West Virginia Football Reloads: 58 Newcomers Already on Campus as Spring Semester Kicks Off
The spring semester is officially underway in Morgantown, and West Virginia's football program didn’t waste any time getting to work. After a busy December on the recruiting trail and a flurry of transfer portal activity in January, the Mountaineers have already brought in a significant chunk of their 2026 roster-with an eye toward hitting the ground running in winter workouts and spring ball.
The numbers tell the story of a program aggressively reloading. WVU signed 49 players during the early signing period, then added another to the high school class just last Friday.
On top of that, they brought in 29 transfers from across the college football landscape. The goal?
Simple: get as many of them as possible enrolled for the spring semester and into the strength and conditioning program early.
So far, that plan is working. As of the spring enrollment deadline-coinciding with the closure of the transfer portal-58 of the Mountaineers’ 76 newcomers are already on campus. That number could still climb as paperwork clears and final approvals come through for a few of the most recent additions.
A couple of planned enrollees didn’t make it. Defensive lineman Kamdon Gillespie was released from his National Letter of Intent earlier this week, and punter Chase Ridley has landed at Arizona. But overall, the Mountaineers hit their target: build depth, competition, and cohesion by getting players in the building early.
Let’s take a closer look at who’s already enrolled-and who’s still on the way.
Who's on Campus
The Mountaineers’ early enrollees include a healthy mix of high school signees, junior college standouts, and seasoned transfers from FBS programs. That blend is key for a team looking to compete right away while also developing for the future.
Among the notable names already enrolled:
- Michael Hawkins, a redshirt sophomore quarterback from Oklahoma, brings Power Five experience to the QB room.
- Josh Sapp, a tight end and Clemson transfer, adds size and maturity to the offense.
- Cam Cook and Amare Grayson, both from Jacksonville State, are part of a trio of offensive linemen coming in from that program-joining Cam Griffin to bolster the trenches.
- Kamari Wilson, a redshirt senior safety from Memphis, brings SEC pedigree and veteran leadership to the secondary.
- Prince Strachan, a 6-foot-5 wide receiver from USC, gives the Mountaineers a big-bodied target with top-tier athleticism.
The incoming freshman class is just as intriguing. Defensive end David Afogho (Bowling Green transfer) and linebacker Isaiah Patterson (from UNLV) are among the defenders expected to push for early playing time. On offense, running backs Martavious Boswell and Chris Talley, along with wideouts like Charlie Hanafin and Malachi Thompson, give the coaching staff options to work with in both the short and long term.
In the trenches, WVU has added size and depth on both sides of the ball. Offensive linemen like Kevin Brown, Camden Goforth, and Devin Vass bring serious size-each topping 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds. On the defensive front, Jaylen Thomas and Will LeBlanc provide bulk and experience to a unit that will need to be stout in the Big 12.
WVU also added a pair of quarterbacks in freshman Jyron Hughley and redshirt freshman Michael Hawkins, giving the staff flexibility and competition at the most important position on the field.
Still to Come
While the bulk of the class has arrived, 18 players have yet to enroll. That group includes both freshmen and transfers, and several are expected to join the team later this spring or summer.
Names to watch include:
- Jayden Ballard, a freshman safety from Virginia, who could be part of the future of the secondary.
- Cam Ball, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound tight end from Mississippi State, who brings SEC experience and serious size.
- Wyatt Brown, a freshman quarterback from California, adds another arm to a deepening QB room.
- Maliek Hawkins and Tobi Haastrup, both redshirt freshmen defensive backs, bring versatility and upside to the secondary.
The list also includes promising in-state talent like Xavier Anderson, a 6-foot-6 tight end from Martinsburg, W.Va., and Brad Mossor, a dynamic athlete from Princeton High School.
What It All Means
This offseason haul is one of the most ambitious in recent WVU memory. With 76 total additions and 58 already on campus, the Mountaineers are clearly prioritizing early development and cohesion. That’s critical for a program looking to build momentum heading into spring football.
The early arrivals will have a leg up-not just in the weight room, but in learning the playbook, adjusting to college life, and building chemistry with teammates. For the coaching staff, it means a deeper pool of talent to evaluate and develop as they prepare for the 2026 season.
Make no mistake: this is a roster being reshaped in real time. The transfer portal has changed the game, and West Virginia is playing it aggressively. Now, the real work begins-turning these additions into contributors, and contributors into difference-makers.
Spring ball can’t come soon enough.