West Virginia’s 2026 roster has some real NFL buzz to it, but only one player sits firmly in the “true prospect” category right now: running back Cam Cook.
That’s the clearest answer to a messy question. How many Mountaineers actually look like NFL-caliber players at this moment?
It depends on how strict you want to be, and it depends on whether you’re talking about the 2027 draft or simply players who have the tools to get there. The short version is that Cook is the only locked-in name today, while a cluster of others are close enough to keep watching.
Cook made his case the old-fashioned way in 2025, leading the nation in rushing with 1,659 yards and topping Conference USA with 16 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 22.6 times per game, which tells you exactly what kind of back he is.
For Rich Rodriguez, that’s the profile of a dream fit. Cook can take a heavy load, and he’s especially valuable in a room that doesn’t bring much experience.
He also does the dirty work that translates to Sundays, forcing missed tackles at a high clip and turning modest gains into chunk plays.
Behind him, there’s a tier of players who are close enough to keep climbing with the right season. Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr., wide receiver Prince Strachan, offensive lineman Nick Krahe, defensive end Zeke Durham-Campbell, and EDGE Harper Holloman all land in that group.
Hawkins is the one without a full season of starting experience, but the talent and upside are there. A strong 2026 could push him into the top tier for 2027.
Strachan brings the kind of size and length NFL teams love, though health and production still have to catch up. Krahe could move up quickly, especially with his athleticism, strength, and the work he’s getting from Rick Trickett.
Durham-Campbell and Holloman both showed out at the Group of Six level and now have to prove they can do it every week against better competition. The tools are there for scouts to keep them on the radar.
There’s another group with obvious upside, but far less proof. Running backs Amari Latimer and Chris Talley, receiver TaRon Francis, offensive lineman Kevin Brown, defensive lineman Darius Wiley, defensive lineman Taylor Brown, EDGE Tobi Haastrup, N/S Maliek Hawkins, and safety Matt Sieg all have enough talent to get there.
The catch is that they’ve combined for just 11 snaps at the FBS level, with Haastrup accounting for 8 and Maliek Hawkins for 3. Four are true freshmen and four are second-year players, so the ceiling is real, but the résumé is still mostly unwritten.
Even so, some names in that group stand out. Latimer, Kevin Brown, and Sieg are all viewed as clear NFL prospects down the line, even if it’s too early to stamp them that way now.
Wiley is especially intriguing at 6-foot-7, making him the tallest defensive end WVU has had in recent memory. Haastrup is the other eye-catcher, a late bloomer who didn’t even start playing football until his senior year of high school.
He’s got a massive frame and the kind of build that could eventually make him a special pass rusher for Zac Alley.
Then there’s the final cluster of players who have either the production or the measurables to work their way into draft-pick or undrafted-free-agent territory. That group includes wide receiver Jaden Bray, defensive lineman Jaylen Thomas, cornerbacks Chams Diagne and Da’Mun Allen, N/S Andrew Powdrell, and safety Kamari Wilson.
Bray’s hurdle is durability. He has spent much of the last two seasons sidelined by a foot injury, and any more setbacks would make NFL teams cautious about using a draft pick on him. Allen and Thomas both arrived from JUCO, but neither is done developing; both still have multiple years of eligibility left.
So the answer to the original question is simple and not so simple at the same time. West Virginia has one definite NFL-caliber player right now, a handful who are close, and a deeper group that could become something more if the tape catches up to the talent.
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The One West Virginia Transfer Who Could Define This Reset
West Virginias latest basketball reset has the feel of a roster built almost entirely from scratch, with Ross Hodge stepping in after a 21-win season and a postseason title and then facing the challenge of piecing together a new core. The Mountaineers have added six transfers and two four-star recruits, but the real pressure point is obvious: when a team loses so much continuity, every newcomer matters, and the margin for error gets thin fast.
Among that group, the transfer most likely to shape how quickly this new era takes hold is the one in the middle, a big frontcourt addition from Georgia Tech whose size and production give West Virginia something to build around. He brings a track record that suggests real upside, but the bigger question for the Mountaineers is whether he can supply the kind of immediate stability this roster needs while the rest of the pieces settle in. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Must Face More Former Mountaineers Than Fans Might Expect
West Virginias schedule will come with an unusual bit of familiarity this fall, as a handful of former Mountaineers are set to line up against their old school. Five ex-WVU players are expected to face the program, including three in Big 12 play, a reminder of how quickly roster turnover can turn former teammates into opponents. Some of those transfers have already had winding journeys, with moves to places like Coastal Carolina after multiple coaching changes, while others have settled into new roles at different stops.
For WVU, the most interesting reunions may be the ones that carry more than just an emotional edge. One former Mountaineer turned in a career year at Kansas and showed clear growth in pass coverage and across his defensive production, giving the Jayhawks a much different version of a player than the one West Virginia once had. Another former receiver is back on the schedule in a new setting, and a Maryland native who landed at Bowling Green will get his own shot at the Mountaineers early in the season, giving this falls slate a little extra personal history. [Read more 🡒]
More WVU Freshmen Are Suddenly Pushing Rich Rod's Rotation
A wave of true freshmen is starting to look like more than future depth for West Virginia this fall. Kevin Brown, Matt Sieg and Amari Latimer have already drawn attention as the most obvious candidates to help right away, and the rest of the 2026 class is beginning to follow that path as Rich Rodriguez and his staff sort out where young players can fit. Some of the names to know include Talley, Hamilton, Dwyer and a smaller defensive back who all seem to have a realistic chance to get on the field sooner than expected.
Talleys speed gives him a chance to work into the running back picture, especially with Rodriguez expected to lean on the ground game. Hamilton has been described as one of the most game-ready freshmen and could find tight end snaps if the veterans around him do not lock things down, while Dwyer may get a look simply because the linebacker room is not settled. The defensive back is a different kind of early contributor, likely starting out on special teams and in selected spots before settling back into a more standard role later on. [Read more 🡒]