Fall camp is about to open, and the linebacker room is one of the spots worth watching closely. With the roster turned over again, this group brings a mix of experience, fresh faces, and a few players who have already logged meaningful FBS snaps.
The most seasoned names in the room are Ben Cutter, Tyler Stolsky, Jason Hall, and Malachi Hood, all listed as fourth-year players. Ashton Woods and Isaiah Patterson are in their third year, Cam Torbor is a second-year player, and the first-year group includes Antoine Sharp, Cam Dwyer, and Trey McGlothlin.
The snap counts tell the story of who has already been in the fire. Tyler Stolsky leads the way with 540 FBS snaps in 2025, followed by Malachi Hood at 366, Ben Cutter at 311, Isaiah Patterson at 215, Ashton Woods at 127, and Cam Torbor at 3.
The grading numbers also point to a room with a few established pieces. Ben Cutter posted a 68.7 PFF grade in 2025, while Tyler Stolsky finished at 64.1. Malachi Hood came in at 54.6, Ashton Woods at 54.2, and Isaiah Patterson at 54.0.
There’s reason to think this group can be solid. Stolsky was one of the top tacklers per snap in the country last season and was all over the field.
Cutter brings experience and has flashed real upside over the last few seasons. Hood and Patterson have both found roles in FBS rotations, and Woods was part of the late-season rotation at WVU last year.
In Other News...
National QB Ranking Puts WVU's Mike Hawkins Jr. Under Immediate Spotlight
Mike Hawkins Jr. is already drawing national attention before he has taken a meaningful snap for West Virginia, with Sports Illustrateds Zach Koons slotting the Oklahoma transfer near the middle of the Power Four quarterback field ahead of the 2026 season. For a Mountaineers offense looking to reset around a new face under center, the ranking is a reminder that Hawkins arrives with both intrigue and questions after a brief, uneven run in Norman.
His Oklahoma tape gives evaluators plenty to sort through, with better production against Group of 5 competition than against SEC defenses. West Virginias own path only adds to the pressure, since the Mountaineers are set to see several of the nations top quarterbacks this fall, a schedule that will test Hawkins quickly and leave little time for a settling-in period. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Still Has One Offensive Battle Fans Can't Ignore
Rich Rodriguezs offense at West Virginia still has one spot that feels far from settled, and it sits right in the middle of a room that could matter more than people realize. The Mountaineers have Ryan Ward, Josh Sapp, Cam Ball and Kayden Luke all in the mix at tight end and fullback, giving the staff a group with different body types, backgrounds and skill sets as it sorts out how to use them in the offense.
For now, the expectation is that the top three tight ends will all see the field until one player clearly separates, which makes every practice rep and every game snap worth watching. Ward brings the only in-game experience in this system, Sapp offers a blend of athleticism and speed, and Ball has already shown enough in recent work to keep the competition interesting as West Virginia keeps searching for the right fit. [Read more 🡒]