NFL training camps are opening, preseason football is right around the corner, and the list of former West Virginia players scattered across the league is as busy as ever.
That picture got a little clearer with the recent retirement of former WVU quarterback Will Grier, but plenty of Mountaineers are still trying to carve out roles, hold onto starting jobs, or simply survive the next round of cuts. Some are already established. Others are fighting for every snap.
Geno Smith’s lone season in Las Vegas didn’t go the way anyone wanted, and the numbers tell the story: 17 interceptions, his most since his rookie year in 2013. He’s now back with the organization that drafted him, and he’ll open the year as the starter while also serving as a mentor to rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik.
Justin Fields has taken a much different path. After starting his career with the Cleveland Browns and spending a brief stretch with the Los Angeles Rams, he spent the spring with the Columbus Aviators of the UFL. That run earned him another chance with Chicago, but he’ll likely need a strong preseason to win a spot on the 53-man roster.
Wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, listed here as GG, got a real look in Tampa Bay last preseason and had people wondering if he could grab the final receiver job. Instead, he landed on the practice squad and has spent the last year developing there. The traits are still obvious: he’s an elite athlete with plenty of speed, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if things eventually start to click for him as a pass catcher.
Another receiver trying to stick is David Sills. He’s already logged time with the Bills, Giants, Broncos, and Falcons, and now he’s battling for a roster spot in Tampa. For a player with just 31 career catches, the fact that he keeps getting chances says plenty.
On the defensive side, Doug Nester? No - the source points to several other former Mountaineers, including Daryl Porter Jr., listed here as Douglas, who had a strong 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins. He finished with 62 tackles, 13 passes defended, and two interceptions, and now the question is how he’ll fit into Dan Quinn’s scheme in Washington.
Linebacker Tykee Smith? The source instead highlights Carrico, who signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent and may have the clearest path to a roster spot. Cleveland’s linebacker room isn’t especially deep, with just Carson Schwesinger, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Quincy Williams listed as the only fixtures at that level, and Owusu-Koramoah will miss the entire 2026 season with a neck injury.
There’s also a cluster of former Mountaineers trying to find their lane as role players. Coats had a solid lone season at WVU in 2025, but size issues showed up, especially on deep throws. The odds of him becoming a starter at the next level look slim, though he could still work into a rotational job or contribute on special teams.
Wilson, meanwhile, doesn’t have the speed to be an every-down NFL back, which is a big reason he went undrafted. His best shot may come in obvious running situations, but first he’ll need to earn his keep on special teams.
Up front, Zach Frazier has already become one of the league’s better centers. He’s given up only two sacks across his first two seasons, and while he’s a force in the run game, he should fit nicely in Mike McCarthy’s pass-heavy offense.
Nick Milum also held his own in limited rookie action with the Jaguars, playing 111 snaps and allowing two pressures with no sacks. He’s expected to remain the backup guard in 2026.
That same kind of steady, if unspectacular, path applies to some of the depth pieces. Nester spent last season on the Steelers’ practice squad and could wind up there again if he doesn’t win a roster spot or get claimed on waivers after preseason.
At the top end of the defensive line group, Dante Stills has already shown what he can do. He posted 42 tackles and 4.5 sacks in a standout 2024 sophomore season, then moved into more of a rotational role last year and didn’t record a sack, though he still finished with 34 tackles and two tackles for loss.
And then there’s Beanie Bishop. After an impressive rookie year as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was cut and eventually landed with the Saints, where he didn’t appear in a game. Now he’s facing a three-game suspension to start the 2026 season for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy.
West Virginia also has two starting long snappers in the league with Sunahara and Brinkman, and Macguire Moss could become a third. Time will tell.
In Other News...
WVUs Wide Receiver Room Has Real Promise And One Huge Concern
West Virginias receiver room enters fall camp with a mix of proven snaps and plenty of intrigue, which is usually the kind of setup that can either steady an offense or leave it searching for answers. Several of the eligible wideouts have already started at the FBS level, and the groups overall profile suggests there is real talent here if the pieces fit together the right way.
The concern is just as obvious: availability. Jaden Bray brings upside but has spent much of his college career battling injuries, while John Neider gives the room another experienced option after making the move from quarterback and starting part of last season for the Huskies. Add in the promise of players such as TaRon Francis and Prince Strachan, and the Mountaineers have a group that could look much better than expected, but only if the health and roster churn stop getting in the way. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Offensive Confidence Meter Shows One Safe Bet And Real Concerns
The most stable part of West Virginias offense may be the one up front, where Rick Trickett has a veteran group that gives the Mountaineers a real foundation heading into the season. Around that line, though, the rest of the offense still feels like a mix of promise and projection, with the staff sorting through who can turn potential into production once the games start counting.
Mike Hawkins Jr. is the name that keeps drawing attention as the next quarterback to watch, and the running back room has enough talent to be interesting even if much of it is still unproven. Tight end is the other area that could swing the offense one way or the other, with bodies in place and upside on paper, but still plenty to prove in both the blocking game and as a passing threat. [Read more 🡒]