Prince Strachan has the inside track to handle the X wide receiver spot for West Virginia this fall, but TaRon Francis is the name that keeps popping up as a player worth watching closely in camp and into the season.
The LSU transfer is expected to factor into the receiver rotation one way or another, and there’s a real path for him to grow into one of Mike Hawkins Jr.’s top targets. What has to come next is consistency.
Francis has already shown the kind of flashes that make people take notice, but there are still reps where the game looks a little quick for him. As he keeps stacking practice work and settles deeper into the season, that comfort level should rise - and with it, his confidence.
That upside is part of what stood out to Jed Drenning on the most recent taping of the In the Gun podcast. As he put it:
“When you’re talking about a guy who will use his frame, there’s other candidates on the perimeter… we need to see TaRon Francis show up and do what he can do, and I’ve seen flashes of it. When you see him at practice, it’s not difficult to pick out who played in the SEC.
I mean, just seeing him stand there, you can tell who played in the SEC. He is a specimen, and when the light comes on for him, watch out because he does have legitimate twitch.”
Francis barely saw the field at LSU last season, with appearances against Southeastern Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Houston in the bowl game. Most of his work came on special teams, and he logged only three snaps at receiver.
Back in the spring, Rich Rod said the staff plans to use him in multiple spots. “We’re playing him both in the slot and outside," Rich Rod said back in the spring. "He’s a big, physical guy and got great running skills, so we’ll try to find ways to get him the ball.”
His speed and ability to create after the catch are major selling points, but there’s more to his game than just open-field juice. He can win contested throws, use his strength to take the ball away from a defender, and hold on through contact. That gives West Virginia a receiver who could threaten defenses deep while also becoming a dangerous option in the middle of the field.
In Other News...
Amari Latimer Is Giving WVU Fans A Reason To Feel Better
Amari Latimer has already done enough in spring and early fall camp to make West Virginia feel better about its backfield depth. The true freshman running back has drawn praise from Rich Rodriguez for both his performance and his physical tools, and the early buzz suggests he has moved well beyond the usual first-year learning curve. In a room that still runs through Cam Cook, Latimer has given the Mountaineers a younger option worth watching closely as the season approaches.
For WVU, the interest here is not just about a promising freshman making a few nice plays in camp. It is about whether Latimer can settle into a real role as the clear No. 2 back and give the offense a reliable second wave behind Cook. The projections around him point to a player who could be more than a change-of-pace option, and his style has already made him one of the more intriguing developments of the preseason, even if the real proof will have to come once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Still Has One Unusual WVU Roster Decision Left
Rich Rodriguez is still waiting on NCAA clarity before he can lock in West Virginias 2026 football roster, with the biggest questions hanging over fifth-year players and transfers. For now, the Mountaineers are in a holding pattern, and the uncertainty has left enough room for a few late roster decisions to shape how the group comes together heading into the season.
One of those decisions already has a notable twist, with tight end Jacob Barrick opting to move into a coaching position rather than continue playing, while cornerback Jason Chambers has returned to the team. Rodriguez has also left the door open to more additions if the numbers work out, and the last few spots could still be sorted in an unusual way before the roster is finally set. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Football Finally Has A Better Shot To Keep Its Core Together
West Virginias football program is in a much better place than it was not long ago when it comes to keeping its roster intact, and athletic director Wren Baker said the schools NIL investment has grown enough to change the conversation. After lagging behind in that area, WVU has ramped up its budget and is now spending in the top half of the Big 12, a shift that matters as much for retention as it does for recruiting. For a program trying to build something durable, that kind of financial footing can make the difference between developing a core and watching it scatter.
Bakers comments point to a quieter but important part of the Mountaineers offseason: the effort to hold on to players the staff believes can shape the next wave of success. The school has already pushed the budget higher again with retention in mind, a sign that the emphasis is no longer just on catching up but on staying competitive for its own talent. For WVU, the challenge now is turning that improved position into continuity, and that makes the players expected to anchor the future even more valuable. [Read more 🡒]