West Virginia’s summer buzz has started to settle on a short list of names, and the Mountaineers staff seems to have a clear sense of who is carrying the most momentum into fall camp.
At the top of that list is Hawkins, who has won over Rich Rodriguez and the rest of the coaching staff with how fast he has absorbed the offense and taken charge of the group. The staff views him as exactly the kind of player they hoped they were getting, and then some. He should not take long to make his presence felt, either, with the chance to post big numbers in the first two weeks of the season before his first real test against Virginia, where he could draw national attention.
The Jacksonville State transfer is also looking to show that last season’s nation-leading rushing total was no one-year spike. West Virginia has been encouraged not just by his running ability, but also by what it has seen in pass protection and as a receiver. That combination has made him look like a complete back, and the expectation inside the building is that he will be a major producer and the engine that drives the offense.
Up front, Krahe remains one of the most dependable pieces on the roster. He handled his first year as a full-time starter well and was probably the most consistent player on the line. Rick Trickett sees a better long-term fit for him at guard, and that move would also let West Virginia keep its five best linemen on the field, with Kevin Brown and Carsten Casady at tackle.
On the defensive side, Holloman made a strong impression in spring and was viewed by the staff as the team’s best pass rusher. He brought pressure regularly last season at Western Kentucky, and the hope is that he can finish more plays this year with more support up front and some help from the scheme.
Durham-Campbell is another player the staff is counting on heavily. Internally, expectations are high, and West Virginia needs him to develop into an all-conference caliber player to help offset the lack of experience and production elsewhere along the defensive line. The early signs suggest he is moving in that direction.
Powdrell was one of the biggest surprises of spring ball, and that opinion seems to have only grown once the staff saw him in this defense. West Virginia liked what it saw on his UNLV tape, but now the coaches are even higher on him after watching him work in their system. He stands out as one of the fastest players on the team, but he also brings a physical edge.
In the secondary, Diagne appears to have locked down the No. 1 cornerback job heading into fall camp. He has only one year of real playing time behind him, so this is a bet on upside, but the early results have been encouraging. His length gives West Virginia a better chance against the deep throws that gave the defense trouble a year ago.
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 🡒]