Former West Virginia defensive back Fred Perry may have a path to college football in 2027, thanks to a court order tied to eligibility litigation.
Legal expert Sam C. Ehrlich shared a document that included Perry along with two other former Mountaineers, defensive lineman Eddie Kelly Jr. and punter Oliver Straw. The order said:
"Plaintiffs’ alternative request concerning the 2027-28 academic year is appropriately addressed as contingent relief. If the timing of this litigation prevents a Plaintiff from securing a roster position for 2026-27, preserving that Plaintiff’s final season of eligibility for 2027-28 is necessary to prevent the timing of this litigation, rather than the merits, from permanently depriving him of the season to which he is likely entitled."
For Perry, that could matter if he does not land with a school during the final month of this season. He is not on the West Virginia roster and did not commit to or sign with another school, so he could sit tight and preserve a season for next fall.
Whether Perry would want to return to West Virginia in 2027 is unclear, and there’s no indication yet whether the staff would have interest in bringing him back. Right now, the focus in Morgantown is on the final four games of the season and on working to keep key players in place.
Perry’s only season with the Mountaineers was a productive one. He finished with 78 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two sacks.
Kelly and Straw are in different situations because both found schools for this season. Kelly is at Mississippi State and has played 57 defensive snaps, recording seven tackles. Straw is UAB’s top punter and is averaging 46.1 yards on 25 punts, with 11 of those landing inside the 20-yard line.
In Other News...
WVU Is Chasing A Fast-Rising Canadian Wing Fans Should Watch
West Virginia has jumped into the mix for one of the more intriguing young wings on the board, extending an offer to Kur Lual as his profile continues to climb. The 6-foot-7 prospect from Ontario recently reclassified from the class of 2027 to 2028 and also made the move to Bella Vista Prep, a combination that has only sharpened the attention around his long-term upside.
Lual already has offers from California, Seton Hall and Cal Poly, and his play on the youth basketball circuit has helped make him a name worth tracking well beyond Canada. For the Mountaineers, assistant coach Yusuf Ali appears to be the key link in the recruitment, giving WVU an early foothold with a player whose stock seems to be rising fast. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Brings Real Upset Momentum Into Its Toughest Big 12 Test
Texas Tech is heading into its matchup with West Virginia with plenty of respect for what the Mountaineers have put together lately. Joey McGuire singled out the offense, pointing to the strong play of Mike Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook and the way West Virginia has leaned on an effective running game to keep defenses off balance.
McGuire also noted the defensive uptick under coordinator Zac Alley, crediting the adjustments that helped West Virginia look much sharper against TCU. For a team trying to build on real upset momentum, that kind of balance is exactly what makes this next Big 12 test so tricky, because it is no longer just about one side of the ball carrying the load. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Ground Game Could Be The Difference Against Texas Tech
Texas Techs run defense has been a point of interest all week, and for good reason. The Red Raiders have spent much of the season facing offenses that have had trouble establishing the ground game, which makes this matchup with West Virginia a little more intriguing than it might look on paper. For the Mountaineers, the conversation starts with what they do best and whether that strength can travel into a game where controlling the line of scrimmage could matter from the opening series.
West Virginias rushing attack has been one of the more reliable parts of its offense, and that gives the Mountaineers a clear path to pressure Texas Tech in a way some of the Red Raiders previous opponents have not. If West Virginia can lean on the run and stay ahead of the chains, it could shape the entire feel of the game and force Texas Tech to defend in a way it has not always handled cleanly. For a matchup with plenty of moving parts, the ground game may end up being the detail that decides whether the Mountaineers can turn a good opportunity into a real advantage. [Read more 🡒]