West Virginia’s transfer class comes with the usual spread of expectations, from instant-impact names to players who might need time before they really settle in. But a few newcomers in the Old Gold and Blue look positioned to beat the buzz around them in 2026.
DJ Epps is the easiest place to start. Around the program, he’s probably the third receiver people mention behind Jaden Bray and USC transfer Prince Strachan, and that’s mostly because he’s expected to work out of the slot. Nationally, though, there’s almost no noise around him, which makes sense considering he has just one year of production at Troy.
Inside the building, the belief is that Epps could become the passing game’s X-factor this fall. He gives West Virginia a reliable target over the middle - he had only one drop last season - but he can also stretch defenses when he’s aligned outside, which was where he spent most of his time at Troy. He’s the kind of receiver who will go win the ball even against bigger corners, and that showed up in his contested-catch numbers: seven grabs on 12 chances, or 58.3%, with 60% generally viewed as elite.
On defense, the linebacker picture is still being sorted out, and that makes Stolsky one of the more interesting names to watch. Zac Alley has options there with Stolsky, Ben Cutter and Illinois Malachi Hood, and the questions are simple: who settles in at MIKE, who takes WILL, and which pairing gets the most work? My semi-bold pick is Stolsky making the biggest impact of the three, no matter where he lines up.
There’s a strong case for that. Stolsky has already played in Power Four games against Michigan, Purdue and Ohio State during his time at Minnesota, and he also saw Maryland last year at FAU.
He even graded out well in 35 snaps against Ohio State. West Virginia’s defense is going to need strong linebacker play for Alley's system to click, and Stolsky brings size, length, experience, production and reliable tackling.
His missed tackle rate in 2025 was 12.6%, which would have ranked second on West Virginia’s roster last season, behind only Ben Bogle.
Then there’s Maliek Hawkins, whose arrival may have been viewed by some as part of the package that brought quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. to Morgantown. The staff clearly saw more than that. Yes, Mike Hawkins Jr. was the headliner at quarterback, but Maliek wasn’t just tagging along.
His path in 2026 likely starts as the backup to Geimere Latimer at nickel/sam before he eventually takes over that spot in 2027. And he wasn’t some throw-in recruit, either. Coming out of high school, he was regarded as a strong three-star prospect with offers from several SEC programs.
In Other News...
WVU Linebacker Room Just Took Another Turn Fans Will Notice
West Virginias linebacker room has already started to take shape for the coming season, and the depth chart picture is getting clearer as the Mountaineers sort through who fits where. Trey McGlothlin, a true freshman who arrived after high school, had been part of that mix after originally landing with WVU following a decommitment from Oklahoma State, giving the staff another young body to develop in a room that still has several moving parts.
The bigger conversation now is less about one newcomer and more about how the rest of the group settles in behind the top options. Torbor, Jason Hall Jr., Ashton Woods, Stolsky, Cutter, Patterson and Cam Dwyer all factor into the projection work, with roles still being sorted as the season approaches. For a position group that needs both immediate reliability and long-term depth, every roster change matters, even the ones that only register once fans notice the name is no longer there. [Read more 🡒]
Ross Hodge Just Raised New Concern About Javan Buchanan's Status
West Virginias frontcourt picture got a little murkier this week as senior forward Javan Buchanans eligibility situation moved into a more uncertain phase. Buchanan arrived after two seasons at an NAIA school and then put together a productive year at Boise State, giving the Mountaineers a veteran option who could help immediately while they continue filling out the roster under Ross Hodge.
Hodges latest comments suggest the matter may not stay in the basketball offices for long, which is what makes this one worth watching for West Virginia. Buchanans status now affects more than just one players availability, and the Mountaineers are left waiting to learn whether they can count on him as they sort through the final pieces of the roster. [Read more 🡒]