As the transfer portal officially shuts its doors, the West Virginia Mountaineers find themselves staring at a roster that’s been stripped down to the studs. The numbers don’t lie - and when you break them down by position, the picture gets even clearer.
This isn’t just a rebuild. It’s a full-on roster reset.
Let’s walk through the damage - and what it means for 2026.
Quarterback - 878 Total Snaps in 2025
- Departed Snaps: 378
- Returning Snap Percentage: 48.3%
The quarterback room took a hit, but it’s not a total loss. Nicco Marchiol (231 snaps), Khalil Wilkins (147), and Jaylen Henderson (76) are all gone, leaving just Scotty Fox and Max Brown with any on-field experience from last season.
Fox and Brown now become the focal point of the QB conversation heading into spring - and possibly beyond. This is still a position with some foundation, but it’s thin, and the margin for error is slim.
Running Back - 834 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 834
- Returning Snap Percentage: 0.0%
Clean slate. That’s the best way to describe the running back room.
All six backs who saw action in 2025 have entered the portal. That includes Tye Edwards, who was originally expected to graduate but opted to use a medical redshirt and seek a new opportunity elsewhere.
The only back left standing is Andre Devine - and he didn’t play a single snap last season. Whoever takes over in this room will be starting from square one.
Wide Receiver - 2,460 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 2,347
- Returning Snap Percentage: 4.6%
It’s not quite a complete reset, but it’s close. The Mountaineers are returning just 113 snaps at receiver from 2025.
Jeff Weimer (519 snaps) graduated, while Cam Vaughn (650) and Rodney Gallagher (503) headlined the transfer exits. The result?
A wideout group that’s going to need an injection of talent - and fast. Expect heavy portal activity or a youth movement in this room.
Tight End - 1,035 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 814
- Returning Snap Percentage: 21.4%
Grayson Barnes (516 snaps) and Jacob Barrick (254) are both gone after exhausting their eligibility. That leaves Ryan Ward (213 snaps) as the lone tight end with real playing experience. There’s at least a little continuity here, but the depth chart is going to need reinforcements - and soon.
Offensive Line - 4,420 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 2,577
- Returning Snap Percentage: 41.7%
Here’s where things get a little more stable - relatively speaking. While the offensive line struggled last season, most of the departures came from the top-heavy trio of graduates: Crawford, Young Bear, and Makane'ole.
Haslam (444 snaps) is the only transfer with significant playing time. That means there’s still a decent chunk of experience returning, which gives the coaching staff something to build on.
But make no mistake - this unit still needs work.
Defensive Line - 2,550 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 2,080
- Returning Snap Percentage: 18.4%
Now we start to see why the staff went heavy on JUCO defensive linemen in this recruiting class. The trenches have been gutted.
Eddie Kelly (393 snaps), Devin Grant (403), Edward Vesterinen (552), and Hammond Russell (226) all graduated, while Asani Redwood (424) entered the portal late. This group is going to look very different in 2026 - and it’ll be up to the newcomers to fill some big shoes, fast.
Bandit - 1,098 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 1,098
- Returning Snap Percentage: 0.0%
Another position, another total reset. Braden Siders and Jimmori Robinson used up their eligibility, and Curtis Jones (253 snaps) and MarShon Oxley (148) hit the portal.
That leaves zero returning bandits on the roster - a tough blow for a position that’s crucial in this defensive scheme. Expect the staff to prioritize this spot in the portal or through position changes.
Linebacker - 1,886 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 1,679
- Returning Snap Percentage: 10.9%
Chase Wilson (523 snaps) and Reid Carrico (521) graduating was already a big loss. Then Ben Bogle (255) announced his transfer, and the linebacker depth chart took another hit.
There’s a sliver of experience left, but not much. This group is going to need some immediate-impact players, whether they come from the portal or the high school ranks.
Cornerback - 1,918 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 1,703
- Returning Snap Percentage: 11.2%
This is where the transfer-heavy approach from last year comes back to bite. The coaching staff brought in a lot of senior DBs - and now they’re gone.
With 1,695 snaps lost to graduation and only 8 to transfers, the cornerback room is almost entirely vacant. Once again, the staff is going to need to restock the shelves here in a hurry.
Nickel/Safety - 2,437 Snaps
- Departed Snaps: 2,434
- Returning Snap Percentage: 0.1%
This might be the most staggering number of all. Of the 2,437 snaps played at nickel and safety in 2025, just three are returning - and even those might not be locked in.
Fred Perry (572), Darrian Lewis (523), Kekoura Tarnue (477), and Derek Carter (292) all graduated. Israel Boyce (254) and Chris Fileppo (104) transferred out.
That leaves Julien Horton and his three snaps - and he’s not even officially on the 2026 roster yet. This position group is in full rebuild mode.
Special Teams
It’s tough to quantify special teams in terms of snaps, but here’s what we do know: both the punter and kicker are gone. Oliver Straw and Kade Hensley have graduated, leaving two key roles wide open. Whether it’s a freshman, transfer, or walk-on, someone new will be handling the kicking duties in 2026.
Final Thoughts
The numbers tell a clear story: West Virginia isn’t just reloading - they’re rebuilding from the ground up. Across the board, the Mountaineers are losing major production, with several position groups returning less than 5% of their 2025 snaps.
Running back, bandit, and safety? Completely wiped out.
Quarterback and offensive line? Somewhat intact, but still in flux.
This is going to be a massive offseason for the coaching staff, both in terms of player development and talent acquisition. The portal will be key.
So will spring ball. But one thing’s for sure - when the Mountaineers take the field in 2026, they’ll look a whole lot different than they did just a few months ago.