Rich Rodriguez’s return to West Virginia was anything but a walk in the park. The Mountaineers wrapped up his first season back with a 4-8 record, facing some tough losses along the way.
But when you're trying to rebuild a team from the ground up in just a few months, growing pains are part of the journey. Rodriguez faced a steep climb, and the results reflect the typical challenges of a first-year head coach.
Getting the Mountaineers back to their glory days isn't an overnight task, and it's likely that 2026 won't be the year they fully turn the corner. However, this season, we should expect to see a spark of competitiveness that aligns with Rodriguez's long-term vision for the program.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, Rodriguez's former punter/kicker expressed confidence in the team that will soon take the field against Coastal Carolina. With less than 70 days to go, there's an air of optimism around the squad.
“Listen, we’re going to win football games because he is coaching the team. We know that.
I understand that, we all know that. His style wins.
If you just look at his style, it wins. But I also think he’s finding the guys for him.
I couldn’t even imagine these modern-age guys that aren’t Rich Rod guys going to the Mountaineers, getting there, and being like pfttt this ain’t for us. But when you find your guys, which I think you have.
I think we have found…I like our team. I think we’re going to have dogs forever, and I like the fact that you have not lost your hard edge at all.”
While recruiting rankings can be flashy, they don't always tell the whole story. When you dig deeper and evaluate the players by their on-field tenacity, it becomes clear that Rodriguez and his staff have brought in a crop of talent with a grit and physicality that was missing last year.
This isn't just about one side of the ball, but if there's a place where fans will notice a difference, it's the offensive line. These guys are playing with a fierce intensity and confidence that should help the offense click this fall.
As Rodriguez settles into his second stint at WVU, expect to see this hard-nosed attitude become a staple of the team. It's a mindset that will be woven into the fabric of the roster, setting the tone for seasons to come.
In Other News...
Mike Hawkins Jr. Just Put Two WVU Defenders On Notice
Quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. already has a feel for which West Virginia defensive backs could shape the coming season, and two names he singled out stand out for different reasons. Chams Diagne brings the kind of length and coverage ability that can change how an offense attacks, while Geimere Latimer has the reputation of a disciplined piece who should be steady in the back end.
For WVU, the intrigue is in how much more each player can add beyond the basics. Diagne still has to prove he can finish plays better in space and hold up against the run, while Latimer is being counted on to bring more pressure and handle a bigger share of the dirty work near the line. With the defense still sorting out its identity for 2026, those two may end up mattering as much for what they can prevent as for what they can create. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Finally Landed The In-State Addition Fans Have Been Waiting For
West Virginia has added a familiar name with real upside in Alexis Bordas, the Wheeling native who is coming home after one season at Duquesne. Bordas made an immediate impact as a freshman, averaging 15.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while earning a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team, giving the Mountaineers a local player who already arrives with proven production.
For a fan base that has been waiting to see a West Virginia-born player in the womens basketball program again, Bordas checks a box that goes beyond the numbers. She brings four years of eligibility under the new rules, which gives WVU a chance to build around her for more than just the short term, and it adds another layer of intrigue to how the roster will take shape moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Still Has One Running Back Problem It Did Not Fix
West Virginia spent the summer trying to stir some movement in its running back recruiting board, hosting several official visitors and hoping to chip away at a depth chart that needed attention. The visits brought plenty of activity, but the end result was more mixed than transformational, with the Mountaineers cycling through the usual recruiting churn without truly changing the shape of the room.
One prospect ended up at Houston, another came to West Virginia but fit more as a receiver than a true back, and a third briefly pledged to the Mountaineers before moving on to Auburn. Tylek Lewis is still out there as an uncommitted option, but for now the bigger takeaway is simple enough for West Virginia: after all those visits, the running back situation looks the same as it did before the June official period began. [Read more 🡒]