West Virginia is bringing in a few true freshmen who are already expected to matter this fall, with Kevin Brown, Matt Sieg and Amari Latimer all projected for real roles. But if Rich Rodriguez’s track record says anything, it’s that he won’t hesitate to put young players on the field when they earn it.
That’s why a few more names from the 2026 recruiting class are worth watching closely.
Talley is the kind of back who can sneak into the rotation even if the room is already crowded. The speed jumps out right away, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s the fastest runner in the group.
Cam Cook and Amari Latimer figure to handle a big chunk of the carries, but there should still be enough work left over for Talley and JUCO transfer Martavious Boswell. With the way Rich Rod offenses usually operate when things are rolling, there’s no shortage of touches to chase.
Hamilton also looks like a freshman who could get on the field sooner rather than later. In pure readiness, he’s one of the most polished first-year players on the roster.
The issue is the depth chart in front of him, with Josh Sapp, Cam Ball, and Ryan Wards all giving West Virginia a pretty established group at the top. Even so, Rodriguez has already suggested the tight end room could get more bodies involved in games and on travel lists.
If one of the veterans slips, Hamilton has a path to start picking up snaps.
Dwyer brings a different kind of appeal. His size might make some people think of him as just an athlete dropped into the linebacker room, but the film tells a much louder story.
He plays with real force, hits like a much bigger defender, and has the kind of speed that jumps off the screen. West Virginia’s linebacker group is a little thin, so there should be chances for him and others to work their way into action.
Then there’s the defensive back who could begin his career in a more limited role before the season opens up for him. He’s a bit light right now, but there were strong spring reports on him, and his game already shows up in the air.
He competes physically despite not being the biggest player in the room. The most likely path is special teams first, with some early cornerback reps during the opening stretch against lesser competition, before he comes back into the mix later in the year as a rotational option once he’s added more strength.
In Other News...
Mike Hawkins Jr. Just Put Two WVU Defenders On Notice
Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. already has a feel for which West Virginia defensive backs could shape the coming season, and two names he singled out stand out for different reasons. Chams Diagne brings the kind of length and coverage ability that can change how an offense attacks, while Geimere Latimer has the reputation of a disciplined piece who should be steady in the back end.
For WVU, the intrigue is in how much more each player can add beyond the basics. Diagne still has to prove he can finish plays better in space and hold up against the run, while Latimer is being counted on to bring more pressure and handle a bigger share of the dirty work near the line. With the defense still sorting out its identity for 2026, those two may end up mattering as much for what they can prevent as for what they can create. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Finally Landed The In-State Addition Fans Have Been Waiting For
West Virginia has added a familiar name with real upside in Alexis Bordas, the Wheeling native who is coming home after one season at Duquesne. Bordas made an immediate impact as a freshman, averaging 15.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while earning a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team, giving the Mountaineers a local player who already arrives with proven production.
For a fan base that has been waiting to see a West Virginia-born player in the womens basketball program again, Bordas checks a box that goes beyond the numbers. She brings four years of eligibility under the new rules, which gives WVU a chance to build around her for more than just the short term, and it adds another layer of intrigue to how the roster will take shape moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Still Has One Running Back Problem It Did Not Fix
West Virginia spent the summer trying to stir some movement in its running back recruiting board, hosting several official visitors and hoping to chip away at a depth chart that needed attention. The visits brought plenty of activity, but the end result was more mixed than transformational, with the Mountaineers cycling through the usual recruiting churn without truly changing the shape of the room.
One prospect ended up at Houston, another came to West Virginia but fit more as a receiver than a true back, and a third briefly pledged to the Mountaineers before moving on to Auburn. Tylek Lewis is still out there as an uncommitted option, but for now the bigger takeaway is simple enough for West Virginia: after all those visits, the running back situation looks the same as it did before the June official period began. [Read more 🡒]