West Virginia’s roster has its usual Mountain State flavor this fall, with 11 natives on the football team and a couple of them standing out as the ones most likely to see real snaps this season.
The clearest early opportunity belongs to Traugh, who could work his way into a meaningful offensive role. The staff likes his work ethic and views him as a contributor, and there’s a chance he becomes the No. 3 option at any receiver spot. His playing time should rise as the season goes on.
Anderson, meanwhile, has gotten positive mentions from Rodriguez at different points last season and again in the spring, but the path in Morgantown is crowded. He sits behind Mike Hawkins Jr., Scotty Fox Jr., Max Brown, and Jyron Hughley, and could end up battling true freshmen Wyatt Brown and John Johnson III for the No. 5 spot.
Mossor arrives with a huge high school résumé after winning the 2025 Kennedy Award. He piled up 93 catches for 1,510 yards and 14 touchdowns, then added 125 rushing attempts for 939 yards and 28 scores. He’ll need time to develop, but the long-term upside is there, with a Hudson Clement-type of impact mentioned as a possibility down the road.
A few of the other in-state players are more about development and depth than immediate action. The long, wiry freshman at 6'6" needs to add weight before he’s ready, and there isn’t an expectation that he’ll see the field this year, even on special teams. Zuliani has moved from the defensive line to tight end, where he’ll mainly help as a scout team and special teams piece, though he could also back up Kayden Luke at fullback.
Bigelow could eventually get on the field, but not soon, and his best position is still unclear. Special teams may be his best path.
Another player is expected to provide depth and could eventually climb into the two- or three-deep before his career is done. Kovalesky, at 280 pounds, still needs more muscle and doesn’t appear likely to show up on a depth chart this season.
Ryan, a late addition last year, is expected to remain a scout teamer.
Robinson is the name to watch for 2026. He has a real chance to play heavy snaps then, and West Virginia needs a starter opposite Chams Diagne. He’s in that competition along with Nick Taylor, ChaMarryus Bomar, Da'Mun Allen, and others.
Flower could be in the mix for kickoff duties, while Alabama transfer Peter Notaro or Western Kentucky Jack Cassidy are the likely options for field goals and PATs.
In Other News...
Phil Steele Just Made A Massive Statement About WVUs RB Room
West Virginias running back room looks a lot different than it did a few months ago, and thats exactly why it has become one of the more intriguing position groups in the Big 12. The additions of Cam Cook, the nations leading rusher, JUCO transfer Martavious Boswell and a crop of freshmen have given the Mountaineers a mix of proven production and upside that is hard to ignore. Phil Steele clearly didnt, putting the group at the top of the league and giving the staff a fresh reason to believe the backfield can be a strength right away.
The bigger question now is how all that talent settles in once camp and the season start to sort out roles. West Virginia expects those newcomers to contribute and develop as the year goes on, but there is still some summer monitoring to do, and the depth chart could keep shifting before the first snap. For a room that already has plenty of buzz, the next step is turning that promise into something the Mountaineers can actually lean on when the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Faces One Defining Question As Rebuild Expectations Start Rising
As West Virginias rebuilding year comes into focus, the conversation around the program is turning from what the Mountaineers lost to what they might still become. Mike Hawkins Jr. gives the offense a clear starting point at quarterback, and Cam Cook brings a proven playmaking presence in the backfield, which is why the range of realistic outcomes feels so wide. If those pieces settle in quickly, the Mountaineers can at least push toward the kind of season that restores some momentum and gets them back to bowl eligibility.
The harder part is knowing where the floor and ceiling really sit once the schedule tightens and the roster is tested deeper into the fall. A respectable year would mean reaching a bowl and getting to eight wins, but the path there is far from smooth, especially with the back half of the slate looming as the place where this season could either stabilize or slide. For a team trying to climb while expectations rise around it, that makes the next few months feel less like a rebuild and more like a referendum. [Read more 🡒]