West Virginia’s offensive line looks nothing like the one that stumbled through a 4-8 season in 2025.
That was the problem area Rich Rodriguez moved to attack immediately, and he did it with a full reset: a new offensive line coach in Rick Trickett, a wave of transfer additions, and a clear effort to stock the room with players who have actually started college games before.
“Had an issue on the o-line last year,” Rodriguez said. “Just no experience. We went from not having guys who had started college before, to having seven or eight guys that started college football before, plus a couple guys returning.”
Among the returners Rodriguez pointed to were Nick Krahe, Malik Agbo, Landen Livingston, and Josh Aisosa. He also noted that several of the new faces already have starting experience at previous schools. Two of those additions came from Jacksonville State with Trickett and had already played for Rodriguez before.
“Cam [Griffin] and Bubba [Grayson] have played in our offense before, so they’re more plug and play,” Rodriguez said. “They can help teach and help coach [the other] guys how we want to get it done.”
That mix of veterans and familiar pieces is why Rodriguez believes this group has real depth.
“You hope to have eight guys,” he said. “.... but I think we have ten or eleven guys that are good enough to win with.”
Even with all those bodies in the room, one true freshman has forced his way into the conversation.
“I really like our freshman class [on the offensive line],” Rodriguez said. “They have a chance to play early.
Kevin [ Brown ] has a chance to start. He’s going to play early.
He has a certain football maturity that you don’t see as a true freshman. I kind of knew that when we signed him, but he’s gotten better since then, too.”
Brown has been working at both left tackle and right tackle, and Rodriguez said he has shown up physically ready. The staff has already seen that in the winter and summer workout numbers, where Brown stood out as one of the strongest players on the team.
But Rodriguez also made clear that the jump from high school to the Power Four is still a major one.
“Physically, a lot of times, the game is so fast and if you’re going into a Power Four against defensive ends, linebackers, it’s a whole different speed. It’s all so much faster,” Rodriguez said.
“..... The most talented ones, like a Kevin Brown, he’s still a freshman, and we gotta remind ourselves of that.
We try to practice with a certainty intensity so he can get used to it. He’ll probably still be nervous the first couple games.”
In Other News...
Rich Rod Leaves Door Open On A WVU Roster Decision
Rich Rodriguez has kept West Virginias roster picture in a holding pattern while the program sorts through a few moving parts tied to players with fifth-year eligibility. For now, the Mountaineers are not bringing anyone in, and Rodriguez made it clear the current roster is not being trimmed to create space as the staff waits on the NCAA side of the equation.
One name worth watching is cornerback Jordan Scruggs, who has shown interest in coming back. His situation is part of the broader uncertainty around whether the Mountaineers will ultimately add any more experienced pieces, but for the moment everything remains on pause and no final calls have been made. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Is Watching One West Virginia Issue Very Closely
West Virginia opened preseason 30 days before the first game on its usual timetable, giving Rich Rodriguez a little more runway to sort through what looks like a different kind of roster this summer. The coach said the group has a more balanced mix of freshmen and transfers than it did a year ago, and many of those additions still have multiple seasons left, which at least gives the staff something to build around beyond the immediate fall.
What Rodriguez is watching most closely, though, is the number of players who are new to college football and new to his system. With that much turnover, the early weeks of camp are about more than learning assignments. The Mountaineers need better conditioning and more intensity before the opener arrives, and how quickly those pieces come together could shape how ready this team really is. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Browns Rise Could Change West Virginia Up Front
Kevin Browns arrival has given West Virginia something it rarely gets to enjoy this early in the calendar: a long look at a freshman who already feels like part of the plan up front. The offensive lineman is projected to be the starting left tackle for the 2026 season, and his early work since arriving in spring has only strengthened the belief that he can grow into one of the most important pieces on the roster.
Brown also comes with the kind of recruiting profile that raises the stakes for everyone around him, as one of the highest rated prospects in program history. Even so, the Mountaineers do not need to rush him into the spotlight alone, thanks to experienced depth at the position with senior Malik Agbo in the mix. The bigger question is how quickly Browns rise can translate from promise to pressure on a line that could look very different by the time 2026 arrives. [Read more 🡒]