlete
2023 Zach Frazier, center
2021 Sean Mahone, safety
2009 Reed Williams, linebacker
2006 Jay Henry, linebacker
2004 Jeff Berk, offensive tackle
1998 Eric de Groh, center
1983 Jeff Hostetler, quarterback
1981 Oliver Luck, quarterback
Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete Award Selected by Playboy
2006 Jay Henry, linebacker
1998 Eric de Groh, center
CSC Academic All-America
FIRST TEAM
2023 Zach Frazier, offensive line
2007 Reed Williams, linebacker
2006 Jay Henry, linebacker
2005 Jay Henry, linebacker
1998 Eric de Groh, center
1994 Matt Taffoni, linebacker
1992 Mike Compton, center
1983 Jeff Hostetler, quarterback
1981 Oliver Luck, quarterback
1980 Oliver Luck, quarterback
1970 Kim West, kicker
1955 Sam Huff, tackle
1954 Fred Wyant, quarterback
1952 Paul Bischoff, end
SECOND TEAM
2022 Casey Legg, kicker
2021 Sean Mahone, safety
2009 Reed Williams, linebacker
2008 Doug Slavonic, defensive lineman
2006 Dan Mozes, center
2004 Jeff Berk, guard
1997 Eric de Groh, center
1996 Eric de Groh, center
1993 Dave Mayfield, defensive back
1988 John Stroia, offensive guard
1972 John Harcharic, safety
1970 Dan Hannahs, linebacker
1958 Terry Fairbanks, end
1956 Joe Kopnisky, end
1955 Fred Wyant, quarterback
1953 Bruce Bosley, tackle
THIRD TEAM
1953 Fred Wyant, quarterback
CFA Scholar-Athlete Team
1994 Matt Taffoni, linebacker
1993 David Mayfield, safety
Matt Taffoni, linebacker
1992 Mike Compton, center
1991 Alex Shook, tight end
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team
2024 Garrett Greene, quarterback
2020 Neal Brown, honorary head coach
2008 Tito Gonzales, wide receiver
1995 Eric de Groh, center
1994 David Mayfield, defensive back
1993 Mike Booth, defensive end
TOP PERFORMANCES
TOP PLAYS
TOUCHDOWN RUN FROM SCRIMMAGE
Pat Randolph vs. Northern Illinois/1986
Noel Devine vs. Syracuse/2008
Robert Walker at Syracuse/1993
Eddie Dugan vs. Waynesburg/1952
Lynn Osborne at Pittsburgh Athletic Club/1896
Noel Devine vs. Pitt/2009
Leddie Brown vs. Kansas/2020
Arthur Owens at Virginia Tech/1974
Robert Moss at Marquette/1955
Kerry Marbury vs. Temple/1971
San Pinion vs. West Virginia Wesleyan/1938
Harry Marker vs. Georgetown/1932
Tevin Bush vs. Baylor/2018
Noel Devine at Louisville/2008
Noel Devine at Maryland/2007
Jim Moss vs. William & Mary/1962
Major Harris at Boston College/1989
Arthur Owens vs. Kentucky/1974
Joe Wilkerson vs. West Virginia Wesleyan/1912
Ted Anderson vs. Virginia Military/1953
Tavon Austin vs. Marshall/2012
Mike Sherwood vs. Pitt/1969
Danny Buggs from Ben Williams at Penn State/1973
Travis Garvin from Rasheed
LONGEST PUNT
Todd Sauerbrun vs. Nebraska/1994
Mark Fazzolari vs. Virginia Tech/1999
Anastasio vs. Virginia/1957
Fazzolari vs. Idaho/2000
Brian West vs. Syracuse/1996
McAfee vs. Rutgers/2006
Drobeck vs. Washington & Jefferson/1932
at Virginia Tech/2004
INTERCEPTION
TOP GAMES
Stedman Bailey from Geno Smith vs. Baylor/2012
Bailey from Geno Smith vs. Connecticut/2011
PAT WHITE
Marc Bulger vs. Missouri/1998 52/424
Garrett Greene vs. Memphis/2024 47/423
Will Grier vs. Virginia Tech/2017 64/423
Geno Smith vs. Kansas/2012 28/412
Skyler Howard at Texas Tech/2016 43/407
Jarrett Brown vs. East Carolina/2009 34/407
Mike Sherwood at Pitt/1968 47/407
Geno Smith vs. Louisville/2011 49/402
RUSHING YARDS CARRIES/YARDS
Tavon Austin vs. Oklahoma/2012 21/344
Kay-Jay Harris vs. East Carolina/2004 25/337
Justin Crawford vs. Oklahoma/2016 24/331
Dustin Garrison vs. Bowling Green/2011 32/291
Kerry Marbury vs. Temple/1971 22/291
Avon Cobourne vs. East Carolina/2002 30/260
Pat White vs. Syracuse/2006 15/247
Amos Zereoue at Notre Dame/1997 32/234
Amos Zereoue at Rutgers/1998 35/228
Noel Devine vs. Colorado/2009 22/220
Pat White vs. Pitt/2005 23/220
Pat White at Pitt/2006 22/220
RUSHING YARDS -- TWO CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Avon Cobourne at Cincinnati (193), vs. East Carolina (260)/2002 453
Tavon Austin vs. Oklahoma (344), at Iowa State (74)/2012 418
Amos Zereoue vs. Syracuse (189), at Rutgers (228)/1998 417
Steve Slaton vs. Georgia (204), vs. Marshall (203)/2006 407
Pat White vs. Pitt (220), at USF (129)/2005 397
Noel Devine vs. Syracuse (188), vs. Auburn (207)/2008 395
Amos Zereoue at Notre Dame (234), vs. Pitt (151)/1997 385
Avon Cobourne at ECU (260), vs. Maryland (123)/2006 383
Amos Zereoue vs. Marshall (174), vs. East Carolina (199)/1997 373
Dustin Garrison vs. Bowling Green (291), vs. UConn (80)/2011 371
Amos Zereoue at Rutgers (228), vs. Boston College (143)/1998 371
RUSHING YARDS -- THREE CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Avon Cobourne at Cincinnati (193), vs. East Carolina (260) vs. Maryland (123)/2002 576
Justin Crawford vs. Oklahoma (331), at Iowa State (29), vs. Baylor (209)/2016 569
Amos Zereoue at Virginia Tech (148), Syracuse (189), at Rutgers (228)/1998 565
Amos Zereoue vs. Syracuse (189), at Rutgers (228), vs. Boston College (143)/1998 560
Avon Cobourne at Wisconsin (79), at Cincinnati (193), vs. East Carolina (260)/2002 532
Robert Walker vs. Louisville (161), vs. Pitt (163), at Syracuse (198)/1993 522
Kerry Marbury at William & Mary (144), vs. East Carolina (75), vs. Temple (291)/1971 521
Avon Cobourne vs. East Carolina (260), vs. Maryland (123), at Rutgers (133)/2002 516
Steve Slaton vs. Georgia (2004), vs. Marshall (203), vs. Eastern Washington (105)/2006 512
Pat White vs. Cincinnati (111), Pitt (220), vs. South Florida (177)/2005 508
RUSHING ATTEMPTS CARRIES
George Allen at Georgetown/1933 45
George Allen vs. West Virginia Wesleyan/1933 42
Amos Zereoue vs. Pitt/1997 41
Quincy Wilson vs. Rutgers/2003 40
Amos Zereoue at Rutgers/1998 35
Avon Cobourne vs. Kent State/2001 35
Avon Cobourne vs. Ohio/2001 35
Undra Johnson vs. Temple/1985 35
Edward Williams vs. South Carolina/1969 35
Quincy Wilson vs. Pitt/2003 34
YARDS PER CARRY CARRIES/YARDS/AVG
Armin Mahrt vs. Marietta/1922 10/200/20.0
Eddie Williams vs. Pitt/1969 11/199/18.1
Pat White vs. Syracuse/2006 15/247/16.5
Tavon Austin vs. Oklahoma/2012 21/344/16.4
Pat White vs. USF/2005 11/177/16.1
Quincy WIlson vs. East Carolina/2002 14/198/14.1
Garrett Greene vs. Cincinnati/2023 11/154/14.0
Justin Crawford vs. Oklahoma/2016 24/331/13.8
Kay-Jay Harris vs. East Carolina/2004 25/337/13.8
Artie Owens vs. Virginia/1973 10/136/13.6 minimum 10 carries
Geno Smith vs. Baylor/2012
Will Grier vs. Oklahoma/2018
Skyler Howard vs. Arizona State/2016
Clint Trickett at Maryland/2014
Geno Smith vs.
KICK SCORING
Frank Nester vs. Villanova/1972 19
Evan Staley vs. Baylor/2018 16
Ken Juskowich vs. Villanova/1967 16
Casey Legg at Virginia Tech/2022 15
Josh Lambert vs. Kansas/2014 15
Tyler Bitancurt vs. Liberty/2009 15
Pat McAfee vs. Rutgers/2006 15
Ken Juskowich vs. Pitt/1967 15
Mike Molina vs. Missouri/2016 14
Josh Lambert vs. Georgia Southern/2015 14
Josh Lambert vs. Iowa State/2013 14
Jay Taylor vs. Rutgers/1999 14
Jay Taylor vs. Miami (Ohio)/1999 14
Charlie Baumann vs. Bowling Green/1988 14
Paul Woodside at Rutgers/1982 14
Paul Woodside vs. Syracuse/1982 14
17 players with 13 the latest is Michael Hayes vs. BYU/2023
MOST PUNTS
Chuck Brooks at Penn State/1973 12
Thad Kucherawy at Kentucky/1969 12
Brian West at Syracuse/1995 11
Mark Fazzolari vs. Virginia Tech/2001 10
Todd Sauerbrun at Pitt/1994 10
Steve Superick at Boston College/1985 10
Steve Superick at Temple/1982 10
Curt Carion vs. Penn State/1980 10
Thad Kucherawy vs. Virginia Military/1967 10
32 players with 9 the latest is Oliver Straw at Iowa State/2022
Fewest Opponent Rushes: 12 by Washington & Lee, 1923; by West Virginia Wesleyan, 1922; by Maryland, 1919
Fewest Opponent Yards: -30 by Florida, 1981
SINGLE GAME PASSING
Most Completions: 45 vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Attempts: 65 vs. LSU, 2011
Most Interceptions: 6 vs. Ohio State, 1987; vs. Colorado State, 1978; vs. Richmond, 1973; vs. Maryland, 1950; vs. Washington & Lee, 1950; vs. Ohio, 1949
Most Yards Gained: 656 vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Touchdowns: 8 vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Interception Return Yards: 175 vs. Louisiana Tech, 1994
Fewest Completions: 0 vs. Temple, 1946; vs. Washington & Lee, 1946
Fewest Attempts: 1 vs. Washington & Lee, 1946
Fewest Opponent Pass Attempts: 0 by Maryland, 1919
Fewest Opponent Pass Completions: 0 by Pitt, 1981; by Maryland, 1919
Lowest Opponent Completion Percentage: 0% by Pitt, 1981; by Maryland, 1919
Fewest Opponent Yards Allowed: 0 vs. Pitt, 1981; Maryland, 1919
SINGLE GAME PUNTING
Most Punts: 13 vs. Penn State, 1973
Highest Average: 60.1 (9-541) vs. Nebraska, 1994
SINGLE GAME PUNT RETURNS
Most Returns: 10 vs. Richmond, 1965; Eastern Michigan, 1993
Most Yards Gained: 201 vs. The Citadel, 1965
Most Touchdowns: 1 vs. many; most recently vs. North Carolina, 2023
SINGLE GAME KICKOFF RETURNS
Most Returns: 9 vs. Oklahoma, 2012; vs. Penn State, 1965; vs. Maryland, 1951
Most Yards Gained: 235 vs. Oklahoma, 2012
Most Touchdowns: 1 numerous times; most recent 215 at Baylor
SINGLE GAME SCORING
Most Points: 92 vs. Marshall, 1915
Greatest Margin of Victory: 89 vs. Geneva, 1951
Greatest Margin of Defeat: 130 vs. Michigan, 1904
Most Touchdowns: 14 vs. Marshall, 1916
Most Extra Points Made: 11 vs. Rutgers, 2001; vs. Geneva, 1951
Most Field Goals Made: 6 vs. Villanova, 1972
Most Points in a Loss: 49 vs. Oklahoma, 2012
SINGLE GAME FIRST DOWNS
Most: 37 vs. Maryland, 2015
Most Rushing: 33 vs. Washington & Lee, 1923
Most Passing: 24 vs. Missouri, 1998
Most By Penalty: 10 vs. Baylor, 2014
Fewest by Opponent: 0 by Maryland, 1919
Fewest Rushing by Opponent: 0 by Kansas State, 2014; by Western Michigan, 1996; by Maryland, 1919
Fewest Passing by Opponent: 0 by Maryland, 1919
SINGLE GAME FUMBLES
Most: 11 vs. Penn State, 1989
Most Lost: 6 vs. Virginia, 1954; vs. VMI, 1969
Most Caused: 11 vs. William & Mary, 1955
Most Recovered: 7 vs. Virginia, 1949
SINGLE GAME TURNOVERS
Most Forced: 10 vs. Geneva, 1951
SINGLE GAME PENALTIES
Most: 17 vs. Drexel, 1945
Most Yards Penalized: 170 vs. Drexel, 1945; vs. Colorado State, 1978
Most Two Teams: 32 vs. Baylor, 2014
Most Yards/Two Teams: 353 vs. Baylor, 2014
SEASON TOTAL OFFENSE
Most Yards: 6,526 in 2012
Most Yards per Game: 512.2 in 2018
Highest Average per Play: 7.3 in 2006
Most Touchdowns: 69 in 2012
Fewest Opponent Yards: 934 in 1923
Fewest Opponent Yards per Game: 103.8 in 1923
Lowest Opponent Average per Play: 3.0 in 1923
Fewest Opponent Touchdowns: 2 in 1925
SEASON RUSHING
Most Yards: 3,939 in 2006
Most Yards per Game: 303.0 in 2006
Highest Average per Play: 6.7 in 2006
Most Touchdowns: 49 in 2007
Fewest Opponent Yards: 508 in 1925
Fewest Opponent Yards per Game: 56.4 in 1925
Lowest Opponent Average per Play: 1.9 in 1925
Fewest Opponent Touchdowns: 1 in 1925
SEASON PASSING
Most Attempts: 537 in 2012
Most Completions: 378 in 2012
Most Yards: 4,509 in 2011
Most Yards per Game: 351.3 in 2018
Highest Completion Percentage: 70.4% in 2012
Most Touchdowns: 44 in 2012
Most Interceptions: 27 in 1973
Fewest Opponent Yards: 300 in 1923
Fewest Opponent Yards Per Game: 33.3 in 1923
Lowest Opponent Completion Percentage: 34.5 in 1953
Fewest Opponent Touchdowns: 0 in 1925
Most Opponent Interceptions: 24 in 1988; 1972
Most Opponent Yards on Interceptions: 347 in 1993
Most Opponent Touchdowns on Interceptions: 5 in 1922
SEASON PUNTING
Most Punts: 84 in 1996
Fewest Punts: 34 in 1955
Highest Average per Punt: 47.1 in 1994
Most Blocked: 8 in 1934
Returned for TD: 4 in 1934
SEASON PUNT RETURNS
Most Returns: 46 in 1993
Fewest Returns: 12 in 2022
Most Yards: 584 in 1965
Most Touchdowns: 4 in 1934
SEASON KICKOFF RETURNS
Most Returns: 57 in 2012; 2011
Fewest Returns: 19 in 2024
Most Yards: 1,349 in 2011
Most Touchdowns: 3 in 2000
SEASON SCORING
Most Points: 515 in 2007
Most Points per Game: 41.1 in 1988
Most Touchdowns: 69 in 2012
Most Extra Points Made: 66 in 2007
Most Field Goals Made: 30 in 2014; 1982
Fewest Points: 14 in 1896
Fewest Opponent Points (6 games): 10 in 1895
Fewest Opponent Points (7 games): 23 in 1898
Fewest Opponent Points (8 games): 20 in 1915
Fewest Opponent Points (9 games): 18 in 1925
Fewest Opponent Points (10 games): 38 in 1907; 1928
Fewest Opponent Points (11 games): 34 in 1922
Fewest Opponent Points (12 games): 101 in 1896
Fewest Opponent Points (13 games): 176 in 2010
Fewest Opponent Points Per Game: 1.7 in 1895
Most Opponent Points: 495 in 2012
Most Opponent Shutouts: 8 in 1922
SEASON FIRST DOWNS
Most: 337 in 2014
Most Rushing: 178 in 2002
Most Passing: 188 in 2012
Most by Penalty: 37 in 2022, 2014
Fewest Allowed: 51 in 1925
Fewest Rushing Allowed: 26 in 1925
Fewest Passing Allowed: 14 in 1923
Fewest by Penalty Allowed: 2 in 1954
SEASON FUMBLES
Most: 44 in 1955
Most Lost: 27 in 1955
Most Caused: 42 in 1973; 1959
Most Recovered: 24 in 1977; 1958
Fewest: 10 in 2019
Fewest Lost: 5 in 2019; 1996
TEAM STREAKS
Victories: 13 from 1952-53
Defeats: 8 from 1959-60
Home Victories: 14 from 1924-26
Home Defeats: 5 in 1986
Away Victories: 9 from 1952-53
Away Defeats: 10 from 1959-60
Shutouts: 7 from 1904-05
Shutouts by Opponents: 5 from 1896-97
Consecutive games without being shut out: 150, 2001-13
Consecutive games without a defensive shutout: 70, 1987-93
Winning Seasons: 12 from 1914-26
Losing Seasons: 4 from 1958-61; 1976-79
Conference Victories: 30 from 1952-59
Conference Championships: 4 from 1953-56
Games Blocked Punt Avoided: 31 from 197477
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Games Played
Games Played: 61 by Brandon Yates, 2020-24
Games Started: 51 by Dravon Askew-Henry, 2014-15, 17-18
Total Offense
Most Yards Gained-Game: 687 by Geno Smith vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Yards Gained-Season: 4,356 by Geno Smith 2012
Most Yards Gained-Career: 12,004 by Geno Smith, 2009-12
Most
Plays
Game: 67 by Geno Smith vs. LSU, 2011 Season: 584 by Geno Smith, 2012 Career: 1,710 by Geno Smith, 2009-12
Most Touchdowns
Responsible For
Game: 9 by Allen McCune vs. Pitt, 1965
Season: 44 by Geno Smith, 2012
Career (3 seasons): 76 by Skyler Howard, 2014-16
Career (4 seasons): 103 by Pat White, 2005-08
Rushing
Longest Touchdown Run: 96 by Pat Randolph vs Northern Illinois, 1986 Longest Non-Touchdown Run: 79 by Tevin Bush vs. Baylor, 2018; by Noel Devine at Louisville, 2008
Yards Gained In Quarter: 168 by Kay-Jay Harris vs. East Carolina (2nd), 2004
Yards Gained In Half: 264 by Tavon Austin (2nd) vs. Oklahoma, 2012
Game: 344 by Tavon Austin vs. Oklahoma, 2012
Season: 1,744 by Steve Slaton, 2006
Career: 5,164 by Avon Cobourne, 1999-2002
Most Consecutive 100-Yard Games: 6 by Steve Slaton, 10/7 - 11/16/06; by Avon Cobourne, 9/14 - 10/26/03; by Amos Zereoue, 10/24 -11/27-98; by Robert Walker, 10/9 - 11/20/93
Most 100-Yard Games-Season: 10 by Avon Cobourne, 2002; Steve Slaton, 2006
Most 100-Yard Games-Career: 28 by Avon Cobourne, 1999-2002
Most Carries-Game: 45 by George Allen vs. Georgetown, 1933
Most Carries-Season: 335 by Avon Cobourne, 2002
Most Carries-Career: 1,023 by Avon Cobourne, 999-2002
Highest Average Per Carry-Game (min. 10 att.): 18.9 (11-199) by Eddie Williams vs Pitt, 1969
Highest Average Per Carry-Season (min. 100 att.): 8.2 by Bob Moss, 1955
Highest Average Per Carry-Career (min. 200 att.): 7.8 by Bob Moss, 1952-55
Most Touchdowns-Game: 5 by by Steve Slaton vs. Louisville (3 overtimes), 2005 by George Allen vs. Marquette, 1932; b Ira Errett Rodgers vs. Marietta, 1919; Ohio Wesleyan, 1919
Most Touchdowns-Season: 19 by Ira Errett Rodgers, 1919
Most Touchdowns-Career: 50 by Steve Slaton, 2005-07
Passing
Longest Touchdown Pass: 96 by Ben Williams to Danny Buggs vs. Penn State, 1973
Longest Non-Touchdown Pass: 84 by Rasheed Marshall to Kay-Jay Harris vs. Miami, 2003
Most Yards-Game: 656 by Geno Smith vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Yards-Season: 4,385 by Geno Smith, 2011
Most Yards-Career: 11,662 by Geno Smith, 2009-12
Most 300-Yard Games-Consecutive: 8 by Clint Trickett, 2013-14
Most 300-Yard Games-Season: 10 by Will Grier, 2018
Most 300-Yard Games-Career: 19 by Will Grier, 2017-18
Most Completions-Consecutive: 21 by Geno Smith vs. Kansas, 2012
Most Completions-Game: 45 by Geno Smith vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Completions-Season: 369 by Geno Smith, 2012
Most Completions-Career: 988 by Geno Smith, 2009-12
Most Attempts-Game: 65 by Geno Smith vs. LSU, 2011
Most Attempts-Season: 536 by Geno Smith, 2011
Most Attempts-Career: 1,465 by Geno Smith, 2009-12
Most Touchdowns Passes-Game: 8 by Geno Smith vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Touchdown Passes-Season: 42 by Geno Smith, 2012
Most Touchdown Passes-Career: 98 by Geno Smith, 2009-12
Highest Completion Percentage-Game (min. 10 att.): 958 (23-24) by Geno Smith vs. Kansas, 2012
Most Interceptions Thrown-Game: 6 by Dutch Hoffman vs. Colorado State, 1978
Most Interceptions Thrown-Season: 21 by Dutch Hoffman, 1978
Most Interceptions Thrown-Career: 47 by Dan Kendra, 1974-77
Receiving
Most Yards Gained-Game: 303 by Stedman Bailey vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Yards Gaine-Season: 1,622 by Stedman Bailey, 2012
Most Yards Gained-Career: 3,413 by Tavon Austin, 2009-12
Most 100-Yard Games-Consecutive: 7 by Kevin White, 2014
Most 100-Yard Games-Season: 9 by Kevin White 2014
Most 100-Yard Games-Career: 14 by Stedman Bailey, 2010-12
Most Receptions-Game: 16 by Kevin White at Texas, 2014
Most Receptions-Season: 114 by Tavon Austin, 2012; by Stedman Bailey, 2012
Most Receptions-Career: 288 by Tavon Austin, 2009-12
Most Touchdown Receptions-Game: 5 by Stedman Bailey vs. Baylor, 2012
Most Touchdown Receptions-Season: 25 by Stedman Bailey, 2012
Most Tochdown Receptions-Career: 41 by Stedman Bailey, 2010-12
Punting
Most Yardage-Single Punt: 90 by Todd Sauerbrun vs. Nebraska, 1994
Most Yardage-Game: 541 by Todd Sauerbrun vs. Nebraska, 1994
Most Yardage-Season: 3,594 by Todd Sauerbrun, 1994
Most Yardage-Career: 10,934 by Steve Superick, 1982-85
Most Punts-Game: 12 by Chuck Brooks vs. Penn State, 1973; by Thad Kucherawy vs. Kentucky, 1969
Most Punts-Season: 76 by Steve Superick, 1985
Most Punts-Career: 263 by Steve Superick, 1982-85
Highest Average-Game (min. 5 att.): 60.1 by Todd Sauerbrun vs. Nebraska, 1994
Highest Average-Season (min. 30 att.): 48.6 by Todd Sauerbrun, 1994
Highest Average-Career (min. 70 att.): 46.2 by Todd Sauerbrun, 1991-94
Most Punts Blocked by WVU-Game: 3 by Joe Harrick vs. Maryland, 1919
Most Punts Blocked by WVU-Season: 7 by Joe Stydahar, 1934
KEVIN WHITE
INCLUDES BOWL GAMES
Punt Returns
Most Return Yards-Single Return: 99 by Victor “Jack” Rabbits vs. Virginia Military, 1955
Most Return Yards-Game: 168 by Nate Terry vs. Rutgers, 1997
Most Return Yards-Season: 453 by John Mallory, 1967
Most Return Yards-Career: 1,109 by Willie Drewrey,1981-84
Most Returns-Game: 7 by by Rahsaan Vanterpool vs. Virginia Tech, 1994; by Grantis Bell vs. Rutgers, 1987; by Willie Drewrey vs. Pitt, 1984
Most Returns-Season: 44 by Mike Baker, 1993
Most Returns-Career: 108 by Willie Drewrey, 1981-84
Most Touchdown Returns-Game: 1 by many; most recent by Beanie Bishop Jr. vs. UNC, Duke’s Mayo Bowl, 2023
Most Touchdown Returns-Season: 3 by John Mallory, 1967
Most Touchdown Returns-Career: 7 by John Mallory, 1965-67
Highest Average-Season (min. 11 att.): 20.8 by Lance Frazier, 2003
Highest Average-Career (min. 25 att.): 14.9 by John Mallory, 1965-67
Kickoff Returns
Most Return Yardage-Single Return: 100 by Shelton Gibson at Baylor, 2015; by Mario Alford vs. Alabama, 2014; by Tavon Austin vs. Kansas State, 2012; vs. Marshall, 2011; by Shawn Terry at Maryland, 2001; by Shawn Terry vs. Syracuse, 2000; by Nate Terry vs. Temple, 1997; by Nate Terry vs. East Carolina, 1997; by Kerry Marbury vs. Penn State, 1972
Most Return Yardage-Game: 217 by Winston Wright Jr. at Maryland, 2021
Most Return Yardage-Season: 938 by Tavon Austin, 2011
Most Return Yardage-Career: 2,407 by Tavon Austin, 2009-12
Most Returns-Game: 8 by Tavon Austin vs. Oklahoma; by Darren Fulton vs. Pitt, 1986
Most Returns-Season: 39 by Darren Fulton, 1986
Most Returns-Career: 97 by Tavon Austin, 2009-12
Game: 1 by many players; most recent by Winston Wright Jr. at Baylor, 2019
Most Touchdown Returns-Season: 3 by Shawn Terry 2000
Most Touchdown Returns-Career: 4 by Tavon Austin, 2009-12; by Shawn Terry, 19992001
Highest Average-Season (min. 11 att.): 28.8 by Shawn Terry, 2000
Highest Average-Career (min. 25 att.): 27.7 by Shawn Terry, 1999-2001
Scoring
Most Points-Game: 37 by Ira Errett Rodgers vs. Marietta, 1919
Most Points-Season: 150 by Stedman Bailey, 2012
Most Points-Career: 384 by Pat McAfee, 2005-08
Most Touchdowns-Quarter: 3 by Stedman Bailey vs. Oklahoma (4th), 2012; vs. Baylor (2nd), 2012; by Jock Sanders at Connecticut (3rd), 2008; by Pat White vs. Syracuse (3rd), 2006; by George Allen vs. Marquette (4th), 1932
Most Touchdowns-Game: 6 by Steve Slaton vs. Louisville (3 overtimes), 2005
Most Touchdowns-Season: 25 by Stedman Bailey, 2012
Most Touchdowns-Career: 55 by Steve Slaton, 2005-07
Most Extra Points Made-Game: 11 by Shocky Van Horn vs. Geneva, 1951
Most Extra Points Made-Season: 64 by Tyler Bitancurt, 2012; by Pat McAfee, 2007
Most Extra Points Made-Career: 210 by Pat McAfee, 2005-08
Most Extra Point Attempts-Game: 13 by Shocky Van Horn vs. Geneva, 1951
Most Extra Point Attempts-Season: 66 by Tyler Bitancurt, 2012
Most Extra Point Attempts-Career: 212 by Tyler Bitancurt, 2009-12; by Pat McAfee, 2005-08
Highest Percentage Of PATs-Season (min. 25 att.): 100.0 (45-45) by Josh Lambert, 2014; (41-41) by Tyler Bitancurt, 2010; (62-62) by Pat McAfee, 2006; (43-43); by Jay Taylor, 1997
Highest Percentage of PATs-Career (min. 50 att.): 99.1 (210-212) by Pat McAfee, 2005-08
Consecutive PATs Made-Game: 10 by Tyler Bitancurt vs. Baylor, 2012, vs. Clemson, 2011
Consecutive PATs Made-Season: 62 by Brad Cooper, 2004; by Jay Taylor, 1997
Consecutive PATs Made-Career: 110 by Pat McAfee, 2005-07
Most Points Kicking-Game: 19 by Frank Nester vs. Villanova, 1972
Most Points Kicking-Season: 135 by Josh Lambert, 2014
Most Points Kicking-Career: 384 by Pat McAfee, 2005-08
Field Goals
Most Made-Game: 6 by Frank Nester vs. Villanova, 1972
Most Made-Season: 30 by Josh Lambert, 2014; by Paul Woodside, 1982
Most Made-Career: 74 by Paul Woodside, 1981-84
Consecutive Made: 15 by Paul Woodside, 1981-82
Most Attempts-Game: 6 by Frank Nester vs. Villanova, 1972
Most Attempts-Season: 39 by Josh Lambert, 2014
Most Attempts-Career: 93 by Paul Woodside, 1981-84
Highest Percentage Made-Season (min. 15 att.): 100.0 (19-19) by Bill Samuelson, 1970
Highest Percentage Made-Career (min. 30 att.): 79.6 (74-93) by Paul Woodside, 1981-84
Longest-Soccer Style: 55 by Josh Lambert at Texas Tech, 2014; by Paul Woodside vs. Louisville, 1984
Longest-Drop-Kick: 50 by Ed Kenna vs.Grove City, 1901
Interceptions
Most Passes Intercepted-Quarter: 3 by Karl Joseph vs. Georgia Southern, 2015 (3rd); by Jack Eastwood at Miami, 1973 (4th); by Mike Slater at Kentucky, 1969 (4th)
Most Passes Intercepted-Game: 4 by Mike Slater vs. Kentucky, 1969; by Francis Farley vs. Pitt, 1925; by Andrew King vs. Marietta,1915
Most Passes Intercepted-Season: 10 by Aaron Beasley, 1994
Most Passes Intercepted-Career: 20 by Steve Newberry, 1980-83
Most Touchdown Returns-Game: 2 by Vann Washington vs. Louisiana Tech, 1994
Most Touchdown Returns-Season: 2 by Kenny Robinson Jr., 2017; by Grant Wiley, 2000; by Vann Washington, 1994; by Aaron Beasley, 1994
Most Touchdown Returns-Career: 3 by Aaron Beasley, 1992-95; by Vann Washington, 1993-96
Longest Return: 100 by Tom Pridemore vs. Penn State, 1977
Miscellaneous
Most All-Purpose Yardage-Game: 572 by Tavon Austin, vs. Oklahoma, 2012
Most All-Purpose Yardage Season: 2,910 by Tavon Austin, 2012
Most All-Purpose Yardage Career: 7,286 by Tavon Austin, 2009-12
Most Opponent Fumbles Recovered-Season: 5 by Bob Starford, 1968
Most Opponent Fumbles Recovered Career: 7 by John Adams, 1972-74
Blocked Punts-Season: 7 by Joe Stydahar, 1934
KARL JOSEPH
DEFENSIVE RECORDS
Total Tackles
Game: 28 by Steve Dunlap vs. Boston College, 1974
Season: 190 by Steve Dunlap, 1974
Career: 492 by Grant Wiley, 2000-03
Unassisted Tackles
Game: 17 by Robert Tomko vs. Boston College, 1977
Season: 107 by Barrett Green, 1998
Career: 298 by Grant Wiley, 2000-03
Assisted Tackles
Game: 15 by Chris Haering vs. Maryland, 1989
Season: 100 by Chuck Smith, 1975
Career: 222 by Chris Haering, 1986-89
Quarterback Sacks
Game: 4 by Julian Miller vs. Pitt, 2011; by James Davis vs. East Carolina, 2000; by Gary Stills vs. Marshall, 1997; by Steve Hathaway vs. Virginia Tech, 1983
Season: 16.5 by Canute Curtis, 1996
Career: 34.5 by Canute Curtis, 1993-96
Team Game: 12 vs. Idaho, 2000
Team Season: 59, 1996
Tackles for Loss
Game: 6 by James Davis vs. East Carolina, 2000
Season: 19 by David Long Jr., 2018; by Johnny Dingle, 2007
Career: 52.5 by Dante Stills, 2018-22
Pass Breakups
Game: 5 by Beanie Bishop Jr. vs. BYU; by Dreshun Miller vs. Kansas State, 2020; by Jahmile Addae vs. Rutgers, 2002; by Vann Washington vs. Boston College, 1996; by Harold Kidd vs. Louisiana Tech, 1994
Season: 21 by Brian King, 2003
Career: 54 by Brian King, 2000-03
Longest Interception Return for TD
Tom Pridemore vs. Penn State/1977 100
Marcus Mauney vs. Virginia Tech/1974 99
Vann Washington vs. Louisiana Tech/1994 97
Kenny Robinson Jr. vs. Texas/2017 94
Tom Pridemore vs. Temple/1975 87
Bo Orlando vs. East Carolina/1987 84
Longest Interception Return/No TD
Barrett Green vs. Rutgers/1997 83
Tom Pridemore
Single Game Total Tackles
Single Game Solo Tackles
Robert
Single Game Interceptions
Single Game Quarterback Sacks
Julian
Steve Hathaway vs. Virginia Tech/1983
Twelve players with three; the most recent is Jared Bartlett vs. Virginia Tech, 2021
Single Game Tackles For Loss
David Long Jr. vs. Oklahoma State/2017
James Davis vs. East Carolina/2000
Darryl Talley vs. Penn State/1980
Nine players with four; the most recent is TJ Jackson II at Pitt/2024
Single Game Pass Breakups
Beanie Bishop Jr. vs. BYU/2023
Dreshun Miller vs. Kansas State/2020
GRANT WILEY
GARY STILLS
MILAN PUSKAR STADIUM RECORDS
Total Offense Plays
WVU Individual: 67 by Geno Smith vs. LSU, 2011
Opponent Individual: 72 by John Welsh of Idaho, 2000
WVU Team: 96 vs. Maryland, 2015; vs. Towson, 2014; vs. Ball State, 1994
Opponent Team: 101 by Marshall, 2012
Two Teams: 185, vs. Missouri, 2016
Total Offense Yards
WVU Individual: 687 by Geno Smith vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Individual: 575 by Nick Florence of Baylor, 2012
WVU Team: 807 vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Team: 700 by Baylor, 2012
Two Teams: 1,507, vs. Baylor, 2012
Rushing Yards
WVU Individual: 344 by Tavon Austin vs. Oklahoma, 2012
Opponent Individual: 282 by Ollie Gordon II of Oklahoma State, 2023
WVU Team: 536 vs. East Carolina, 2002
Opponent Team: 388 by Navy, 1999
Two Teams: 720, vs. Connecticut, 2007
Rushing Attempts
WVU Individual: 41 by Amos Zereoue vs. Pitt, 1997
Opponent Individual: 38 by LeSean McCoy, 2007
WVU Team: 76 vs. Temple, 1985
Opponent Team: 71 by Navy, 1999
Two Teams: 112, vs. Virginia Tech, 1987; vs. Rutgers, 1987
Rushing Touchdowns
WVU Individual: 5 by Steve Slaton vs. Louisville, 2005
Opponent Individual: 4 by Samaje Perine of Oklahoma, 2014; by Collin Klein of Kansas State, 2012; by Michael Bush of Louisville, 2005; by Walter Washington of Temple, 2003
WVU Team: 8 vs. Cincinnati, 1989
Opponent Team: 4 by Baylor, 2024; by Oklahoma, 2014; by Kansas State, 2012; by Louisville, 2005; by Temple, 2003; by Navy 1999; by Miami, 1986
Two Teams: 9, vs. Louisville, 2005
Longest TD Run From Scrimmage
WVU Individual: 96 by Pat Randolph vs. Northern Illinois, 1986
Opponent Individual: 84 by Joshua Cribbs of Kent State, 2001
Longest TD Run From Scrimmage
WVU Individual: 79 by Tevin Bush vs. Baylor, 2018
Opponent Individual: 86 by Curtis Martin of Pitt, 1993
Pass Attempts
WVU Individual: 65 by Geno Smith vs. LSU, 2011
Opponent Individual: 56 by Jason Martin of Louisiana Tech, 1994
WVU Team: 65 vs. LSU, 2011
Opponent Team: 56 by Marshall, 2012; by Louisiana Tech, 1994
Two Teams: 98, vs. Baylor, 2012
Pass Completions
WVU Individual: 45 by Geno Smith vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Individual: 38 by Landry Jones of Oklahoma, 2012; by Rakeem Cato of Marshall, 2012
WVU Team: 45 vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Team: 38 by Oklahoma, 2012; by Marshall, 2012
Two Teams: 74, vs. Baylor, 2012
Passing Yards
WVU Individual: 656 by Geno Smith vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Individual: 581 by Nick Florence of Baylor, 2012
WVU Team: 656 vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Team: 581 by Baylor, 2012
Two Teams: 1,237, vs. Baylor, 2012
Pass Completion Percentage
WVU Team (min. 25 att.): 92.0 (23-25) vs. Kansas, 2012
WVU Team (min. 40 att.): 88.2 (45-51) vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Team: 88.2 (15-17) by Virginia Tech, 2005
Two Teams (min. 40 att.): 83.8 (26-31), vs. Virginia Tech, 2005
Two Teams (min. 75 att.): 75.5 (74-98), vs. Baylor, 2012
Interceptions Thrown
WVU Individual: 4 by Will Grier vs. Oklahoma State, 2018; by Chad Johnston vs. Pitt, 1995; by Roger Dietz vs. Syracuse, 1980
Opponent Individual: 5 by Paul Anderson of Cincinnati, 1990
WVU Team: 4 vs. Syracuse, 1980; vs. Syracuse, 1988; vs. Pitt, 1995; vs Oklahoma State, 2018
Opponent Team: 5, by Maryland, 2015; by Cincinnati, 1990
Two Teams: 6, vs. Maryland, 2015; vs. Temple, 1981; vs. Syracuse, 1980
Passing Touchdowns
WVU Individual: 8 by Geno Smith vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Individual: 6 by Landry Jones of Oklahoma, 2012
WVU Team: 8 vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Team: 6 by Oklahoma, 2012
Two Teams: 13, vs. Baylor, 2012
Longest Touchdown Pass
WVU Individual: 93 by Rasheed Marshall to Travis Garvin vs. Virginia Tech, 2003
Opponent Individual: 94 by Trevone Boykin to Josh Boyce of TCU, 2012
Longest Non-Touchdown Pass
WVU Individual: 68 by Greg Jones to James Jett vs. Boston College, 1990
Opponent Individual: 78 by Glenn Foley to Mark Chmura of Boston College, 1990
Receptions
WVU Individual: 14 by Tavon Austin vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Individual: 17 by Terrance Williams of Baylor, 2012
Receiving Yards
WVU Individual: 303 by Stedman Bailey vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Individual: 314 by Terrance Williams of Baylor, 2012
Receiving Touchdowns
WVU Individual: 5 by Stedman Bailey vs. Baylor, 2012
Opponent Individual: 4 by Kenny Stills of Oklahoma, 2012
Points Scored
WVU Individual: 36 by Steve Slaton vs. Louisville, 2005
Opponent Individual: 24 by Kenny Stills of Oklahoma, 2012; by Collin Klein of Kansas State, 2012; by Michael Bush of Louisville, 2005; by Walter Washington of Temple, 2003
WVU Team: 80 vs. Rutgers, 2001
Opponent Team: 58 by Miami, 1986
Two Teams: 133, vs. Baylor, 2012
Touchdowns
WVU Individual: 6 by Steve Slaton vs. Louisville, 2005
Opponent Individual: 4 by Ollie Gordon of Oklahoma State, 2024; by Samaje Perine of Oklahoma, 2014; by Kenny Stills of Oklahoma, 2012; by Collin Klein of Kansas State, 2012; by Michael Bush of Louisville, 2005; by Walter Washington of Temple, 2003
WVU Team: 11 vs. Rutgers, 2001
Opponent Team: 9 by Baylor, 2012
Two Teams: 19, vs. Baylor, 2012
Points By Kick
WVU Individual: 15 by Josh Lambert vs. Kansas, 2014; by Tyler Bitancurt vs. Liberty, 2009; by Pat McAfee vs. Rutgers, 200
Opponent Individual: 14 by Matt McCrane of Kansas State, 2014
Two Teams: 24, vs. Rutgers, 1999
Kicked Extra Point Attempts
WVU Individual: 10 by Brenden Rauh vs. Rutgers, 2001
Opponent Individual: 8 by Greg Cox of Miami, 1986
WVU Team: 11 vs. Rutgers, 2001
Opponent Team: 8 by Miami, 1986
Two Teams: 12, vs. Connecticut, 2007; vs. Rutgers, 2001; vs. Rutgers, 1995
Kicked Extra Points Made
WVU Individual: 10 by Tyler Bitancurt vs. Baylor, 2012; by Brenden Rauh vs. Rutgers 2001
Opponent Individual: 9 by Aaron Jones of Baylor, 2012
WVU Team: 11 vs. Rutgers, 2001
Opponent Team: 9 by Baylor, 2012
Two Teams: 19, vs. Baylor, 2012
Field Goal Attempts
WVU Individual: 5 by Evan Staley vs. Baylor, 2018; by Josh Lambert vs. Kansas, 2014; by Todd Sauerbrun vs. Louisville, 1993
Opponent Individual: 6 by Matt McCrane of Kansas State, 2014; by Massimo Manca of Penn State, 1986
WVU Team: 5 vs. Baylor, 2018; vs. Kansas, 2014; vs. Maryland, 1986; vs. Louisville, 1993
Opponent Team: 6 by Kansas State, 2014; by Penn State, 1986
Two Teams: 9, vs. Kansas State, 2014; vs. Pitt, 2009
Field Goals Made
WVU Individual: 4 by Mike Molina vs. Missouri, 2016; by Josh Lambert vs. Kansas, 2014; by Tyler Bitancurt vs. Pitt, 2009; by Tyler Bitancurt vs. Liberty, 2009; by Pat McAfee vs. Rutgers, 2006; by Paul Woodside vs. Maryland, 1982; by Paul Woodside vs. Syracuse, 1982
Opponent Individual: 4 by Matt McCrane of Kansas State, 2014; by Ross Krautman of Syracuse, 2010; by Jeremy Ito of Rutgers, 2006; by Mickey Thomas of Virginia Tech, 1989; Brian Lowe of Boston College, 1986; by Massimo Manca of Penn State, 1986
WVU Team: 4 vs. Kansas, 2014; vs. Pitt, 2009; vs. Liberty, 2009; vs. Maryland, 1982
Opponent Team: 4 by Kansas State, 2014; by Norfolk State, 2011; by Syracuse, 2010; by Rutgers, 2006; by Virginia Tech, 1989; by Boston College, 1986; by Penn State, 1986 Two Teams: 7, vs. Pitt, 2009
Longest Field Goal
WVU: 55 by Paul Woodside vs. Louisville, 1984 Opponent: 53 by Dave Teggart of Connecticut, 2011; by Patrick Shadle of Syracuse, 2008
Punt
Returns
WVU Individual: 9 by Mike Baker vs. Eastern Michigan, 1993
Opponent Individual: 8 by Steve Suter of Maryland, 2002
WVU Team: 10 vs. Eastern Michigan, 1993
Opponent Team: 8 by Maryland, 2002
Two Teams: 12, WVU vs. Eastern Michigan, 1993
Punt Return Yardage
WVU Individual: 168 by Nate Terry vs. Rutgers, Opponent1997Individual: 142 by Steve Suter of Maryland, 2002
WVU Team: 168 vs. Rutgers, 1997
Opponent Team: 142 by Maryland, 2002 Two Teams: 195, vs. Rutgers, 1997
Touchdowns On Punt Returns
WVU Individual: 1 by Tavon Austin (76 yards) vs.TCU, 2012; by Antonio Lewis (76 yards) vs. East Carolina; 2005; by Adam Jones (76 yards) vs. East Carolina, 2004; by Lance Frazier (64 yards) vs. Temple, 2003; by Antonio Brown (80 yards) vs. Rutgers, 1999; by David Carter (14 yard return of blocked punt) vs. Maryland, 1998; by Gary Thompkins (28 yard return of blocked punt) vs. Marshall, 1997; by Rodney Allen (2 yards) vs. Miami, 1994; by Cam Zopp (fumble recovery in end zone) vs. Louisville, 1984; by Willie Drewrey (65 yards) vs. Colorado State,1981; Fulton Walker (77 yards) vs. Richmond, 1980
MILAN PUSKAR STADIUM SERIES RECORDS
FIRST LAST LAST
OPPONENT MEETING MEETING SCORE RECORD
Auburn 2008 2008 34-17 1-0
Ball State 1989 1994 16-14 2-0
Baylor 2012 2024 49-35 6-1
Boston College 1982 2004 17-36 9-2-1
Bowling Green 1988 2011 55-10 3-0
BYU 2023 2023 37-7 1-0
Cal State Fullerton 1988 1988 45-10 1-0
Cincinnati 1987 2023 42-21 6-2
Coastal Carolina 2010 2010 31-0 1-0
Colorado 2009 2009 35-24 1-0
Colorado State 1981 1981 49-3 1-0
Connecticut 2005 2011 43-16 4-0
Delaware State 2017 2017 59-16 1-0
Duke 1985 1985 20-18 1-0
Duquesne 2023 2023 56-17 1-0
East Carolina 1981 2017 56-20 13-0
Eastern Kentucky 2020 2020 56-10 1-0
Eastern Michigan 1993 1993 48-6 1-0
Eastern Washington 2006 2006 52-3 1-0
Georgia Southern 2015 2015 44-0 1-0
Idaho 2000 2000 28-16 1-0
Iowa State 2013 2024 28-16 3-3
James Madison 2004 2019 20-13 2-0
Kansas 2012 2024 32-28 6-1
Kansas State 2012 2024 45-18 3-4
Kent State 1990 2001 34-14 3-0
Liberty 2009 2015 41-17 2-0
Long Island 2021 2021 66-0 1-0
Louisiana Tech 1992 1994 52-16 2-0
Louisville 1984 2011 35-38 6-2
LSU 2011 2011 21-47 0-1
Marshall 1997 2012 69-34 6-0
Maryland 1980 2015 45-6 11-6
Miami 1986 2002 23-40 1-6
Miami, Ohio 1992 1999 43-27 1-0-1
Mississippi State 2007 2007 38-13 1-0
Missouri 1993 2016 26-11 2-0
Navy 1999 1999 28-31 0-1
NC State 2019 2019 44-27 1-0
Norfolk State 2011 2011 55-12 1-0
Northern Illinois 1986 1986 47-14 1-0
Notre Dame 2000 2000 28-42 0-1
Ohio 1983 2001 20-3 4-0
Ohio State 1998 1998 17-34 0-1
Oklahoma 2012 2022 23-20 1-4
Oklahoma State 2013 2023 34-48 1-5
Pacific 1983 1983 48-7 1-0
Penn State 1980 2024 34-12 2-6
Pitt 1981 2023 17-6 9-6-2
Purdue 1995 1995 24-26 0-1
Richmond 1980 1982 43-10 2-0
Rutgers 1981 2010 35-10 14-0
South Carolina 1989 1991 21-16 2-0
Syracuse 1980 2010 14-19 9-7
TCU 2012 2022 31-41 3-3
Temple 1981 2004 42-21 9-1
UT-Chattanooga 2002 2002 56-7 1-0
Texas 2013 2021 31-23 2-3
Texas Tech 2013 2023 20-13 3-3
Towson 2014 2022 65-7 2-0
Tulsa 1998 1998 44-21 1-0
UAlbany 2024 2024 49-14 1-0
UCF 2003 2024 31-21 2-0
Opponent Individual: 1 by Tyler Lockett (43 yards) of Kansas State, 2014; by Nick Harwell (76 yards) of Kansas, 2014; by Andre Booker (87 yards) of Marshall, 2011; Will Blackmon (71 yards) of Boston College, 2004; by DeJuan Tribble (41 yards) of Boston College, 2004; by Steve Suter (80 yards) of Maryland, 2002; by Joey Getherall (73 yards) of Notre Dame; by Deon Maddox (72 yards) of Syracuse, 1996; by Nathaniel Brooks (20 yard return of blocked punt) of Miami, 1996; by Derrek Batson (97 yards) of East Carolina, 1992; by Marshall Roberts (63 yards) of Rutgers, 1989 WVU Team: 1, 10 times; most recent vs. TCU, 2012
Opponent Team: 2, by Boston College, 2004
Two Teams: 2, vs. Boston College, 2004
Longest Punt Return
WVU Individual: 80 (TD) by Antonio Brown vs Rutgers, 1999
Opponent Individual: 97 (TD) by Derrek Batson of East Carolina, 1992
Kickoff Returns
WVU Individual: 8 by Tavon Austin vs. Oklahoma, 2012
Opponent Individual: 7 by Brycen Alleyne of Delaware State, 2017; by Boo Boo Gates of Bowling Green, 2011; by Nathan Jones of Rutgers, 2001; by Gary Brown of Penn State,1988; by Bren Lowrey of WVUMaryland,1988 Team: 9 vs. Oklahoma, 2012; vs. Miami, 1986
Opponent Team: 10 by Bowling Green, 2011; by Connecticut, 2007; by Rutgers, 1995; by Rutgers, 2001
Two Teams: 15, vs. Oklahoma, 2012
Kickoff Return Yardage
WVU Individual: 199 by Tavon Austin vs. Kansas State, 2012
Opponent Individual: 202 by Mike Pringle of Cal State Fullerton, 1988
WVU Team: 235 vs. Kansas State, 2012
Opponent Team: 258 by Bowling Green, 2011
Two Teams: 397, vs. Louisville, 1993
Touchdowns On Kickoff Returns
WVU Individual: 1 by Mario Alford vs. Kansas (94 yards), 2014; by Tavon Austin vs. Kansas State (100 yards), 2012; vs. Marshall (100 yards), 2011; (98 yards) vs. Connecticut, 2009; by Shawn Terry (100 yards) vs. Syracuse, 2000; by Nate Terry (81 yards) vs. Temple, 1999; by Nate Terry (100 yards) vs. Temple, 1997; by Nate Terry (100 yards) vs.East Carolina, 1997; by Willie Drewrey (93 yards) vs. Syracuse, 1984
Opponent Individual: 1 by D’Ago Hunter (96 yards) of Towson 2022; by Pooka Williams (92 yards) of Kansas, 2020; by Alex Ross (100 yards) of Oklahoma, 2014; by Morris Claiborne (99 yards) of LSU, 2011; by Mardy Gilyard (100 yards) of Cincinnati, 2008; by Curt Warner (88 yards) of Penn State, 1980; by Jesse Williams (94 yards) of Richmond, 1980
WVU Team: 1 vs. Kansas, 2014; Kansas State, 2012; Marshall, 2011; Connecticut, 2009; vs. Maryland, 2006; vs. Syracuse, 2000; vs. Temple, 1999; vs. Temple, 1997; vs. East Carolina, 1997; vs. Syracuse, 1980
Opponent Team: 1 by Towson, 2022; by Kansas, 2020; Oklahoma, 2014; by LSU, 2011; by Cincinnati, 2008; by Richmond, 1980; by Penn State, 1980
Longest Kickoff Return
WVU: 100 by Tavon Austin vs. Kansas State, 2012; vs. Marshall, 2011; by Nate Terry vs. East Carolina, 1997; by Nate Terry vs. Temple, 1997; by Shawn Terry vs. Syracuse, 2000
Opponent: 100 (TD) by Alex Ross of Oklahoma, 2014; by Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati, 2008
Punts
WVU Individual: 10 by Mark Fazzolari vs. Virginia Tech, 2001; by Jody McKown vs. Pitt, 1981; by Curt Carion vs. Penn State, 1980
Opponent Individual: 14 by Trevor Pardulla of Kansas, 2014
WVU Team: 11 vs. Idaho, 2000
Opponent Team: 14 by Kansas, 2014
Two Teams: 20, vs. Cincinnati, 2003; vs. Pitt, 1981
Punt Average
WVU Individual: 54.3 (7-380) by Todd Sauerbrun vs. Maryland, 1994
Opponent Individual: 54.0 (3-162) by Dave Zastudil of Ohio, 2001
WVU Team: 54.3 (7-380) vs. Maryland, 1994
Opponent Team: 54.0 (3 162) by Ohio, 2001
Two Teams: 49.5 (7-347), vs. Ohio, 2001
Punt Yardage
WVU Individual: 437 by Mark Fazzolari vs. Virginia Tech, 2001
Opponent Individual: 621 by Trevor Pardulla of Kansas, 2014
WVU Team: 448 vs. Idaho, 2000
Opponent Team: 621 by Kansas, 2014
Two Teams: 857, vs. Ball State, 1994
Longest Punt
WVU Individual: 78 by Mark Fazzolari vs. Virginia Tech, 1999
Opponent Individual: 84 by Klaus Wilmsmeyer of Louisville, 1990
Most Interceptions
WVU Individual: 3 by Karl Joseph vs. Georgia Southern, 2015; by Vann Washington vs. Louisiana Tech, 1994; by Darrell Whitmore vs. Cincinnati, 1990
Opponent Individual: 2 by many players, most recent Doug Hogue of Syracuse, 2010
Longest TD Interception Return
WVU Individual: 97 by Vann Washington vs. Louisiana Tech, 1994
Opponent Individual: 86 by Cobee Bryant of Kansas, 2022
Longest Non-TD Interception Return
WVU Individual: 83 by Barrett Green vs. Rutgers, 1997
Opponent Individual: 73 by Curtis Wyatt of East Carolina, 1982
Longest Fumble Recovery Return
WVU Individual: 97 (TD) by Mike Collins vs. Missouri, 1993
Opponent Individual: 97 (TD) by Ernie Lewis of East Carolina, 1992
Fumbles
WVU: 8 vs. Penn State, 1980
Opponents: 7 by Tulsa, 1998; Cincinnati, 2003
Two Teams: 12 vs. Syracuse, 1990
Fumbles Lost
WVU: 5 vs. Syracuse, 1990; vs. Miami, Ohio, 1992
Opponents: 5 by Cincinnati, 2003
Two Teams: 8, vs. Cincinnati, 2003
Turnovers
WVU: 7 vs. Syracuse, 1990
Opponents: 8, by Rutgers, 2001
Two Teams: 10 vs. Cincinnati, 2003; 1990
Penalties
WVU: 16 vs. Rutgers, 2001
Opponents: 19 by Norfolk State, 2011
Two Teams: 32 vs. Baylor, 2014
Yards Penalized
WVU: 158 vs. Temple, 1983
Opponents: 215 by Baylor, 2014
Two Teams: 353 vs. Baylor, 2014
First Downs
WVU: 37 vs. Maryland, 2015
Opponents: 34 by Baylor, 2012
Two Teams: 67, vs. Baylor, 2012
First Downs Rushing
WVU: 22 vs. Cincinnati, 1987; vs. East Carolina, 2002
Cogdell, Damon (LB) Miami, Fla. 1997-98 Coker, John (WR) Johnsonville, S.C. 1974-75 Colaw, Ronald (FB) Oakland, Md. 1962-63-64 Cole, CJ Washington, Pa. 2024 Cole, Harry O. Morgantown, W.Va. 1894-95-96-97 Cole, Luther (E) Morgantown, W.Va. 1900-01-02 Cole, Robert Lee (E) Wheeling, W.Va. 1909 Colebank, Jasper (G). Evansville, W.Va. 1914-15 Collington, Ed (RB) Pittsburgh, Pa. 2007 Collins, Ben (LB) Barrackville, W.Va. 2000-01-02 Collins, Mike (DB) Huntington, W.Va. 1990-91-92-93C Colson, Jason (RB) Rochester, N.Y. 2003-04-05-06 Colvard, Frederick (QB) Logan, W.Va. 1961 Combs, Russell (QB) Penns Grove, N.J. 1946-47-48C Compton, Mike (OG-C) Richlands, Va. 1989-90-91-92C Commodore, Shane (S) Morgantown, W.Va. 2016-17 Conochan, Pat (C) Cleveland, Ohio 1978-79-80 Connolly, Carmen (WR) Pittsburgh, Pa. 2009 Conoway, Ernest Daniel (G)Enterprise, W.Va. 1910 Conte, John (C) Morgantown, W.Va. 1998-99 Contraguerro, Tom (LB) Wheeling, W.Va. 2007 Conwell, Dane (FB) South Point, Ohio 1978-79-80-81 Cobourne, Avon (RB) Cherry Hill, N.J. 1999-2000-01C-02C Cogdell, Damon (LB) Miami, Fla. 1997-98 Coker, John (WR) Johnsonville, S.C. 1974 75 Colaw, Ronald (FB) Oakland, Md. 1962 63 64 Cole, CJ (WR) Washington, Pa. 2023 Cole, Harry O. Morgantown, W.Va. 1894-95 96-97 Cole, Luther (E) Morgantown, W.Va. 1900-01-02 Cole, Robert Lee (E) Wheeling, W.Va. 1909 Colebank, Jasper (G). Evansville, W.Va. 1914 15 Collington, Ed (RB) Pittsburgh, Pa. 2007 Collins, Ben (LB) Barrackville, W.Va. 2000-01-02 Collins, Mike (DB) Huntington, W.Va. 1990-91-92-93C Collins III, Raleigh (S) Newark, Del. 2022 Colson, Jason (RB) Rochester, N.Y. 2003-04-05-06 Colvard, Frederick (QB) Logan, W.Va. 1961 Combs, Russell (QB) Penns Grove, N.J. 1946 47 48C Compton, Mike (OG-C) Richlands, Va. 1989-90-91-92C Commodore, Shane (S) Morgantown, W.Va. 2016-17 Conochan, Pat (C) Cleveland, Ohio 1978 79 80 Connolly, Carmen (WR) Pittsburgh, Pa. 2009
Conoway, Ernest Daniel (G) Enterprise, W.Va. 1910 Conte, John (C) Morgantown, W.Va. 1998-99 Contraguerro, Tom (LB) Wheeling, W.Va. 2007 Conwell, Dane (FB) South Point, Ohio 1978 79 80 81
Cook, Darwin (S) Cleveland, Ohio 2010-11-12-13C Cook, Glynn (G) Beckley, W.Va............................1944 Cook, Larry (OG) Oceana, W.Va.......................1989-90 Cookman, Donald (D) Romney, W.Va. 1964-65-66 Cooley, Doug (OT) Lancaster, Mass. 1991
Dolly, Rick (DL) Keyser, W.Va. 1989-90-91-92C Domen, Thomas (C) Frederickstown, Pa. 1955-56-57 Donahue, Reese (DL) Ona, W.Va. 2016-17-18-19C Donaldson, Charles (C) Jeannette, Pa. 1951-52-53-54C Donaldson Jr., CJ (RB) Miami, Fla. 2022-23-24 Donley, Edward G.(C) Morgantown, W.Va. 1897-98 Dorn, Gregory (C) Bridgeville, Pa. 1973-74-75
Dorr, Lorenzo (RB) Fredericksburg, Va. 2018
Dorsey, Arlen (RB) Chicago, Ill. 2005 Dorsey, Michael (S) Warren, Ohio 2010 Dotson, Leo (FB) Richwood, W.Va.....................1930-31 Dougher, William (E). Ronceverte, W.Va. 1915 Douglas, Jarod (WR) Procious, W.Va. 2005 Douglas, Rasul (CB) East Orange, N.J. 2015-16 Dowell, Lee (RB) Charlottesville, Va. 1976 Doyle, John (HB) Pennsboro, W.Va. 1929-30-31C Dragovich, Gregory (C) Keystone, W.Va. 1966 Drewrey, Willie (WR) Columbus, N.J. 1981-82-83-84 Drobeck, Morris (HB) Martins Ferry, Ohio 1930-31-32 Drumgoole, Lawrence (DB) Baltimore, Md. 1987-88-89 Dubouse, Kelvin (DT) Havaco, W.Va. 2002 Duffield, Jim (MG) St. Albans, W.Va..........................1986 Dugan, Edwin (HB) Uniontown, Pa. 1952-53-54 Duggan, Richard (TE) Vienna, W.Va. 1976-77-78-79C Dunkerley, Benton (T) Glassport, Pa. 1951-52 Dunlap, Stephen (LB) Hurricane, W.Va. 1973-74-75 Dunlevy, Robert (WR) Wheeling, W.Va. 1963 64 65 Dunnigan, Randy (OG) Dublin, Va. 1995-96-97-98 Durante, Jovon (WR) Miami, Fla. 2015-16 Durojaiye, Tomiwa (DL) Middletown, Del. 2023 Durrette, Mike (OG) Charlottesville, Va. 1980-81 Dutton, Robert (HB) Weston, W.Va. 1942-43C Dyer, Bill (OG) Summersville, W.Va. 1981 Dykes, Keilen (DT) Youngstown, Ohio 2004-05-06-07C Dykes, Greg (WR) Cleveland, Ohio 1989 Dziak, Justin (FB) Latrobe, Pa. 2004-06
E
Earley, Steve (OG) Apollo, Pa...................1974-75-76C Easley, Walter (FB) Charleston, W.Va. 1976-77-79-80 Eastwood, Jack (DE) Nitro, W.Va.................. 1973-74-75C Eddy, Jeff (TE) Parkersburg, W.Va. 1984 Edmonds, Chris (LB) Pittsburgh, Pa. 1997-98-99-2000C Edwards, Calvin (OT) Richmond, Va. 1992-93-94 Edwards, Stephen D. (WB) Duquesne, Pa. 1966
Edwards, Stephen H. (T) St. Albans, W.Va.....................1961-62
Edwards, Willie (DB) Morgantown, W.Va. 1985-86-87-88 Eger, Pat (OL) Clairton, Pa. 2011-12-13C Ekberg, Gustavius (FB) Minneapolis, Minn. 1922-23-24 Eliopulos, Mark (LB) Belpre, Ohio 1974-75 Eller, Charles (E) Grafton, W.Va. 1936-37-38 Elliott, Charles (T) Adamstown, W.Va. 1896 Ellis, Glennis (HB) Morgantown, W.Va. 1938-39-40 Ellis, Theron (LB) Norristown, Pa. 1987-88-89-90 Ely, Richard 1896 Emanuel, Charles (SS) Indiantown, Fla. 1993-94-95-96C Embick, Danny (QB) Jupiter, Fla. 2002 Emery, Andy (LB) Morgantown, W.Va. 2006-07 Emsweller, Samuel (C) Morgantown, W.Va. 1919-20 Engle, Mike (DB) Beaver Falls, Pa. 1979-80-81 English, Frank (LB) Roanoke, Va. 2001 Enick, Mike (OG) McCullough, Pa. 1999-2000 Ernst, Howard Mark (FB) Thompson, Ohio 1904-05-06 Esdale, Isaiah (WR) Newark, Del.. 2019-20-21 Estrada, Angel (DB) Bronx, N.Y. 2001-02 Evans, Aaron (FB) Richmond, Va. 1988-89 Evans, Billy (WR) Bethel Park, Pa.................1979-80-81 Evans, Dale (QB) Thomas, W.Va. 1960-61 Evans, Tyshun (DB) Miami, Fla. 1997 Everly, John (WR) New Cumberland, W.Va. 1972-73-74 Ezemma, Dozie (DE) Pomona, N.Y. 2012 F Fairbanks, Terry (E) Parsons, W.Va.....................1957-58C Fagan, Dontez (CB) Ardmore, Okla. 2024 Farley, Dale (LB) Sparta, Tenn. 1968-69-70 Farley, Francis (HB) Charleston, W.Va. 1924-25-26 Farley, Richard (HB) Huntington, W.Va. 1944 Farley, William Don (OT) Hinton, W.Va. 1973 Farmer, Ric’Darious (WR) Melbourne, Fla. 2024 Faulkner, Frank Albright, W.Va. 1896 Faverus, Jairo (LB) Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2022-23 Fazzolari, Mark (P) Washington, Pa. 1999-2000-01-02 Federovitch, Frank (G) Allison, Pa. 1951-52-53 Fedorco, Charlie (WR) Berwick, Pa....................1988-89-90 Feigt, Curtis (OL) Berlin, Germany 2011-12-13 Feldman, Lewis (T) Cos Cobb, Conn. 1948 Ferns, Brendan (LB) St. Clairsville, Ohio 2017-18 Ferns, Michael (TE/FB) St. Clairsville, Ohio 2016 Ferrara, Louis (G) Morgantown, W.Va. 1929-30 Fette, Jeffrey (K) Danville, N.J. 1975-76 Fewell, Michael (MG) Winfield, W.Va. 1965-66-67 Fiber, Clarence (OG) Clarksburg, W.Va. 1966-68 Fidler, Louis (G) Ashland, Ky. 1933-34 Fields, Jaleel (DL) Aliquippa, Pa. 2017 Fields Jr., Randy (WR) Newark, Del. 2019
Fields, Rory (DB) Berwind, W.Va. 1974
Fields II, Tony (LB) Las Vegas, Nev. 2020 Figner, Jake (OT/OG) Fogelsville, Pa. 2005-06-07-08
Filozof, Mike (OT) West Hazelton, Pa. 1989 Finnerty, John (DB) Pittsburgh, Pa. 1966-67-68 Fiorante, A. Chuck (QB) New Castle, Pa. 1973-74 Fisher, Charles (DT) Charleston, W.Va. 1968-69-70 Fisher, Charles (DB) Aliquippa, Pa. 1995-96-97-98 Fisher, Gerald (QB)...............Jeannette, Pa. 1951
Fisher, James (LB) Charleston, W.Va. 1965 Fisher, Ken (WR) New Martinsville, W.Va. 1994-95-96-97
San Francisco 49ers (NFL) 2020-24 Mclee, Boo (2003-04-05-06) Green Bay Blizzard (AFL2) 2008 Meredith, Russell (1917-20-21-22) Louisville Brecks (NFL) 1923 Cleveland Bulldogs (NFL) 1925 Merritts, Jim (1982-83) Indianapolis Colts (NFL%) 1987 Merrow, Jeff (1972-73-74)
(NFL)
(2008-09-10-11)
(AFL)
(AFL)
Rams (NFL)
Moran, James (1946-47-48) Wilkes-Barre Barons (AFL) 1949 Morrison, Edward (1924-25-26)
Frankford Yellowjackets (NFL)...................1927 Mullen, Gary (1981-82-83-84)
Chicago Bears (NFL%) 1987
Denver Dynamite (AFL)
Los Angeles Cobras (AFL)
Drive (AFL)
Rockers (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm (AFL) 1994 Milwaukee Mustangs (AFL) 1995 Mundy, Ryan (2007) Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) 2009-12
New York Giants (NFL) 2013
Chicago Bears (NFL) 2014-15 Murrell, Adrian (1990-91-92)
New York Jets (NFL) 1993-97
Arizona Cardinals (NFL) 1998-99
Washington Redskins (NFL) 2000 Napoleon, Eugene (1987-88-89)
Tampa Bay Storm (AFL) 1992
Orlando Predators (AFL) 1992 Nardacci, Nicholas (1921-22-23-24)
Cleveland Bulldogs (NFL) 1925 Neild, Chris (2007-08-09-10C)
Washington Redskins (NFL) 2011-14 Nicely, Joseph (1956-57)
Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 1958 Nimmo, Lance (1999-2000-01-02)
Cologne Centurions (NFLE) 2004
Oliker, Aaron (1924-25-26)
Pottsville Maroons (NFL) 1926 Orlando, Bo (1985-86-87-88)
Houston Oilers (NFL) 1990-94
San Diego Chargers (NFL) 1995
Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) 1996-97
Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) 1998 Orr, Thomas (1990-91-92-93)
Connecticut Coyotes (AFL) 1996
New York CityHawks (AFL) 1997 Ours, Wes (1998-99-2000)
Indianapolis Colts (NFL) 2001
Tennessee Titans (NFL) 2001
Amsterdam Admirals (NFLE) 2003
Los Angeles Avengers (AFL) 2004-05
Philadelphia Soul (AFL) 2006-08
ZACH FRAZIER
NAME (YEARS LETTERED AT WVU)
TEAM/LEAGUE YEARS
Owens, Artie (1972-73-74-75)
San Diego Chargers (NFL) 1976-78
Buffalo Bills (NFL) 1980
New England Patriots (NFL) 1980
Philadelphia Stars (USFL) 1983
Page, Solomon (1996-97-98)
Dallas Cowboys (NFL) 1999-2002
San Diego Chargers (NFL) 2003
Pankey, Adam (2013-14-15-16)
Green Bay Packers (NFL) 2017-18
Miami Dolphins (NFL) 2019-21
New York Jets (NFL) 2022
Dallas Cowboys (NFL) 2023
Parriott, William (1930-31-32)
Cincinnati Reds (NFL) 1934
Perkins, Steve (1992-93-94)
St. Louis Stampede AFL) 1996
Porter, Jerry (1997-98-99)
Oakland Raiders (NFL) 2000-07
Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) 2008
Pridemore, Tom (1975-76-77)
Atlanta Falcons (NFL) 1978-85
Proctor, Basil (1988-89)
Sacramento Surge (WLAF) 1992
Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) 1993
Sacramento Gold Miners (CFL) 1993
Florida Bobcats (AFL) 1996
Connecticut Coyotes (AFL) 1996
New Jersey Red Dogs (AFL) 1997
Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL) 1998
Iowa Barnstormers (AFL) 1999
New York Dragons (AFL) 2002
Purnell, Lovett (1993-94-95)
New England Patriots (NFL) 1996-98
Baltimore Ravens (NFL) 1999
Chicago Enforcers (XFL) 2001
Raugh, Mark (1979-80-81-82)
Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL) 1984
Memphis Showboats (USFL) 1985
Ray, John (1989-90-91)
Indianapolis Colts (NFL) 1993
Rembert, Reggie (88-89)
Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) 1990-93
Reynaud, Darius (2005-06-07)
Minnesota Vikings (NFL) 2008-09
New York Giants (NFL) 2010-11
Tennessee Titans (NFL) 2012
New York Jets (NFL) 2013
Richardson, Kent (2006-07-08-09)
Philadelphia Soul (AFL) 2011-15
Orlando Predators (AFL) 2016
Cleveland Gladiators (AFL) 2017
Philadelphia Soul (AFL) 2017
Washington Valor (AFL) 2018
Riddick, Shaq (2014)
Arizona Cardinals (NFL) 2015
Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) 2016
Riley, Dave (1975-76-77)
Philadelphia Stars (USFL) 1983-84
Baltimore Stars (USFL) 1985
Robsock, Tom (1992-93-94)
Oakland Raiders (NFL) 1995
Robinson Jr., Kenny (2017-18)
St. Louis Battlehawks (XFL) 2020
Carolina Panthers (NFL) 2020-22
Birmingham Stallions (UFL) 2024
Russ, Bernard (1995-96)
New England Patriots (NFL) 1997-99
Scottish Claymores (NFLE) 1999
Ryan, Clarence (1926-27-28)
Buffalo Bisons (NFL) 1929
Sanders, Jock (2007-08-09-10)
British Columbia Lions (CFL) 2011-12
Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) 2013
Calgary Stampeders (CFL) 2014
Sands, Robert (2008-09-10)
Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) 2011-12
Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 2014
Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) 2016
Sauerbrun, Todd (1991-92-93-94)
Chicago Bears (NFL) 1995-99
Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) 2000
Carolina Panthers (NFL) 2001-04
Denver Broncos (NFL) 2005, 07
New England Patriots (NFL) 2006
Saunders, David (1995-96-98)
New Jersey Red Dogs (AFL) 2000
New Jersey Gladiators (AFL) 2001
Tampa Bay Storm (AFL) 2002-03, 2007-08
Columbus Destroyers (AFL) 2004-06
(YEARS LETTERED AT WVU) TEAM/LEAGUE YEARS NAME (YEARS LETTERED AT WVU)
APFA - American Professional Football Association (1920-21)
NFL - National Football League (1920-2015)
USFL - United States Football League (198385/2023)
WFL - World Football League (1974-75)
CFL - Canadian Football League
AA - American Association (1936-41)
AFL - American Football League (1937-41)
AFL - American Football League (1946-50)
DFL - Dixie Football League (1936-47)
NFLE - National Football League Europe (1998-2003)
PCFL - Pacific Coast Football League (1940-48)
AFL - Arena Football League (1987-2014)
WLAF - World League of American Football (1991-97)
AFL2 - Arena Football League2 (2000-09)
XFL - Xtreme Football League
UFL - United Football League (2011, 2024-25)
UIFL - United Indoor Football League (2011-12)
IFL - Indoor Football League (2014)
This list was compiled by the West Virginia University Athletics Communications Office. Any corrections or additions are requested. This list is complete through the 2025 professional football season. Inclusion is based on at least one game of active service on the roster of any professional football team recognized by the Pro Football Researchers Association. Research on the Canadian Football League was supplied by independent researcher Jay Langhammer of Fort Worth, Texas. Arena Football League listings were supplied by Jennifer Boehm and Neil Boudreaux.
DANTE STILLS
NFL DRAFT PICKS
2025 3 89 Jacksonville Jaguars Wyatt Milum OG 2021-24
2024 2 51 Pittsburgh Steelers Zach Frazier C 2020-23
2021 5 153 Cleveland Browns Tony Fields II LB 2020
2020 5 152 Carolina Panthers Kenny Robinson Jr S 2017-18
5 153 San Francisco 49ers Colton McKivitz OT 2016-19 2019 3 100 Carolina Panthers Will Grier QB 2017-18
3 101 New England Patriots Yodny Cajuste OT 2015-18
4 120 Seattle Seahawks Gary Jennings Jr WR 2015-18
4 121 New York Jets Trevon Wesco TE 2016-18
6 188 Tennessee Titans David Long Jr LB 2015-18 2018 4 119 Los Angeles Chargers Kyzir White S 2016-17
2017 3 99 Philadelphia Eagles Rasul Douglas CB 2015-16
5 166 Philadelphia Eagles Shelton Gibson WR 2014-16
2016 1 14 Oakland Raiders Karl Joseph SS 2012-15
3 77 Carolina Panthers Daryl Worley CB 2013-15
4 113 Chicago Bears Nick Kwiatkoski ILB 2012-15
5 153 Philadelphia Eagles Wendell Smallwood RB 2013-15
5 159 Houston Texans K.J. Dillon SS 2012-15 2015 1 7 Chicago Bears Kevin White WR 2013-14
4 134 Seattle Seahawks Mark Glowinski G 2013-14
5 158 Arizona Cardinals Shaq Riddick DE 2014
7 238 Cincinnati Bengals Mario Alford WR 2013-14
2014 3 69 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Charles Sims RB 2013
3 88 Cincinnati Bengals Will Clarke DE 2011-13
2013 1 8 St. Louis Rams Tavon Austin WR 2009-12
2 39 New York Jets Geno Smith QB 2009-12
3 92 St. Louis Rams Stedman Bailey WR 2010-12
2012 1 15 Seattle Seahawks Bruce Irvin DE 2010-11
5 140 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Najee Goode LB 2008-11
6 174 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Keith Tandy DB 2009-11
2011 4 98 Carolina Panthers Brandon Hogan DB 2007-10
5 134 Cincinnati Bengals Robert Sands DB 2008-10
6 195 Chicago Bears J.T. Thomas LB 2007-10
7 253 Washington Redskins Chris Neild DT 2007-10
2010 7 231 Washington Redskins Selvish Capers T 2007-09 2009 2
2005-08
7 220 Buffalo Bills Ellis Lankster DB 2007-08
7 222 Indianapolis Colts Pat McAfee K 2005-08
3 89 Houston Texans Steve Slaton RB 2005-07
5 163 Seattle Seahawks Owen Schmitt FB 2005-07
6 194 Pittsburgh Steelers Ryan Mundy DB 2007 2006 6 179 Detroit Lions Dee McCann DB 2004-05 2005 1 6 Tennessee Titans Adam Jones DB 2002-04
3 83 Cincinnati Bengals Chris Henry WR 2003-04
5 174 San Francisco 49ers Rasheed Marshall WR 2001-04 2004 7 219 Atlanta Falcons Quincy Wilson RB 1999, 2001-03 2003 4 130
2
WYATT MILUM
JEFF HOSTETLER
WVU PRESIDENT MICHAEL T. BENSON
Michael T. Benson, a veteran higher education administrator, became the 27th president of West Virginia University on July 15, 2025. He brings three decades of academic and administrative experience in higher education to his role leading West Virginia’s flagship, land-grant, R1 institution into a new era.
WVU is Benson’s fifth presidency. Prior to his arrival at Coastal Carolina in 2021, Benson led Snow College, Southern Utah University, and Eastern Kentucky University. During his tenure at Coastal Carolina, Benson secured a $10 million gift, the largest in the school’s history. He worked closely with community partners and policymakers to advance initiatives there, including the successful renewal of a local option penny sales tax to support public and higher education through the year 2039, the only tax of its kind in all of South Carolina.
In 2024, under his leadership, Coastal Carolina enrolled its largest number of students ever11,225 - while also setting a record retention rate.
As the 14th president of Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, he helped raise more private money for the institution during his tenure than had been secured in the previous 115 years of the college’s history combined.
Appointed at age 36, Benson was the youngest college president in the history of the Utah System of Higher Education.
Benson has also held faculty appointments at the University of Utah, the University of Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins University, and has taught at each institution where he served as president, including Coastal Carolina where he was a professor of history.
His scholarly work has focused on the development of the research university and its impact on society. Benson’s book, “Daniel Coit Gilman and the Birth of the American Research University,” was released by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2022. He was a visiting professor in the Department of the History of
Science and Technology at Johns Hopkins in 2020. Benson’s biography of Gilman was named to the list of Best Higher Education Books of 2023 by Forbes magazine.
Benson is also the author of “Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel,” and, with co-author Hal Boyd, published “College for the Commonwealth: A Case for Higher Education in American Democracy” with the University Press of Kentucky. Nationally, Benson serves on the Council of Presidents of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. He also is the past board chair of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society and is the former chair of the NCAA Honors Committee.
Benson is sought after for public speeches and appearances. He was a featured contributor to the Huffington Post for 5 years; has written articles for The Jerusalem Post, Lexington HeraldLeader, Louisville Courier Journal, The Kansas City Star, Deseret News, and The Salt Lake Tribune, among others; and appeared on ESPN’s The Paul Finebaum Show.
Born in Utah and raised in Texas and Indiana, Benson has worked and studied abroad for nearly 7 years in Italy, England, and Israel. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science and double minors in English and history from Brigham Young University in 1990. He completed his doctorate in modern history from the University of Oxford (St. Antony’s College) in 1995, where he was a Rotary Foundation
Scholar and recipient of the Oxford Graduate Overseas Fellowship.
He also earned a master’s degree cum laude in nonprofit administration in 2011 from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, where he was the recipient of the prestigious Father Theodore Hesburgh Founder’s Award. Benson graduated with a Master of Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University in August 2021 and was elected to the Honor Society of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs.
An accomplished athlete, President Benson played basketball at BYU and Oxford, and his best marathon time – 2 hours and 41 minutes – won his age division in the St. George (Utah) Marathon. He also finished among the top 25% of all runners in the 1984 Boston Marathon, one of only 19 teenagers from around the world to compete in the race.
An avid traveler, he has visited all 50 states and five of the seven continents.
He and his wife, Debi, are the parents of three children – Truman, Tatum, and Talmage. He also has two older children from a previous marriage. Emma is a TV reporter for KSL in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Samuel writes for Politico in Washington, D.C. Sam’s wife, Keylla, is in her first year at Georgetown Law School.
Follow President Benson on X @michaeltbenson
WREN BAKER
Wren Baker has changed the face of West Virginia University Athletics. He has reenergized the department and set it up for long-term success in the everchanging world of college athletics. Whether it’s coaching searches, facility master plans, revenue sharing or a modern, business-like approach to Name, Image and Likeness, Baker has faced every challenge head on and has never looked back. He has brought new thinking and confidence to WVU Athletics, and his reputation across the country is second-to-none.
Baker is a high-energy leader, and Mountaineer success has been contagious in competition and in the classroom. Conference championships, NCAA appearances and a national championship have been followed by strong academic achievement for Mountaineer student-athletes, eclipsing previous department GPA highs. Under Baker, WVU has also turned in record fundraising numbers as his forward thinking and strategic planning are geared to bringing future success and revenue stability to the state’s LandGrant Institution.
Baker was an instant hit with WVU fans. In his first year in Morgantown, he traveled the state to learn its culture, geography, and history. He has met and listened to Mountaineer fans from all over the world and immersed himself on what it means to be a proud West Virginian. The results of his approach and work ethic speak volumes as the West Virginia Mountaineers continue to be a national brand.
Despite accomplishing so much in a short period of time, Baker’s plate is still full. Continued revenue generation, launching an NIL full-service business agency for student-athlete advancement and premium seating options in his two major sports venues are still on his radar for the coming year. His endless energy never stops moving WVU forward.
Then WVU President E. Gordon Gee named Baker as WVU’s vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics on Nov. 30, 2022. He has oversight of 18 varsity sports, a department budget of more than $90 million, approximately 250 employees and nearly 500 studentathletes.
Baker is WVU’s 13th director of athletics and came to Morgantown from the University of North Texas,
where he had been the associate vice president and athletics director since 2016. With previous stops at Missouri, Memphis, Northwest Missouri and Rogers State, he brought more than 20 years of experience to WVU.
At North Texas, seven Mean Green programs combined to win 17 conference or division championships during Baker’s tenure. UNT also reached new heights in the classroom under Baker’s leadership, posting its top APR scores and four consecutive department Graduation Success Rate (GSR) records. Baker led record fundraising years at North Texas, and the overall top five largest gifts ever at UNT came under Baker’s leadership.
Prior to North Texas, Baker was the deputy director of athletics at Missouri from 2015 to 2016, serving as the top advisor and chief of staff.
Before Missouri, he spent time at Memphis from 2013-15 as deputy athletics director.
From 2011-13, Baker was athletics director at NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State. From 200611, Baker served as the first athletics director at Rogers State in Claremore, Oklahoma, where he was also the school’s first men’s basketball coach. His team went 20-11 in his only season at the helm, and during his tenure, he developed a full-scale, competitive collegiate athletics program. In 2005, he was the principal and athletics
director for Valliant Public Schools, and at age 26, was the youngest principal in Oklahoma history.
Originally from Valliant, Oklahoma, Baker earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Southeastern Oklahoma State in 2001 where he was a member of the honors program. He went on to earn his master’s degree in education leadership from Oklahoma State in 2003.
While at Oklahoma State, Baker was a graduate assistant and basketball operations assistant for the Cowboys’ men’s basketball program under legendary head coach Eddie Sutton. During his time with OSU, the Cowboys posted a 102-30 record, reaching four NCAA tournaments with trips to the 2004 Final Four and the 2005 Sweet 16. Baker and his wife, Heather, a Bokchito, Oklahoma, native, have two daughters, Addisyn and Reagan.
Wren Baker Through The Years
2001-05 Oklahoma State University
Basketball Operations Assistant 2005-06 Valliant Public Schools Director of Athletics/Principal 2006-10 Rogers State University Director of Athletics
2010-13 Northwest Missouri State Director of Athletics 2013-15 University of Memphis
Deputy Director of Athletics 2015-16 University of Missouri
Deputy Director of Athletics 2016-22 University of North Texas Vice President/Director of Athletics 2022- West Virginia University Vice President/Director of Athletics
THE BAKER FAMILY: Reagan, Addisyn, Heather and Wren
WVU INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
STEVE SABINS Head Baseball Coach
SEAN COVICH Head Golf Coach
ROSS HODGE Head Men’s Basketball Coach
TIM FLYNN Head Wrestling Coach
JEN GREENY Head Volleyball Coach
JON HAMMOND Hayhurst Family Head Rifle Coach
NIKKI IZZO-BROWN Head Women’s Soccer Coach
OMAR BANKS
NATASHA
WELLS
MICHAEL FRAGALE Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director,/ Communications
APRIL MESSERLY Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Capital Projects, Facilities and Event Management
DAVID KOOGER Senior Associate Athletics Director, Governance and Compliance
JASON BUTTS Head Gymnastics Coach
SEAN CLEARY Head Cross Country/ Track and Field Coach
ROB ALSOP Senior Deputy Athletics Director
MARK KELLOGG Hayhurst Family Head Women’s Basketball Coach
JIMMY KING Head Rowing Coach
MIHA LISAC Head Tennis Coach
DAN STRATFORD Head Men’s Soccer Coach
BRENT MACDONALD Head Swimming and Diving Coach
RICH RODRIGUEZ Head Football Coach
WVU INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS 2024-25
National Champion
Ceili McCabe, Indoor Track and Field
Conference Major Awards
Joy Naukot, Cross Country (Big 12 Women’s Newcomer of the Year)
Gavin Barnick, Rifle (GARC Shooter of the Year, GARC Senior of the Year)
Ashlyn Blake, Rifle (GARC Rookie of the Year)
Wyatt Milum, Football (Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (Coaches) & Big 12 Offensive Tackle of the Year (College Football Network))
Josiah Trotter, Football (Big 12 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year)
JJ Quinerly, Women’s Basketball (Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year)
Ceili McCabe, Cross Country (Big 12 Women’s Runner of the Year)
First-Team Academic All-Americans
Ryan Baer, Men’s Soccer, CSC
Max Broughton, Men’s Soccer, CSC, USC
Emily Bryce, Cross Country/Track, USTFCCCA
Ian Bush, Wrestling, NWCA
Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer, CSC
Michael Dolan, Wrestling, NWCA
Caleb Dowling, Wrestling, NWCA
Peyton Hall, Wrestling, NWCA
Mason Kernan, Wrestling, NWCA
Rune Lawrence, Wrestling, NWCA
Ceili McCabe, Cross Country/Track, USTFCCCA
Tommy Maddox, Wrestling, NWCA
Sergio Ors Navarro, USC
Owen Recker, Swimming and Diving, CSCAA
Jace Schafer, Wrestling, NWCA
Sarah Tait, Cross Country/Track, USTFCCCA
Madison Trippett, Cross Country/Track, USTFCCCA
National Awards & Recognition
Austin Brinkman, Football (Patick Mannelly Award semifinalist)
Garrett Greene, Football (AFCA Allstate Good Works Team & Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist)
Wyatt Milum, football (Outland Trophy semifinalist)
Josiah Trotter, football (Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalist)
JJ Quinerly, women’s basketball (Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist, Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Top 10, USBWA Ann Meyers Dreysdale Midseason Watch List, Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List)
Regional & State Awards & Recognition
Emily Bryce, Cross Country (All Mid-Atlantic Region)
Baseball: 44-16, 19-9 Big 12; Big 12 Regular Season Champions; 12; NCAA Super Regionals
Men’s Basketball: 19-13, 10-10-14 Big 12 - Tied for 7th
Women’s Basketball: 25-8, 13-5 Big 12 - Tied for 4th; NCAA Second Round
Cross Country: 2nd at Big 12 Championship; 1st at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals; NCAA Runner-up Football: 6-7, 5-4 Big 12 - 5th; Frisco Bowl
Golf: 13th at Big 12 Championship; 5th at National Golf Invitational
Gymnastics: 4-14, 0-6 Big 12; 7th at Big 12 Championship
Rowing: 6th at Big 12 Championship
Rifle: 13-0, 5-0 GARC; GARC Regular Season and Tournament Champions; NCAA Champions
Men’s Soccer: 13-2-7, 5-0-4 Sun Belt; Sun Belt Regular Season and Conference Champions; NCAA Second Round
Women’s Soccer: 12-5-3, 8-2-1 Big 12; 3rd in Big 12; NCAA Tournament
Men’s Swimming and Diving: 1-4, 7th at Big 12 Championship
Women’s Swimming and Diving: 1-5, 9th at Big 12 Championship
Women’s Tennis: 8-17, 2-11 Big 12 - 15th
Women’s Track & Field: 4th at Big 12 Indoor Championships; 13th at Big 12 Outdoor Championships
Volleyball: 8-22, 2-16 Big 12 - 15th
Wrestling: 10-7, 4-6 Big 12; 6th at Big 12 Championships; tied for 18th at NCAA Championships
NCAA Team Qualifiers
Baseball
Women’s Basketball
Cross Country
Gymnastics
Rifle
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Soccer
NCAA Individual Qualifiers
Owen Recker, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Ian Bush, Wrestling
Peyton Hall, Wrestling
Dennis Robin, Wrestling
Jett Strickenberger, Wrestling
Jordan Titus, Wrestling
Kaleb Wilson, Golf
Anna Leigh, Gymnastics
Sophia Rice, Gymnastics
Karleigh DiCello, Gymnastics
Ceili McCabe, Indoor Track and Field
Sarah Tait, Outdoor Track and Field
Joy Naukot, Outdoor Track and Field
Individual Conference Champions
Ceili McCabe, Cross Country, Indoor Track and Field
Peyton Hall, Wrestling
Jett Strickenberger, Wrestling
Gavin Barnick, Rifle (smallbore)
Ashlyn Blake, Rifle (air rifle)
Sarah Tait, Indoor Track and Field
Carlene Temple, Indoor Track and Field
Kishay Rowe, Indoor Track and Field
Sarah Tait, Outdoor Track and Field
Joy Naukot, Outdoor Track and Field
MEDIA INFORMATION WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Following are some guidelines for covering the 2025 Mountaineers.
Credentials: All requests for working press, photo and broadcast credentials to cover West Virginia’s 2025 home football games must be applied for online at http://www.sportssystems.com/westvirginia at least two weeks prior to the game. Requests submitted the week of the game only will be honored if space permits.
Due to the demand for working credentials, media regularly assigned to cover WVU and the visiting school will receive priority.
All photographers must work outside the 20-yard lines as prescribed by the NCAA; they are not permitted in the bench area extended. Photographers must sign in for field access in the press box prior to each game.
No children (under the age of 16) are allowed on the sidelines during the game for any reason; any children on the sidelines will be removed, along with their guardians.
Any abuse of a working credential to West Virginia football games can result in the media agency losing credential privileges for the remainder of 2025 and possibly the entire 2026 home season.
After The Game: Coach Rich Rodriguez will conduct a postgame news conference in the Milan Puskar Center Team Room. Rodriguez’s news conference also can be heard over the press box PA. Select WVU players also will be available in the team room. No media will be granted access to the West Virginia locker room.
During The Week: Coach Rich Rodriguez will meet with the media each Tuesday afternoon at noon in the Team Room at the Puskar Center. Mountaineer coordinators and select players will be available for interviews each Tuesday from 12:30 – 2 p.m. This is also the best time for players to return calls to out-of-town media. They will be available to return phone calls on Tuesday and Wednesday as class and practice schedules permit. Any special arrangements for player interviews should be made through assistant athletics director/ football communications Mike Montoro at least a day in advance. Players will not be asked to miss class or study hall for interviews and at no time will a player’s phone number be given to the media. No player interviews will be conducted during practice sessions. The practice and interview schedule for preseason camp and game weeks will be announced in August.
DIRECTIONS TO PRESS PARKING AREA (RED AND BROWN LOTS)
From I-79: Take the Star City/WVU exit. Cross the Star City Bridge and proceed up Monongahela Boulevard toward the Coliseum. At the Coliseum traffic light, turn left onto Patteson Drive. At the third traffic light, turn right onto University Avenue. Travel approximately ½ mile and make a left toward the WVU Law School. Proceed up the hill where attendants will direct you to the Red Media parking area. A shuttle van runs continuously from the media lots to the press box.
From I-68: Take the Pierpont Road exit and follow signs to the stadium. At the second traffic light off the interstate, turn left and travel up Easton Hill. Count two more traffic lights and take the roundabout second exit to the right and turn right on Route 705 and stay on this highway as it becomes Chestnut Ridge Road. Turn left at the sixth traffic light onto Van Voorhis Road, and make another left at the second traffic light onto University Ave. Travel approximately ½ mile and make a left toward the WVU Law School. Proceed up the hill where attendants will direct you to the Red Media area. A shuttle van runs continuously from the media lots to the press box.
COMMUNICATIONS
MICHAEL FRAGALE Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/ Communications
LISA AMMONS Business Manager
CHARLES MONTGOMERY Assistant Director of Athletics Communications/ Operations
MIKE MONTORO Assistant Athletics Director/ Football Communications (Primary Contact)
