West Virginia will head into Big 12 Media Days with a little recognition already in hand.
The conference released its preseason All-Big 12 team on Tuesday, and the Mountaineers landed two offensive players on the list: running back Cam Cook and fullback Kayden Luke.
Cook arrives with the kind of résumé that makes the selection easy to understand. Last season, he led all of college football with 1,659 yards, and he was one of the most sought-after running backs available. Rich Rodriguez made sure to bring him in, and the connection was even stronger because offensive line coach Rick Trickett was with him at Jacksonville State last season.
That kind of production puts Cook in position to be a centerpiece right away. West Virginia’s running back room has plenty of inexperience, and it would not be a surprise if Cook gets well over 250 carries. He handled 295 a year ago at Jacksonville State.
Luke gives Rodriguez a different kind of piece to work with. The coach has been looking for a player who can fill the old-school fullback role and play it the way Owen Schmitt did in the early 2000s. Rodriguez said in the spring that Luke spent more time with the tight ends, but when West Virginia wants a fullback on the field, Luke will be the one in that spot.
The Mountaineers have depth at running back, but Cook is the only one on the roster with proven Division I production. Luke probably will not see a heavy workload, though he could still get a few carries.
At Arizona last season, he had five rushes for 20 yards. In high school, he was a much bigger offensive force, running for 2,307 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior.
The preseason team also included quarterback Noah Fifita of Arizona, running backs LJ Martin of BYU and Cook of West Virginia, fullback Luke, wide receivers Omarion Miller of Arizona State, Amare Thomas of Houston and Wyatt Young of Oklahoma State, tight end Terrance Carter Jr. of Texas Tech, and offensive linemen Joe Cotton of Cincinnati, Shadre Hurst of Houston, Bruce Mitchell of BYU, John Pastore of Kansas State and Evan Tengesdahl of Cincinnati.
In Other News...
WVU Just Got Early Hope From Two Potential Breakout Difference Makers
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Epps brings the kind of receiving upside that can change an offense quickly after his jump from one catch across his first two seasons at Troy to a much bigger role last fall. Gabriel is the other intriguing piece, entering his third year after logging meaningful defensive snaps as a sophomore, and West Virginia will get an early look at both when it opens at home on Sept. 5 against Coastal Carolina, the same day Pat Whites No. 21 is set to be retired. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs New Roster Update Leaves One Big Signing-Class Question
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One name still missing from that group is running back Cheeks, even though West Virginia signed him as part of the class. His situation has been one to watch ever since the ACL injury he suffered in his senior season, and the school has continued to sound confident about his recovery path. For now, the roster page leaves one small but meaningful question hanging, and it sounds like more clarity should come as the offseason moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Faces His First Real WVU Turning Point
Rich Rodriguez is heading into his second year back at West Virginia with the kind of roster-building job that rarely comes with instant payoff. After a difficult 2025 season, the Mountaineers have tried to reset the trajectory with a top-25 recruiting class and a wave of transfers, giving the staff a younger group that should look better as it grows together. The bigger picture is less about a quick fix than about laying down enough foundation for the program to climb back into a more competitive place.
The encouraging part for WVU is that the pieces are young enough to keep improving, and the schedule offers some room to breathe while that happens. There is still a sense that the roster is not finished, though, and the most obvious pressure point may be a spot that could force the staff back into the portal before the season is over. Rodriguez has a chance to make 2026 a clear step forward, but the real question is how much of the future he can set up now without waiting too long for the breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]