West Virginia’s linebacker room took a hit in the latest roster update, with true freshman Trey McGlothlin no longer listed on the official roster. The move points to McGlothlin’s departure from the program.
McGlothlin, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker from Bixby, Oklahoma, arrived on campus this summer after finishing high school. He had been assigned No. 36 in the roster update earlier in the month.
His path to Morgantown had plenty of competition behind it. McGlothlin chose West Virginia over offers from Arizona State, Boston College, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Utah, UTEP, Wisconsin, and others. The Mountaineers got him in early December after he had previously committed to Oklahoma State, then backed off that pledge after Mike Gundy was fired.
If McGlothlin had stayed, the expectation was that he would have been a long-term depth option at linebacker, with a possible role on scout team duty in 2026.
The rest of the linebacker picture is still being sorted out, and there are a few names worth watching as August unfolds. Torbor is described as a talented redshirt freshman who is further along than many realize, and while he may not leave fall camp as a starter, he has a real shot if he carries over his spring form.
Villanova transfer Jason Hall Jr. looks like a rotational player and special teamer after posting 41 tackles and four sacks last season. Ashton Woods is another piece to monitor after missing significant time while recovering from shoulder surgery.
There’s also a chance the top of the depth chart settles with Stolsky and Cutter as the starters. If that happens, Stolsky would likely move over to WILL.
Patterson provides steady depth, though he still appears to be a year or two away from heavy snaps. And then there’s true freshman Cam Dwyer, who stands out as a prospect with speed and pop.
He could work his way into the two-deep sooner rather than later and eventually push for a starting job.
Alley will keep mixing and matching the group, so the positions may not stay fixed for long. The staff could even flip the projected starters before the season begins, which is exactly what August is for: finding the best combination and figuring out how to use it.
In Other News...
One WVU Transfer Is Already Generating Surprise Buzz For 2026
West Virginias transfer class is drawing the kind of early internal buzz that usually shows up long before the first snap of 2026, and a lot of it is centered on how quickly a few newcomers can fit into the offense and defense. Wide receiver DJ Epps is already being viewed as a possible difference-maker in the passing game, even if he is not the first name most people bring up when they talk about the Mountaineers receiver room.
The same kind of quiet optimism is attached to linebacker Stolsky, whose experience gives him a chance to make an immediate mark somewhere in the middle of the defense, and to Maliek Hawkins, who looks like a depth piece now but could have a longer runway in the secondary. None of that is set in stone this early, of course, but it does say something about how West Virginia sees the class: not just as roster help, but as a group with a few players who could end up shaping the depth chart sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Ross Hodge Just Raised New Concern About Javan Buchanan's Status
West Virginias frontcourt picture got a little murkier this week as senior forward Javan Buchanans eligibility situation moved into a more uncertain phase. Buchanan arrived after two seasons at an NAIA school and then put together a productive year at Boise State, giving the Mountaineers a veteran option who could help immediately while they continue filling out the roster under Ross Hodge.
Hodges latest comments suggest the matter may not stay in the basketball offices for long, which is what makes this one worth watching for West Virginia. Buchanans status now affects more than just one players availability, and the Mountaineers are left waiting to learn whether they can count on him as they sort through the final pieces of the roster. [Read more 🡒]