West Virginia is only five practices into fall camp, but a few Mountaineers are already making noise in ways that matter. The sample size is small, sure, but the coaching staff is getting a clear look at which players are pushing for bigger roles and which ones are starting to separate in their position battles.
One of the clearest risers is the Youngstown State transfer at wide receiver. He came to WVU a year ago and has kept his head down, worked, and kept earning attention.
He picked up a few mentions from the staff last season, and that buzz has grown since spring. By late spring, it was already looking like he was in the mix, and everything he has done in camp has only strengthened that case.
At this point, he looks like a real candidate for the back end of the receiver rotation and is firmly in the discussion as a return man as well.
Up front, the move to center has not slowed down the Wyoming transfer at all. He played left guard there last season and did it at a very high level, and while the switch to center may not have been the first thing he expected when he arrived in Morgantown, it was likely on the table during the recruiting process.
He has handled the transition well and is starting to take charge of the offensive line. What had looked like a fight between him and Landen Livingston is now trending toward his job to lose.
Another name to watch on the offensive line is Griffin, the kind of versatile piece every staff loves to have around. At Jacksonville State, he lined up at all five spots, though left guard was his main home.
West Virginia has him working at both guard positions and center, and offensive line coach Rick Trickett said he had a really strong first two days of camp. He already has Trickett’s trust and knows the system well, even if he wasn’t in it last season.
Having played for Rich Rod in 2023 and 2024, the adjustment has come naturally. If one of the starters goes down, Griffin looks like the top plug-in option, or at the very least one of the first names called.
Mack is also making his presence felt. He drew praise Monday from Rich Rodriguez and junior defensive lineman Nate Gabriel, which is the kind of attention that matters this time of year.
Whether he can break into the rotation before the season starts is still to be determined, but he is clearly helping his cause. He has been eager to learn, receptive to coaching, and has made major gains in the weight room, adding 44 pounds since signing in December.
Then there is Torbor, a redshirt freshman who is fighting for a starting spot at WILL against Illinois transfer Malachi Hood and others. He brings the kind of frame and athletic tools that get coaches excited - 6'3", 239 lbs - and there is a belief around the program that he can become a real factor this season.
The one thing holding him back right now is the speed of the game, which is hardly unusual for a young player learning a complicated Zac Alley defense. Once the mental side catches up, he could become one of West Virginia’s top defenders.
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