West Virginia is already making a move for the 2026 football roster, and the latest addition comes with some real experience behind him. According to Pete Nakos of On3 Sports, former Utah running back NaQuari Rogers is signing with the Mountaineers.
Rogers was among the players granted a preliminary injunction earlier today in Indiana, along with defensive back JaCorey Thomas, who transferred to WVU from Georgia earlier this fall.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound back has climbed the ladder at every stop. He started at Campbell at the FCS level, where he ran for 829 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games. From there, he moved to New Mexico and played one season for the Lobos, finishing with 74 carries for 382 yards and five rushing scores while also adding a receiving touchdown on three catches for 14 yards.
In 2025, Rogers followed offensive coordinator Jason Beck to Utah and made the most of that opportunity. He played in 13 games for the Utes and led the team with 11 touchdowns, while piling up 387 rushing yards on 98 carries.
He also brings value in pass protection. Last season, Rogers allowed just three pressures and one sack, which gives WVU a back who can handle more than just handoffs if needed.
Still, this move does not look like one that will shake up the top of the depth chart. Cam Cook is expected to stay the lead back in this offense, and Rogers’ arrival shouldn’t cut into that role. True freshman Amari Latimer has also impressed in limited work and remains a player the staff wants to involve more as the season goes on.
The biggest impact figures to come for Chris Talley and JUCO addition Martavious Boswell. Talley has been working back from a tweaked hamstring suffered in pregame warmups before the season opener against Coastal Carolina.
Rich Rodriguez sounded upbeat about his chances to play this week against Oklahoma State, and he was listed as questionable in the team’s initial availability report. Boswell, meanwhile, has made a solid first impression too, rushing for 31 yards on eight carries.
As for when Rogers might actually get on the field, that remains unclear. It could be next weekend against Iowa State, or perhaps when the Mountaineers return home the following week for the Coal Rush game against Arizona.
Rogers also already has a little familiarity with WVU. In Utah’s game at West Virginia last season, he carried 13 times for 61 yards.
In Other News...
WVUs First Big 12 Depth Chart Raises A Real QB Question
West Virginias first Big 12 depth chart of the season arrived with a notable wrinkle at the most important position, as Michael Hawkins Jr. and Scotty Fox Jr. were listed as co-starters for the upcoming game against Oklahoma State. The rest of the chart filled in the usual pieces around them, with the Mountaineers also sorting out their top options at running back, in the secondary and at linebacker as they head into conference play.
The co-starter designation makes the quarterback picture the main thing to watch, especially with the opener against the Cowboys setting an early tone for how West Virginia wants to handle the position. Elsewhere on the two-deep, players such as David Afogho and Isaiah Patterson landed prominent spots after recent performances, a sign that the staff is still sorting out who has earned the most trust as the games start to count for real. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Secondary Just Got Intriguing With JaCorey Thomas In The Mix
A new wrinkle has emerged for West Virginias secondary with JaCorey Thomas now cleared to be eligible for the 2026 collegiate football season, which would be his fifth and final year. The former Georgia defensive back recently committed to WVU, and even before he appears on the schools official roster, he is already part of the conversation because of the veteran presence he can bring to a defense looking for stability and experience.
For the Mountaineers, the appeal is obvious: Thomas offers depth, maturity and another proven body in the defensive backfield at a time when every available piece matters. What remains less clear is how quickly he can factor in, including whether he will be available for the upcoming game against Oklahoma State, leaving one more question hanging as West Virginia keeps sorting out its secondary. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Finally Gets A Home Test That Could Reveal Everything
West Virginias first real home measuring stick of the season arrives in the form of Oklahoma State, and it comes early enough to feel like a useful checkpoint rather than a midseason referendum. The Cowboys visit in the Mountaineers fourth game, bringing a 2-1 record and a new look under first-year coach Eric Morris, along with an offense built around quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and receiver Wyatt Young.
What makes this one worth watching is how complete Oklahoma State has looked on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys enter with a top-six offense nationally and a defense that has been especially stingy on third downs, which should make for a revealing test of where West Virginia really stands at home. If the Mountaineers want to know what they are becoming, this is the kind of opponent that tends to answer the question quickly. [Read more 🡒]