West Virginia’s defensive line took a hit in the season-opening win over Coastal Carolina, but Darius Wiley is already on the road back after successful surgery.
The Mountaineers announced Wednesday morning that Wiley had the procedure following the lower-body injury he suffered in the opener. Rich Rodriguez had already made clear how serious it was after Monday’s win, calling it a severe ligament issue and saying Wiley would be out for the year.
"It was a severe ligament. He had a great camp.
Not a good camp, but a great camp," WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez said on Monday following the win over Coastal. "He's a young guy with three years and was really going to get going with it.
He'll obviously be out all year, but guys that have those kinds of injuries, that tear every ligament, it takes at least a year, maybe more. We've got some really good doctors lined up, got a great medical staff.
He'll rehab like crazy. He's a tough kid, so hopefully he'll be back and ready to go next year."
Before the injury ended his night, Wiley gave West Virginia plenty in his Mountaineer debut. He played 26 snaps and finished with three tackles, a pair of pressures and hurries, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble that was recovered by WVU defensive end Zeke Durham-Campbell.
Had he kept producing at that pace, Wiley looked like a player who could have worked his way onto an All-Big 12 list by season’s end. Instead, the Mountaineers now have to lean on other options to fill the void.
Canadian import Emerson Joy, along with Wilnerson Telemaque and Brandon Caesar, are the next names up. Of that group, Joy was the only one to see defensive snaps last week against UT Martin. He logged 29 snaps on defense, made one tackle and one defensive stop, and graded out at 57.4 from PFF, with his pass rush work dragging that number down.
Edge rushers Jeremiah Johnson and Tobi Haastrup can also slide inside if needed.
West Virginia and the Cavaliers meet Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Charlotte. The game will air on ACC Network and the Watch ESPN app.
In Other News...
Zac Alley Just Put West Virginias Biggest Defensive Concern On Blast
Communication is now the first thing West Virginias defense has to clean up, and defensive coordinator Zac Alley made that point clear after the recent game. For a unit that has spent the early part of the year trying to find consistency, Alley said the biggest issue was not a lack of effort so much as getting the call to travel cleanly from the sideline to the field and back among the players once the offense started shifting looks.
The challenge ahead is sharper than just lining up correctly. Alley pointed to formation changes and motion as the moments that exposed the problem, which means the Mountaineers will spend the coming stretch focused on anticipating what is coming instead of reacting late. If that communication improves, so does the chance for the defense to look like a unit playing with confidence rather than one constantly sorting out the details. [Read more 🡒]
Backyard Brawl Is Getting A Stage WVU Fans Will Love
West Virginias basketball presence in the Pittsburgh area is getting a bigger platform, with Mountaineers players, coach Ross Hodge and athletic director Wren Baker helping promote the inaugural Hope Gas Backyard Basketball Classic. Set for Dec. 9, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena, the event brings together four Division I programs in one building and gives the region a rare, full-day showcase of local college hoops.
For WVU fans, the centerpiece is exactly the kind of stage the Backyard Brawl can thrive on. The doubleheader will feature Pitt, West Virginia, Duquesne and Robert Morris, with the Pitt-WVU matchup serving as the headliner in a setting designed to make the rivalry feel even bigger. It is another reminder that this series can still command attention well beyond the usual calendar date, and this one already has the makings of a marquee trip for Mountaineer supporters. [Read more 🡒]
Will Rich Rodriguez Finally Unleash Mike Hawkins Jr. Against Virginia
Rich Rodriguez said the Mountaineers have looked more balanced on offense in practice than they did across their first two games, a notable sign for a group still searching for a steadier rhythm. At the center of that possibility is Mike Hawkins Jr., whose recent work has been efficient and composed, especially when the chains get longer and the pressure rises.
Hawkins has completed 7 of 10 throws beyond the sticks and 9 of 11 on third down for 161 yards and two touchdowns, numbers that point to a quarterback making smart decisions when West Virginia needs them most. If the offense is going to take a step forward, a more active passing game could be part of the answer, and how much of that shows up against Virginia remains the question. [Read more 🡒]