West Virginia linebacker Ben Cutter has already made up his mind about 2027.
With the NCAA shifting to an age-based eligibility model that gives student-athletes five years to play five, seniors this fall who have not used a redshirt will have the chance to return next season. Cutter falls into that group, and when asked on 3 Guys Before the Game whether he plans to come back for a fifth year, he didn’t leave much room for doubt.
“Yeah, absolutely," he responded when asked on 3 Guys Before the Game if he plans to come back for a fifth year. "Not even a question.
I think I knew the whole time that if I did get the opportunity, I would take it and play here another year. But I didn’t want to get my hopes up for that, and I had to start thinking about what I’m going to do after this season, too.
But now that it’s here, there’s not much thought that needs to go into it.”
Cutter’s football future after WVU is less certain. Because he does not have elite size or speed, he is expected to go undrafted when his Mountaineer career is over.
An NFL path could still open as an undrafted free agent, and another league remains possible too. But Cutter already has another plan in mind for life after football.
“I think I’m going to go home and try to be a fireman," he told Tony Caridi. "A lot of my buddies back home want to do it, and their dads are firemen getting retired now and kind of living the life out there.”
That kind of answer fits the way Cutter has handled his time in Morgantown. He said back in the spring that he never considered the transfer portal after the coaching change a year ago, and he laid out exactly why he wanted to stay.
“I love this state. I love this team.
I don’t think there’s anything that could pull me out of here. And I want to be able to be a West Virginia fan for the rest of my life.
I don’t know what people do, transferring around four different schools. Like, who do you support when you’re done playing college football?
I want to support the Mountaineers, so that’s why I’m still here.”
In Other News...
Virginia's QB Decision Just Changed Everything For West Virginia
Virginias quarterback picture took a notable turn this week, and it matters for West Virginia because the Mountaineers now have a clearer read on the player theyre likely to see under center. Missouri transfer Beau Pribula has earned the job for the upcoming matchup, giving Virginia a more mobile, experienced option after a first full season as a starter that showed both promise and some uneven stretches. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,941 yards and 11 touchdowns, production that helped him establish himself quickly after arriving in Columbia.
The bigger question for West Virginia is what version of Pribula shows up when the pressure rises. His efficiency dipped in SEC play, and the tape suggests the challenge is not just volume but consistency, especially when he has to make throws beyond the easy stuff. Pribula was sharper when protected, but the numbers also show he can be vulnerable when defenses force him into tighter windows, which gives the Mountaineers a real scouting point as they prepare for a quarterback who has already flashed enough to win the job and enough uncertainty to keep the game plan interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Why WVU Believes This Defense Is Finally Built For Adversity
Ben Cutter thinks West Virginias defense is entering the 2026 season with something it did not always have a year ago: a steadier backbone. The senior linebacker pointed to a group of defensive players who have helped set the tone and said the unit is benefiting from a stronger sense of leadership, while also crediting the retooled offensive line for bringing a tougher, more disciplined edge to practice. For a team trying to raise its floor, those are the kinds of details that matter long before September arrives.
Cutters bigger point was about how this group handles stress when things start to go sideways. He drew a sharp contrast with last season, when he felt the defense did not have enough leadership or character to absorb adversity once games got difficult. Whether that new mentality holds up when the pressure rises is still the real test, but West Virginia clearly believes this defense is built differently heading into the fall. [Read more 🡒]