West Virginia is down to its final week before the season opener against Coastal Carolina, and the first depth chart projection of the year is starting to come into focus. With the Mountaineers set to begin an eight-game run before the bye week, there’s still time for things to shift, but this is the last projection before kickoff.
At quarterback, Mike Hawkins Jr. remains the name at the top, just as he has all spring. The more interesting part is what comes next.
Scotty Fox has dealt with some bumps and bruises at different points this offseason, while true freshman Jyron Hughley has turned heads with his play. He’s still growing as a passer, but the gap between him and Fox might be smaller than it looks.
For now, Max Brown stays third because of his experience in the system and in college football overall. Fox is the clear No. 2, though Hughley could push past Brown before long.
The rest of the offensive picture is filled out with a mix of familiar names and competition still sorting itself out. At running back, Cam Cook leads the way, followed by Amari Latimer, Chris Talley, Martavious Boswell, Lawrence Autry, Andre Devine, and Darius Morant.
Receiver remains busy with movement across the board. Prince Strachan, TaRon Francis, Landon Drumm, and Malachi Thompson are listed at X.
DJ Epps, Cyrus Traugh, Armoni Weaver-Bomar, Kedrick Triplett, Charlie Hanafin, and Greg Wilfred are grouped at slot, while Jaden Bray, John Neider, Keon Hutchins, Robert Oliver, and Brad Mossor are on the Z side. Traugh has been one of the preseason standouts, repeatedly flashing on contested catches and big plays.
The staff wants him on the field, and that means he’ll need to work multiple spots. With Neider projected behind Bray at Z, Traugh looks like the top backup in the slot behind Epps, and he should see snaps both inside and outside.
Tight end lists Josh Sapp first, followed by Ryan Ward, Cam Ball, Kade Bush, Sam Hamilton, Xavier Anderson, and Carter Zuliani.
Up front, the projected order has Nick Krahe at left guard, Wes King at center, Amare Grayson at right guard, and Carsten Casady at right tackle. The depth behind them includes Cam Griffin, Rhett Morris, Raymond Kovalesky, Josh Aisosa, Landen Livingston, Lamarcus Dillard, Devin Vass, Camden Goforth, Trevor Bigelow, Deshawn Woods, Aidan Woods, and Andreas Hunter.
On defense, the rotation appears just as crowded. Zeke Durham-Campbell heads the defensive end group, with Darius Wiley, Wilnerson Telemaque, Brandon Caesar, and Emerson Joy behind him.
Corey McIntyre Jr. is first at defensive tackle, followed by KJ Henson, Taylor Brown, Yendor Mack, and Gabe Ryan. At nose tackle, Nate Gabriel is the projected starter over Jaylen Thomas, Will LeBlanc, and Cam Mallory.
At edge, Harper Holloman is the lead name, with Tobi Haastrup, Jeremiah Johnson, David Afogho, Noah Tishendorf, and Carter Kessler in the mix. The linebacker spots are also taking shape, with Tyler Stolsky at MIKE and Cam Torbor at WILL. Ashton Woods, Isaiah Patterson, Troy Fischer, Malachi Hood, Ben Cutter, Cam Dwyer, and Antoine Sharp Jr. round out the depth there.
The nickel and SAM spot lists Geimere Latimer first, followed by Maliek Hawkins, Miles Khatri, Emory Snyder, and Jayden Ballard.
Corner is still being sorted out, especially behind the top names. Chams Diagne and Nick Taylor are the projected starters, but the battle for the next spots is still open. Jaire Rawlison, ChaMarryus Bomar, Rayshawn Reynolds Jr., Simaj Hill, Keyshawn Robinson, Da'Mun Allen, Vincent Smith, Makhi Boone, and Jayden Bell are all in the mix, and the staff is still working through the rotation at both corner positions.
At safety, Andrew Powdrell and Kamari Wilson are the names at the top. Matt Sieg, Jacob Bradford, Tim Roberson, Shane Cornali, Kameron Reddic, Da'Mare Williams, Rickey Giles, and Alex Adebayo are also part of that group.
The opener is almost here, and the only real certainty is that several of these battles are still alive. For now, this is where the Mountaineers stand one week out.
In Other News...
Mike Hawkins Jr. Could Change How Dangerous WVU Looks Fast
Mike Hawkins Jr. arrived in Morgantown with the kind of rsum that can make a program pause and listen, and he has done enough early on to suggest West Virginia may have found its next offensive catalyst. The Oklahoma transfer was a backup with the Sooners, but after visiting WVU he picked the Mountaineers over other Power Four options, and the early buzz around him has centered on how quickly he has absorbed the offense, along with his accuracy and ability to run.
For a team looking to become more dangerous in a hurry, Hawkins brings the sort of dual-threat profile that can change the feel of a game plan. West Virginia is also projecting him to pair with running back Cam Cook in a backfield that could give defenses problems in multiple ways, and with Hawkins expected to be named the starter for 2026, the real intrigue is how fast that connection can turn promise into something opponents have to game-plan for immediately. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Era Openers Showed Exactly What WVU Fans Remember
Rich Rodriguezs first eight season openers at West Virginia offered a pretty clear snapshot of what his Mountaineers were at their best: fast, aggressive and usually dangerous from the start. The review of those games shows a 6-2 record in openers, with the offense frequently setting the tone and key players stepping into big roles early in the year. Some of those afternoons were comfortable wins, others were tighter and more uneven, but they all carried the same familiar sense of urgency that defined the program in that stretch.
The details from those games also show why those openers stuck in peoples minds, because the good ones came with explosive production and the rough ones usually turned on turnovers or stretches where the rhythm disappeared. Facing a mix of opponents, West Virginia had to navigate both polished performances and frustrating games, which is exactly what makes this run such an interesting look back. For fans still connecting this era to what Rodriguez is trying to rebuild now, the openers are a reminder of both the standard and the expectations that came with it. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginias New Offense Puts One Huge Question On Rich Rodriguez
West Virginia is heading into the 2026 season with a noticeably different look on offense, and Rich Rodriguez has already settled on his Week 1 quarterback. Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins will open against Coastal Carolina, giving the Mountaineers a new face to build around as they try to move past last seasons frustrations and climb back toward bowl eligibility in a Big 12 that rarely offers much room to breathe.
Hawkins is far from the only newcomer expected to matter, with transfers Cam Cook, DJ Epps and Prince Strachan also joining the mix and giving Rodriguez more options to work with right away. The bigger question now is how quickly all of that new talent can come together once the games count, because West Virginias schedule will not give the offense much time to grow up in public. [Read more 🡒]