West Virginia’s roster still leans young, and that means the freshmen are not just waiting in the wings - several are already forcing their way into the conversation for this fall.
That was the message from Rich Rodriguez on Wednesday night, when he went down the list of newcomers who are either set to play or have a real shot to do so. He singled out Vincent Smith, Matt Sieg, Amari Latimer, Kevin Brown, Jyron Hughley, Lamarcus Dillard, Aidan Woods and Kade Bush as names to keep on the radar.
“Vicent (Smith) is going to have a great career here. Matt Sieg is playing well.
He’s in the rotation. Amari Latimer, we thought he’d be able to play as a freshman, and he’ll play as a freshman.
Kevin Brown, we thought would play as a freshman, and he’ll play as a freshman. Those young secondary guys are all going to be really good players.
Some of them may play this year; I don’t know there. All the secondary positions are kind of up for grabs.
It’s not just Vincent (Smith). The hardest positions to play as a freshman is quarterback and o-line.
Jyron Hughley is a true freshman who has gotten better every day, and I think he’s going to have a great future here. You mentioned Kevin Brown.
There’s another freshman, Lamarcus Dillard, on the o-line. He’s going to play as a freshman.
Aidan Woods is another freshman on the offensive line; I think he’ll play some as a freshman as well. Kade Bush at tight end.
Kade has really had a good last week or so, and with the injuries to some of the other tight ends, Cam (Ball) and Carter (Zuliani) being out, Kade’s got a lot of reps. I'm sure I'm leaving off somebody, but that's alright."
At running back, Chris Talley is firmly in the mix and could wind up as the Mountaineers’ third option this season. At minimum, he’ll share that work with JUCO transfer Martavious Boswell.
Lawrence Autry is also a name to watch once he gets healthy. Rodriguez said Autry is banged up right now and will miss a couple of weeks, though he had been performing well before the injury. Wide receiver Landon Drumm is dealing with a knee injury as well.
On the defensive line, Yendor Mack could become more involved later in the year. Rodriguez indicated he might get some chances in the opening two weeks, but his bigger opportunities may not come until the season settles down a bit.
In Other News...
Where Ex-Mountaineers Already Stand In The NFL Race
Seventeen former Mountaineers are already on official NFL preseason rosters, a reminder that West Virginia continues to send a steady stream of talent into pro camps. The group is spread across the league, and the current snapshot offers an early look at where each player stands as teams begin sorting out jobs, roles and depth-chart order before the season gets going.
Some of those ex-Mountaineers are in more comfortable spots than others, with the breakdown showing a mix of players who are pushing for bigger roles and others simply trying to hang on through the preseason grind. For West Virginia fans, the interest is in the same familiar question every August: which names are closest to carving out real NFL roles, and which ones still have the hardest climb ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Prince Strachan Could Change Everything For West Virginias Passing Game
West Virginia got a useful update on Prince Strachan this week, and it comes at a good time as Rich Rodriguez keeps sorting out the passing game. The USC transfer had already dealt with an ankle injury last year that cut into his time with the Trojans, and then a shoulder issue in the spring game slowed him again after he arrived in Morgantown.
Rich Rodriguez said Strachan is now back in the mix as the Mountaineers continue building toward fall, and his background has the staff convinced he can be a real factor on the outside. For a team looking for more downfield production, the timing matters, because Strachan is expected to step into a major role and give West Virginia a different kind of target at receiver. [Read more 🡒]
WVU May Have A Rare Freshman Weapon In The Backfield
Amari Latimer has already turned heads in Morgantown before carrying the ball in a meaningful snap. The West Virginia freshman running back arrived with a frame that stands out even in a room built around physicality, and running backs coach Jay Boulware has been quick to note how much Latimer brings beyond just size. There is a power element to his game, but what has made the early impression stronger is the way that build pairs with real skill, giving the Mountaineers a young back who looks different from the typical first-year player.
For West Virginia, that matters because the backfield picture is already taking shape around Latimers place in it. He is expected to be part of the rotation this season, with a role that could grow as the staff looks for dependable production behind Cam Cook. Freshman backs usually spend their first months learning the speed of the college game, but Latimer sounds like someone the Mountaineers may be able to trust sooner than most, which makes his development one of the more interesting subplots of camp. [Read more 🡒]