West Virginia’s season opener against Coastal Carolina should answer a few of the biggest questions hanging over the start of Year 2 of the second Rich Rod era.
The roster has plenty of new faces again, but not nearly to the same degree as last season, and that added continuity gives this opener a different feel. Still, there are a handful of spots worth watching closely on Saturday, and none loom larger than what Michael Hawkins looks like throwing the football.
Hawkins’ passing game is the biggest unknown on this roster. The Oklahoma transfer put up solid numbers with the Sooners, completing nearly 62% of his passes with a 6-2 touchdown-interception ratio across five starts.
But the stat line doesn’t tell the whole story. In his lone start in 2025, a home game against Kent State, the box score looked fine, yet the film painted a shakier picture.
His long touchdown pass came on an underthrow that likely turns into an interception against a longer, more athletic secondary, and one drive featured three straight throws that were badly off target because of poor footwork and mechanics. Hawkins gives West Virginia real juice as a runner - he’s athletic, slippery and has blazing straightline speed - but Saturday is about seeing whether the passing mechanics have taken a step forward.
Another major subplot is how the freshmen show up in their first college action. West Virginia poured serious resources into one of its best freshman classes in recent memory, and there’s a real chance several of those players factor right away.
Kevin Brown, one of the highest-rated recruits in program history, is the obvious name to watch at left tackle. Matt Sieg, another highly rated prospect, is also worth tracking at safety, especially with the belief that he’s in the two-deep.
Beyond those two, there’s plenty more to monitor: whether Landon Drumm is healthy, whether camp riser Yendor Mack gets snaps, and how Amari Latimer and Chris Talley look in the backfield. Both are expected to play, and that group could make the opener one of the more interesting personnel evaluations of the day.
Then there’s linebacker, where the depth chart may be more crowded than it first appears. Cam Torbor’s potential emergence gives the position a different kind of upside, and the feeling here is that West Virginia could end up using at least a four-man rotation.
Torbor and Ben Cutter are the current starters in this view, but there are several others in the mix. Tyler Stolsky brings experience, Malachi Hood is a former Big Ten starter, and Ashton Woods is back healthy after showing real progress last year.
Woods was a player to like before the injury, and he could become an x-factor. That’s five possible contributors already, before even getting to the wildcard in UNLV transfer Isaiah Patterson.
In Other News...
Rich Rodriguez Just Made West Virginias QB Situation Even More Intriguing
Rich Rodriguez used the new seasons first Coaches Show to lay out a roster picture that feels a little more settled in some spots and wide open in others. He touched on the influx of high school recruits and transfers, and made clear that experience up front remains a priority as West Virginia continues sorting out the pieces around its offense. He also gave updates on several skill players, including running backs Cam Cook and Amari Latimer and wide receivers DJ Epps and Jaden Bray, while reinforcing the up-tempo style that has long been part of his identity.
The most intriguing part, though, came when Rodriguez addressed quarterback, where Scotty Fox and Michael Hawkins were both mentioned as possible starters. Even with the rest of the offense taking shape, that decision could end up shaping how quickly the Mountaineers find a rhythm in Rodriguezs system, especially with the line and skill positions still coming together. For a team trying to build continuity on the fly, the race under center suddenly feels like one of the most important storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Whites WVU Honor Only Happened After A Longstanding Barrier Fell
Pat White is finally getting the kind of programwide recognition his West Virginia career long seemed to deserve, with his No. 5 jersey set for a ceremonial retirement Saturday before the Mountaineers season opener. The official retirement will come after the current season, once Jaden Bray finishes his eligibility, but the moment itself marks a significant change for a school that had to rethink its own rules before it could put White in that company.
The West Virginia Athletic Council revised its policy to make the honor possible, removing a longstanding barrier that had kept Whites number from being retired. In a recent interview, White looked back on his time in Morgantown and said he was grateful for the distinction, a fitting acknowledgment for one of the defining players in modern Mountaineers history. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginias First Depth Chart Brings Some Real Early Surprises
West Virginias first football depth chart of the season offered an early look at how the coaching staff sees the roster coming together, and it came with a few eyebrow-raisers. The two-deep blends transfers, freshmen and returning players, while the defensive line stands out as one of the younger groups on the board. It also underscores how much competition remains across the roster, with some junior college additions not cracking the initial two-deep.
Matt Sieg was the name that jumped out most, as the true freshman appears prominently in multiple spots and seems to have earned an immediate place in the conversation. The cornerback group also reflects some of the staffs specific preferences, with players of varying sizes slotted into roles that suggest the battle for jobs is still very much alive. For a program trying to sort out its identity early, the first depth chart was less about settling questions than showing just how many are still open. [Read more 🡒]