West Virginia has already shown it isn’t shy about putting true freshmen on the field, and that trend figures to continue this fall. Running back Amari Latimer, offensive lineman Kevin Brown and safety Matt Sieg are among the newcomers expected to carve out real roles right away.
But among the 12 freshmen who enrolled in the summer, cornerback Vincent Smith looks like the one with the clearest path to seeing action in 2026.
Smith, listed at 6’1”, 218 lbs, arrived from Sandburg High School in Orchard Park, Illinois, and he stands out for two reasons: his skill set and the uncertainty in West Virginia’s cornerback room. That position group may have the most question marks on the roster, and if the Mountaineers are still searching for a second starting corner, Smith could end up in the mix sooner than later.
The timeline matters here. Because he got to campus in the summer and hasn’t gone through a practice in the system yet, he’ll need time to catch up and get comfortable.
That makes it hard to picture him pushing for a major role immediately, aside from maybe those first two games against inferior competition. The more realistic window for Smith to make a real move could come in the second half of the season.
There’s also some versatility baked into his game. Smith can line up at corner, but he has the ability to play safety as well. At minimum, he should factor on special teams.
What makes him intriguing is how he plays the position. In the scouting report that was written on him back in early December, he was described as someone who tracks the ball well in the air without getting overly handsy, a sign of trust in his technique.
If he gets beaten at first, he doesn’t panic or reach for a bad bailout. He has the speed to recover, and his length helps keep him from getting too grabby because he can still close before the ball gets there.
Smith wrapped up his senior season with 28 solo tackles, nine pass breakups, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles, earning all-conference first team honors. On the recruiting trail, he picked West Virginia over offers from Eastern Michigan, Illinois State, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Northern Illinois, Purdue, Toledo, USC, and several others.
In Other News...
This WVU Addition Could Be The Missing Piece In Rich Rod's Offense
West Virginias offseason search for a cleaner answer in the run game has led back to a position college football has mostly left behind. Rich Rodriguez has made it clear he wants a true fullback in his offense, and the Mountaineers have leaned into that idea by bringing in a player who fits the old-school mold and was recognized before the season as one of the Big 12s top preseason fullbacks.
The appeal is obvious for a team that had trouble finishing short-yardage chances a year ago and at times needed too much size on the field just to move the chains a few feet. In Rodriguezs system, the fullback is not a decorative piece, and West Virginias willingness to keep using one says plenty about how it plans to attack defenses this fall, even if the exact impact of the addition is still to be proven. [Read more 🡒]
EA Sports Just Disrespected WVU In A Way Fans Will Hate
The latest EA Sports ratings have given West Virginia fans another easy thing to argue about, and the complaints are not hard to understand. Several Mountaineers came in lower than expected in the game, including tight end Ward, center King and linebacker Torbor, with each one drawing scrutiny because their numbers do not seem to match the roles they are expected to play when the season opens.
Wards rating stands out because he is being treated like a lesser option in a room he could help lead, while King is lagging behind another WVU lineman even though he still looks like the likely starting center coming out of fall camp. Torbors placement also feels off for a player who drew praise in the spring and has a real path to a starting job, which is why the overall picture has Mountaineer fans wondering how closely the games ratings actually tracked what has been happening around the program. [Read more 🡒]
Former Mountaineer JJ Wetherholt Is Turning Rookie Of The Year Heads
Former West Virginia star JJ Wetherholt is wasting no time making his presence felt in the majors, and the early buzz has spilled well beyond the box score. Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, the rookie has quickly become one of the names collectors are chasing too, with his 2025 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph already drawing serious attention on the hobby market.
Wetherholts fast start has only sharpened the spotlight around him, especially with fellow young standouts Sal Stewart and Nolan McLean also surging into the conversation. For Mountaineers fans, the appeal is obvious: one of their own is not just settling in at the big-league level, he is pushing his way into the Rookie of the Year picture while his cards keep climbing right alongside his profile. [Read more 🡒]