West Virginia is getting a much-needed boost in the secondary, and JaCorey Thomas looks like the kind of addition the Mountaineers have been waiting on.
The Georgia transfer is expected to help on the back end this week, most likely at free safety, after WVU was lit up by Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker. His arrival also gives the staff a chance to shift Andrew Powdrell back to the nickel/sam role, where he’ll back up Geimere Latimer instead of being forced into a spot that hasn’t really fit him. Powdrell has been steady, but the move away from free safety could be what lets him settle in and play closer to his best.
Thomas brings real production with him. A year ago, he started for Georgia and finished with 45 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. West Virginia defensive coordinator Zac Alley made it clear the staff sees plenty to work with.
“I think he can run; he can hit. He’s obviously played in big-time moments in front of lots of people.
He doesn’t shy away from that. I think he’ll be ready to play this week," Mountaineer defensive coordinator Zac Alley said.
"Obviously, he hadn’t been here too long, so getting him back ready to go- I think he’s ready to go now. I think he’s got a really high ceiling.
I mean, he started in a playoff game. I think there’s potential there, and he obviously wants to prove himself and have the opportunity to play in the NFL.”
Thomas already had a brief brush with the league, too. He went through rookie minicamp with the Carolina Panthers, though he didn’t sign a contract, which is why he remains eligible to return to college for another season.
He’s only been with West Virginia for three weeks, so there’s still plenty for him to absorb on the fly. But if he picks it up fast, he could give the Mountaineers an immediate lift in the secondary and maybe help his own NFL case in the process.
"He's a guy that should be able to help us," head coach Rich Rodriguez said. "He's played in the SEC, he's got good experience; he's a talented guy.
He's part of the safety rotation where we're moving guys around a little bit, and he's a factor now because he's been with us for a couple of weeks. I think this is a big week for him to get ready.
He's both at the free and the boundary safety.”
In Other News...
WVUs Defensive Collapse Is Raising Bigger Questions Than Fans Expected
West Virginias defensive struggles are no longer just a bad stretch, theyre becoming a real problem for a program trying to find stability in conference play. The Mountaineers have given up plenty of yardage and too many explosive plays in recent games against Iowa State and Oklahoma State, and the concern goes beyond one rough afternoon or one busted coverage. With the defense sitting last in total defense among Power Four teams, the numbers are starting to match what has looked obvious on the field.
Zac Alley and Rich Rodriguez are both under the microscope now, because the issues keep pointing in two directions at once: execution and roster talent. West Virginia has also had trouble against first-year head coaches this season, which only adds to the sense that opponents are finding answers faster than the Mountaineers are. The deeper question is whether this is simply a correction period for a young unit, or a more serious sign that the defensive foundation is not where it needs to be. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Defense Has A New Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Pro Football Focus latest grades gave West Virginia fans a familiar kind of snapshot, one that showed a defense still searching for answers after a recent game. The numbers pointed to a unit that had trouble finishing plays, with tackling angles and overall disruption becoming recurring issues, even as the offense had its own uneven day up front.
The bright spots on defense were limited to linebacker Isaiah Patterson and safety JaCorey Thomas, the only Mountaineers who really stood out in the grading. Elsewhere, West Virginia managed only eight pressures, and the offensive line also had its hands full despite a strong rushing total, leaving the bigger concern less about one bad sequence than about whether the front seven can start looking more consistent. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Just Showed How Dangerous This Team Can Be
West Virginias latest matchup with Iowa State offered another reminder that this team can beat you in more than one way. In the 13th meeting between the programs and the first since 2024, the Mountaineers leaned on a ground game that kept churning and a supporting cast that showed up everywhere else, from the trenches to the kicking game. Michael Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook each went over 100 rushing yards, a sign that the offense has found a reliable physical edge.
The rest of the roster did its part too, with the defense stacking tackles and sacks while special teams helped tilt field position with solid punting. For a West Virginia team trying to prove its ceiling is higher than a one-dimensional attack, that kind of complete effort matters. When the run game is rolling and the other phases are holding up their end, the Mountaineers look dangerous in the way good teams are supposed to. [Read more 🡒]