As the summer sun sets on the college football recruiting frenzy, we find ourselves in a quieter phase-a dead period where coaching staffs shift gears to a blend of relaxation and gearing up for the preseason. West Virginia University (WVU) is no stranger to this cycle, having welcomed a flurry of activity with numerous campers and visitors gracing the campus throughout June. Now, it's time to reflect on the whirlwind that was, particularly focusing on the running backs.
Since our last check-in, the scene has been both bustling and surprisingly static. WVU rolled out the welcome mat for four running backs during their official visits, adding to the intrigue surrounding their current commit, Lee Prince Jr.
However, the outcomes of these visits were a mixed bag. Kaston Lewis decided to take his talents to Houston, leaving WVU in the dust.
Meanwhile, Bryian Duncan Jr. pledged his allegiance to the Mountaineers, but with a twist-he's eyeing a role more akin to a Darius Reynaud slot receiver than a traditional running back.
Adding to the drama, Khamoni Williams initially committed to WVU, only to have a change of heart and flip his commitment to Auburn just five days later. This leaves Tylek Lewis as the lone ranger, still weighing his options and keeping fans on edge.
Despite all the movement and excitement, the running back room at WVU finds itself in a familiar position-unchanged from where it stood before the June official visit period. As the dust settles, the Mountaineers will need to regroup and strategize their next moves in the recruiting game.
In Other News...
The One West Virginia Transfer Who Could Define This Reset
West Virginias latest basketball reset has arrived with familiar urgency and very little room for error. After another coaching change, Ross Hodge steps in to lead a roster that looks almost entirely remade from a 21-win team that also brought home a postseason title, with only a handful of pieces carrying over and a wave of newcomers expected to shape what comes next.
Among the arrivals, one transfer stands out as the kind of player who could quietly set the tone for the whole season. The Mountaineers added help through the recruiting class and the portal, but the real swing piece may be the big man who brings a different level of frontcourt presence and a track record that suggests he can matter right away if he stays on the floor. For a team trying to establish an identity fast, that is the sort of addition that can define whether the rebuild feels like a quick turn or another long season of figuring things out. [Read more 🡒]
More WVU Freshmen Are Suddenly Pushing Rich Rod's Rotation
A cluster of true freshmen has suddenly moved into the conversation around West Virginias fall rotation, and that is exactly the kind of development Rich Rodriguez tends to encourage. Kevin Brown, Matt Sieg and Amari Latimer have already been identified as the headliners from the 2026 recruiting class, but the ripple effect runs deeper than those names alone. As the staff keeps sorting through depth and fit, a handful of younger players are starting to look less like future projects and more like legitimate options for snaps this season.
Among the next wave, Talley, Hamilton, Dwyer and a smaller defensive back each bring a different path to the field, which is why this feels more like a roster squeeze than a traditional redshirt watch. Talleys speed fits a run-heavy approach, Hamilton looks ready enough to matter if the tight end room opens up, and Dwyer could benefit from a linebacker group that is still sorting itself out. The defensive back may have the clearest early job description, but even that role could change as the schedule tightens and the staff figures out who is ready to hold up when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Must Face More Former Mountaineers Than Fans Might Expect
West Virginias upcoming slate will bring a familiar kind of intrigue, with several former Mountaineers set to line up across from their old team this fall. The number is bigger than most fans might expect, and it stretches beyond one league, with some of those reunions coming in Big 12 play and others arriving through nonconference matchups that still carry plenty of familiarity.
Among the most interesting cases is the group that landed at Coastal Carolina after navigating multiple coaching changes, while another former WVU defender is set for a return of his own after a move to Bowling Green. There is also the Kansas angle, where Lathan turned in a career year after leaving Morgantown, turning what once looked like a quiet transfer into one of the more notable developments on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]