The quarterback picture at West Virginia has a clear headline for now: Oklahoma transfer Mike Hawkins Jr. is the guy. That part isn’t up for debate. The more interesting question is what this room looks like once Hawkins’ run is over, because the Mountaineers may already have the makings of something pretty solid behind him.
Scotty Fox Jr. is back as a sophomore after starting a handful of games, and the belief around him is straightforward - he has the tools to become a quality Power Four starter. But he’s not the only name worth tracking. WVU is also high on three true freshmen in Jyron Hughley, Wyatt Walker Brown, and John Johnson III.
Of that group, Hughley stands out as the one who could make the biggest climb. It wouldn’t be a shock if he finishes the season as the No. 3 quarterback and puts himself in position to become the backup in 2027, especially if Hawkins performs well enough to push Fox toward a transfer.
If Fox stays, that only strengthens the long-term outlook. WVU would still be sitting on a promising quarterback pipeline, and by the time Hawkins is done, the staff could be choosing between a pair of very interesting options to take over the offense. Even if one of the current freshmen leaves, the Mountaineers would still have another one in the mix, along with class of 2027 commit Andre Phillip II, who is also viewed as a talented prospect.
Fox, for his part, is still seen as someone who can eventually take over as QB1 down the road.
Hughley’s appeal starts with what he can do in the read/RPO game, and the staff is very comfortable with him there. In his senior season at Cardinal Newman High School in Florida, he rushed for over 1,500 yards and scored 19 times. That showed up again during his first spring at WVU, where he flashed the ability to make the correct read and create explosive plays with his legs when the play was there.
Max Brown could hold the No. 3 spot for much of the season, but because it’s his final year, the staff may naturally start pouring more of its developmental focus into Hughley as the year goes on. That could mean more practice reps later in the season.
None of it will happen automatically. Hughley will have to earn every bit of it, and the biggest area for growth is the passing game.
He needs more consistency there, and adding strength to his lean frame will matter too. The arm has to get stronger, but so does the lower body, which plays a major role in generating deep-ball power.
By late October or early November, he should be in a much better physical place.
The bottom line is that Hughley is closer to Fox and Max Brown than most people think.
In Other News...
WVU Uniform Changes Just Sparked A Debate Fans Knew Was Coming
West Virginia footballs look has been changing in ways that go beyond a simple refresh, with jersey patches now part of the picture through a sponsorship deal with Antero Resources. The companys logo has been worked into the Mountaineers colorway, adding another layer to a uniform identity that fans tend to treat almost like sacred ground.
The bigger conversation, though, comes from the Big 12s agreement with Monster Energy, which puts large, black-background patches on every member schools uniforms. It is the kind of addition that immediately splits opinion because it is impossible to ignore, and for West Virginia supporters already wary of corporate branding creeping onto the field, the visual impact is only part of the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Hawkins Jr. May Decide How Far West Virginia Can Go
A big part of West Virginias 2026 ceiling may come down to how quickly Michael Hawkins Jr. settles in. The redshirt sophomore arrives from Oklahoma with a profile that fits what the Mountaineers want to do, because his legs give the offense an added dimension and his athleticism should play well in the scheme. He has already shown enough as a passer to matter, completing 61.9% of his throws for 950 yards and six touchdowns over his first two seasons, but the next step is smoothing out the parts of his game that still need work.
Hawkins is also right in the middle of a quarterback competition, which makes his development even more important for West Virginia. The Mountaineers are looking for a starter who can keep the offense on schedule while still threatening defenses outside the pocket, and Hawkins has the tools to make that happen if the passing mechanics continue to come along. For a team hoping to push higher in the Big 12 picture, the difference between a good season and a real run could be how far Hawkins can carry the job. [Read more 🡒]
Cyrus Traugh Is Giving West Virginia Fans A Reason To Watch Closely
Cyrus Traugh has gone from a limited role last season to someone West Virginia fans are starting to circle on the depth chart. His development has been one of the quieter bright spots of spring camp, and inside receivers coach Logan Bradley has taken notice of the work Traugh has put in as he pushes toward a bigger role in the offense.
Traugh finished the 2024 season as the teams second-leading receiver, and the expectation now is that he will see significant playing time this fall alongside the rest of the wideout rotation. Even with 2026 viewed as the bigger window for him to become a key part of the group, the way he has progressed already gives West Virginia something useful on offense to keep tracking. [Read more 🡒]