West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker thinks the Mountaineers are set up for a much cleaner Year 2 under Rich Rodriguez.
Baker, speaking in an interview with the Big 12 Conference, said he expects WVU to make “a big step forward” this fall after a first season that came with major roster and staffing upheaval.
“I think we’re expecting to take a big step forward. Last year, you come in and not only are you replacing virtually a whole new team, and you’re trying to assemble a staff; you don’t have a GM on the ground yet.
And so from a recruiting standpoint, you are way, way behind because the volume you’re trying to get and the amount of decisions you’re having to make…we all know in this new world you’re dealing with really a budget that’s a salary pool; you can only spend so much on one position and so much on one player. But when you need one hundred players, that’s a really complicated puzzle piece, especially when you didn’t have any time to really game plan for that.
"Just being out there at practice, there’s a lot less misses in the recruiting cycle. I know they’re very excited about the players that we have.
Rich signed a bunch of young guys, and there’s some of them that are ready to play, but there’s still some that are going to need development. We probably need to avoid injury to have the kind of season we want to have, but there’s a lot of excitement.”
Baker’s point is that this isn’t just about the usual Year 2 bump. West Virginia was dealing with a near-total reset when Rodriguez arrived, and the staff was still being pieced together while the portal was moving fast. By the time things settled in Morgantown, WVU was trying to make do with what was left in the portal rather than getting a full, orderly start to the cycle.
This time, Baker believes the operation is in a far better place. He said the staff has had a much cleaner recruiting process, and he pointed to the young players Rodriguez brought in as a group that includes some who can help right away and others who still need time to develop.
He also noted that last year’s roster situation forced West Virginia into starting players who had never been in those roles before, and that showed on the field. With more resources, better talent evaluation and more established pieces now in place, Baker sees a roster that should be in a better position to compete.
In Other News...
Amari Latimer Is Giving WVU Fans A Reason To Feel Better
Amari Latimer has already done enough in spring and early fall camp to make West Virginia feel better about its backfield depth. The true freshman running back has drawn praise from Rich Rodriguez for both his performance and his physical tools, and the early buzz suggests he has moved well beyond the usual first-year learning curve. In a room that still runs through Cam Cook, Latimer has given the Mountaineers a younger option worth watching closely as the season approaches.
For WVU, the interest here is not just about a promising freshman making a few nice plays in camp. It is about whether Latimer can settle into a real role as the clear No. 2 back and give the offense a reliable second wave behind Cook. The projections around him point to a player who could be more than a change-of-pace option, and his style has already made him one of the more intriguing developments of the preseason, even if the real proof will have to come once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Still Has One Unusual WVU Roster Decision Left
Rich Rodriguez is still waiting on NCAA clarity before he can lock in West Virginias 2026 football roster, with the biggest questions hanging over fifth-year players and transfers. For now, the Mountaineers are in a holding pattern, and the uncertainty has left enough room for a few late roster decisions to shape how the group comes together heading into the season.
One of those decisions already has a notable twist, with tight end Jacob Barrick opting to move into a coaching position rather than continue playing, while cornerback Jason Chambers has returned to the team. Rodriguez has also left the door open to more additions if the numbers work out, and the last few spots could still be sorted in an unusual way before the roster is finally set. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Football Finally Has A Better Shot To Keep Its Core Together
West Virginias football program is in a much better place than it was not long ago when it comes to keeping its roster intact, and athletic director Wren Baker said the schools NIL investment has grown enough to change the conversation. After lagging behind in that area, WVU has ramped up its budget and is now spending in the top half of the Big 12, a shift that matters as much for retention as it does for recruiting. For a program trying to build something durable, that kind of financial footing can make the difference between developing a core and watching it scatter.
Bakers comments point to a quieter but important part of the Mountaineers offseason: the effort to hold on to players the staff believes can shape the next wave of success. The school has already pushed the budget higher again with retention in mind, a sign that the emphasis is no longer just on catching up but on staying competitive for its own talent. For WVU, the challenge now is turning that improved position into continuity, and that makes the players expected to anchor the future even more valuable. [Read more 🡒]