West Virginia’s passing game looks a lot different heading into this season, and Rich Rodriguez isn’t hiding his optimism about two receivers who could help drive that change.
A year ago, the Mountaineers’ aerial attack was difficult to watch. Protection broke down too often, the quarterback situation kept shifting, and the receiver room lacked enough difference-makers to steady the offense. Now, with a rebuilt offensive line, a dynamic quarterback and a deeper group at wideout, WVU is positioned to make real strides throwing the ball.
The most talked-about names have been Jaden Bray and Prince Strachan, but DJ Epps may be the one who ends up leading the team in catches when it’s all said and done. His work after the catch gives WVU something it has been missing at the position for years.
“He has been good," WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez said about Epps. "We wanted an experienced guy there (at slot), and he’s kind of earned his way up.
Walked on, nobody wanted him, became the leading receiver at Troy. Very, very productive and has made most of the highlight catches in camp and not trying to show off or anything, just got great ball skills.”
Epps was easy to overlook in the transfer portal because his high-level production at Troy only lasted one season. But that also makes him one of the more intriguing pieces in this offense. By Week 3, there’s a real chance other coaches around the country will be wishing they had taken a harder look.
He could be the Mountaineers’ top option right now, while LSU transfer TaRon Francis may be the one with the highest ceiling on the perimeter. Francis didn’t get much run last season, but the tools are obvious: speed, size and the kind of frame that can hold up at the next level. At 6-foot-1 and 216 pounds, he looks built to be more than just another target.
"Initially, it took him a little while to kind of adapt to our tempo & pace," Rodriguez said about Francis. "But in the last week or so, he's really made some strides and shown some good things. He's got good speed, but he's a big, strong guy. 210 lbs, very physical, and great ball skills."
Rodriguez sounded even more energized about Francis than the quote alone suggests. Francis is listed as the No. 2 option at the X receiver spot behind Jaden Bray, and the sense from camp is that he’s trending in the right direction fast.
In Other News...
WVU Basketball Just Gave Fans An Early Schedule Test To Watch
West Virginias mens basketball program is already giving fans something to circle before the season even starts. The Mountaineers released their non-conference schedule for the upcoming year, and it comes with a mix of three exhibition games and a trip to the Players Era Tournament, setting up an early stretch that should tell a lot about where Ross Hodges first team stands.
Hodge said the goal was to build a schedule that tests his group while also giving the fan base matchups it can get behind, and the slate does both. Competitive games and familiar regional opponents are part of the plan, with the meeting against Virginia Tech standing out as one of the dates that should draw extra attention once the calendar gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Nonconference Slate Will Test The Mountaineers Earlier Than Expected
West Virginias nonconference basketball schedule is out, and it does not leave much room for easing into the season. The slate already includes familiar high-profile measuring sticks such as North Carolina and Auburn, along with a mix of other opponents that will give the Mountaineers a clearer idea of where they stand before Big 12 play arrives.
BartTorviks preseason rankings slot West Virginia at No. 59 nationally, which makes the early stretch worth watching even more closely. The article lays out each nonconference opponents ranking to show just how demanding the path looks, and for the Mountaineers the question is less about whether theyll be challenged than how quickly those challenges start to stack up. [Read more 🡒]
WVUs Early Schedule Sets Up A Huge Test Before Big 12 Play
West Virginias 2026-27 mens basketball nonconference schedule is starting to take shape, and it gives the Mountaineers a busy early stretch before Big 12 play arrives. The slate includes home dates at Hope Coliseum, a stop at the Players Era 8 tournament in Las Vegas and a mix of mid-major tuneups that should help set the tone for the season.
The bigger intrigue is the way the schedule escalates once those early games are out of the way. West Virginia is lining up opponents such as Kansas or UNLV in Las Vegas and North Carolina on the nonconference board, with three exhibition games also part of the preparation, leaving the full conference picture still to come later. [Read more 🡒]