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Dominion Post
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
WVU opens camp needing answers at quarterback, defense
MORGANTOWN — The West Virginia football season is almost here. On July 30, WVU starts its first day of training camp, preparing for the 2025 season opener on Aug. 30 against Robert Morris. The practice field will have pads clashing, whistles blown, water bottles squeezed, and Rich Rodriguez yelling, 'spot the ball.' WVU football will be back, with shades of the early 2000s, because Rodriguez is back at the helm. Training camp isn't a time to reminisce about the old times because there's a lot of work and questions, with so much unknown this season. There are 70-plus transfers and a whole new coaching staff. Finally, Rodriguez knows who's on his roster, despite still putting names to faces. Training camp is the time to answer some of the questions before the first game. There are a lot, but here are some of the biggest questions before training camp starts. The biggest question on every fan's mind, and even Rodriguez's, is who will be the signal caller when the first offensive snap goes off for WVU. Rodriguez didn't name a starter all through spring camp and didn't name one during his couple of interviews at Big 12 Media Day in July. No one knows. Some fans even wanted BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff to join the room. There's no clear favorite, either, at least according to Rodriguez. He has to pick between WVU returner Nicco Marchiol, Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson, or Charlotte transfer Max Brown. All three have taken snaps at the Division I level at some point. Rodriguez even said he's like what he saw from the younger guys. Marchiol is the most well-known by WVU fans. He's been a Mountaineer since 2022 and started in two games last season, going 2-0. If Neal Brown were still around, and now that Garrett Greene is gone, it wouldn't have been a question. Marchiol would be the starter. With a whole new staff at WVU, Marchiol isn't entitled to anything, and Rodriguez was unsure about Marchiol, adding two quarterbacks out of the portal. Based on the Gold-Blue Spring Showcase, Marchiol looked solid, but a lot can change since the start of April. Seems like outsiders project Henderson to be WVU's starter for 2025. DraftKings listed Henderson as WVU's representative for the Big 12 passing leader prop, and he's the starter in EA's College Football 26. Henderson is the most experienced quarterback in the room, but that doesn't mean he's the best. He's jumped from Fresno State to Texas A&M and didn't see much success at either school. He played the most with the Aggies, but that was in 2023, and he didn't see a snap under Mike Elko in 2024. In 2023, Henderson started the final four games of the season and went 2-2. Elko didn't think Henderson was the future from his performance, and Henderson transferred, hoping to get the starting role once again. Brown is a bit of a longshot to start, but there's still a possibility. He's appeared in 10 games over the past two seasons at Charlotte and Florida. He never got a starting shot, though. Brown was an effective runner in the Gold-Blue game. Rodriguez has options. There's no clear starter, while fans and experts might have their favorites. By the end of fall camp, Rodriguez will name a starter if one clearly emerges. He didn't rule out running a dual quarterback system if neither stands out. WVU's defense as a whole wasn't good. The Mountaineers allowed 31.9 points per game last year, which was third-to-last in the conference. Rodriguez reunited with Zac Alley to hopefully turn the defense around. The biggest part of Alley's defense is his utilization of his linebackers and secondary. The linebacker room has familiar faces, like Reid Carrico, but the secondary lost members to the NFL and the transfer portal. It'll look pretty new in 2025, with every spot up for grabs. Rodriguez and Alley used the portal to fill gaps in the secondary. Rodriguez added several players, and a couple will probably start in 2025. Nevada's Michael Coats Jr. could start at corner, and Jacksonville State transfer Fred Perry and Chattanooga transfer Jordan Walker could start at safety. There are a couple of other transfers that could start in the secondary, too. After the starters become clear, then there's adapting to Alley's scheme. It's more aggressive than others and had success in 2024, ranking 7th in the high-powered SEC. Alley's secondary is physical, so players will have to adjust. There's a lot on the plate for WVU's secondary in preseason, with not one starting spot solidified. The media didn't speak to a lot of players this spring or at Big 12 Media Days, but the ones that spoke said they wanted to use the summer to get into 'tempo shape.' Tempo shape is being conditioned enough to run Rodriguez's fast-paced offense, where once the ball is spotted, his offense is ready to run the next play. Most of the summer workouts revolved around tempo, with short rest and a lot of running. During the summer, the players said they were still working on their conditioning. Tempo is a big part of Rodriguez's scheme, so it'll be important to see if his team can run it come fall. And it's not just the offense that'll need to be in tempo shape either. Since Rodriguez's offense runs tempo, the defense has to be in tempo shape to stop it. A lot of other offenses run tempo, too, so getting into shape will be important. The question is whether the team can be in shape before the first game to run Rodriguez's scheme efficiently and effectively. If not, it could be a long season.
Dominion Post
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
2026 NFL Draft: Jahiem White leads WVU's prospects
MORGANTOWN — The NFL Draft was a little over a week ago, and just one West Virginia player was selected for the second-straight year. This was the final year of Neal Brown players attempting to make it to the pros, but now it's the Rich Rodriguez era, and he'll have influenced each player entering the draft next season. There could be more than one player being selected in the 2026 NFL Draft next year, and even more signed in undrafted free agency, which was the dominant way Mountaineers joined NFL rosters this spring. There are almost 30 WVU players on the spring roster who are either seniors or redshirt seniors who could look to the pros after this year is up. Some of them will find a way to gain an extra year of college, but more will try to make it on an NFL roster this time next year. Here are some of the names that could be called in the next NFL Draft. Rodriguez loves to use his running backs, which greatly helps the back's NFL Draft stock. Jahiem White is primed to be the lead back in a potential running back by committee as a veteran on the team and last year's leading rusher. In Rodriguez's offense, White's numbers could receive a significant boost. White doesn't have a lot of size at 5-foot-7, but he's a quick, low-to-the-ground back who has had a lot of production in just two years in college. White rushed for over 840 yards over two seasons and had 11 rushing touchdowns. He's also a pass-catching back, which is important at the next level, and had over 100 yards in both seasons, too. The question with White is his health because he is a smaller back. This spring, Rodriguez said White had an injury, and despite dressing for the Gold-Blue Spring Showcase, he didn't play. It'll be interesting to see if teams will take a chance on White even with his smaller stature. But White will most likely stay another year since he's just a junior. Jimmori Robinson might be the biggest transfer addition for Rodriguez after taking the job this winter. Robinson was one of the best pass rushers in the portal out of UTSA. Last year, Robinson had 10.5 sacks, which was the 10th-most in the NCAA. Six out of nine players ahead of him were selected in the 2025 Draft, so Robinson is on pace to be selected next spring. The pass rusher has also become one of the most coveted positions in football. The second-highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL is Cleveland Browns edge Myles Garrett, who just signed a $40 million deal. Edge was one of the highest selected positions in the first round and in the entire draft with almost 30 selections. Pass rusher is a need in the NFL, and Robinson is one of the best players at getting to the quarterback still in college football. Rodriguez added a lot of receivers in the portal, so there'll be a lot of competition for who might be the No. 1 option in the fall. Jaden Bray has a real shot at being the No. 1 option as a veteran in the room. Bray was injured last year and has been throughout his career, but when he's healthy, Bray is a 30-plus catch type of player. Rodriguez doesn't throw the ball as much compared to the run, but eventually the run won't work, and they'll need to pass. Wide receiver is the highest-paid non-quarterback position right now, and there were 30-plus receivers selected in the draft this year. Every team usually picks a receiver in the draft or signs a couple in undrafted free agency. Bray could be one of the late-round additions or at least find a spot on a roster post-draft through undrafted free agency. Hammond Russell is one of the leaders on WVU's defense and was productive last year. Russell had three sacks last year, and he'll see an uptick in production since he's the highest sack leader remaining on WVU's roster from last year. Russell and Robinson will probably be the two leaders in sacks after the fall. Unless Russell has an insane season, he'll most likely go unsigned or maybe sneak in in the later rounds. Defensive tackle is another high-picked position in the NFL, but after a surge in this year's draft, there might not be so many taken this year. If Russell has a great season, he could land on a roster. Fred Perry is one of the many players who followed Rodriguez from Jacksonville State this winter. Perry's one of Rodriguez's many portal players that could make an immediate impact this fall. Perry started 12 games in the secondary in 2024, earning All-Conference USA First-Team safety. He led the Gamecocks with 110 tackles, had three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two hurries and a fumble recovery. Perry was all over the field. Perry will most likely fill the same role on defense this year in Zac Alley's defense. If Perry puts up the same numbers in a stronger conference like the Big 12, he could get some looks from professional teams. Oliver Straw, punter Reid Carrico, linebacker Walter Young Bear, offensive lineman Michael Coats Jr., cornerback
Dominion Post
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Rich Rodriguez adds three more transfers to WVU roster
MORGANTOWN — Rich Rodriguez made a big splash in the transfer portal on Wednesday, adding two players from the SEC. Mississippi State offensive lineman Carson Lee, UNLV and former Mississippi State linebacker John Lewis, and Akron defensive back Darrian Lewis are reportedly transferring to West Virginia, according to On3 and 247Sports. Rodriguez continued to bolster up West Virginia's offensive line Wednesday morning with another SEC talent. Mississippi State offensive lineman Carson Lee reportedly is transferring to the Mountaineers with one year of eligibility remaining. Lee was ranked as the 31st-best lineman in the portal and a three-star transfer prospect, according to 247Sports, and is arguably one of the top linemen options left. WVU is Lee's third team in under a year, transferring from Eastern Michigan to Mississippi State in the winter portal, and then to Morgantown in the spring period. At Eastern Michigan, he's made starts at guard, tackle and center, bringing a versatile lineman to WVU. Lee also spent time at Colorado, too. Along with receiver, Rodriguez has added a lot of offensive linemen to the roster. This spring, Rodriguez added four linemen in the portal and Lee is the third SEC linemen. Lee joins Texas' Malik Agbo and Oklahoma's Josh Aisosa as the three. Over the two portal periods, Rodriguez has added eight linemen total. The offensive line is important in two aspects, but most importantly, it helps Rodriguez pound the rock like he enjoys doing. During the Gold-Blue Spring Showcase, the quarterbacks had to scramble or were sacked. Rodriguez obviously saw the line as an area of improvement and has been acting upon it. Lee, with his experience, could be a Day 1 starter come the fall at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds. Lee was joined in commitment by a fellow Bulldog, Lewis. Lewis, like Lee, transferred to another team in the winter, UNLV, and then transferred to WVU in the spring. Lewis played for four years for the Bulldogs and had 21 tackles in his final season. He was a three-star linebacker in the portal and is the second linebacker transfer from this spring. Linebacker needed improvement, and a veteran like Lewis should help. Akron defensive back Darrian Lewis joined the two as Wednesday commits. He comes to the Mountaineers after starting three years with the Zips. Lewis had 74 tackles, a pick and six pass breakups in his final season. He's another veteran to add to the secondary for the fall. All three portal additions Wednesday have one year of eligibility left.
