West Virginia’s 2026 football media guide came out Tuesday morning ahead of Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, and one familiar omission still stands out: freshman running back SirPaul Cheeks is not on the roster.
Rich Rodriguez again chose not to include a preseason depth chart, just as he didn’t last year, and that appears likely to remain the norm going forward. The roster itself is there, as usual, but Cheeks is still missing from it.
That doesn’t make his absence permanent, though. WVU’s enrollment deadline for domestic freshmen is August 1 for the fall semester, and with fall camp set to open in a few weeks, the picture around Cheeks should become clearer before the Mountaineers take the field for the first practice.
Cheeks’ path to campus has already been complicated by injury. He tore his ACL in mid-October, ending his senior season at L.C.
Bird High School early. Even so, he signed with West Virginia in December after choosing the Mountaineers over offers from Appalachian State, Ball State, Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, Delaware, East Carolina, Kentucky, Liberty, Minnesota, Old Dominion, Pitt, South Florida, Temple, UConn, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and others.
On the field, Cheeks brings the kind of burst that can change a drive in one touch. He’s a small, slippery runner who can break off a long gain at any moment, with speed that shows up not just in a straight line but when he’s cutting and keeping his pace through the move. Even if he is healthy, this would still likely be a developmental season for him, though he could carve out a role as the fourth back.
The top of the depth chart looks clearer. Amari Latimer is expected to be the main backup to Cam Cook, while the next layer gets more interesting. Chris Talley, another true freshman, showed some promise in spring ball and is, without question, the fastest back in the room.
If Cheeks does arrive and is ready to go, it probably won’t cut into Talley’s snaps right away. Talley has already been on campus for several months and has earned a level of trust from the staff.
Still, Cheeks’ absence would matter. West Virginia’s backfield depth is already going to be tested by a lack of experience, and after the injuries the Mountaineers dealt with at the position a year ago, every body in that room counts.
In Other News...
Another WVU Offensive Lineman Just Raised A Familiar Concern
West Virginias updated 2026 roster brought another small but notable change along the offensive line, where every offseason tweak tends to matter a little more than it does elsewhere. Redshirt freshman Phillip Bowser is no longer listed, which trims the room and adds another name to the list of linemen the Mountaineers have had to sort through as they try to build reliable depth for the future.
Bowser had not played in a game last season, and his departure does not alter the top of the depth chart, but it does slightly open up the interior competition behind the established options. For younger linemen trying to earn a foothold, especially in the guard and center mix, even one less body in the room can change how those reps get divided this spring and beyond. [Read more 🡒]
Former WVU Corner Just Landed Another Big NFL Opportunity
Rasul Douglas is finding another stop in a long NFL journey, and the former West Virginia corner is headed into his ninth season after spending last year with the Miami Dolphins. Douglas started 13 games in Miami, adding another layer of experience to a rsum that already includes time with several other teams and a Super Bowl LII ring from his days with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The latest move gives Douglas a fresh opportunity to matter right away, and the contract reflects that he is still viewed as a useful veteran piece in the secondary. Washington is bringing in a player who has shown he can step into a lineup and hold up, and the timing of the deal suggests there is a real chance for him to carve out an important role quickly. [Read more 🡒]