Bud Elliot’s blue chip ratio got me thinking about West Virginia’s 2026 roster, and the talent profile is a mixed bag. It’s not the kind of high school haul that screams national title contender, but there are still some well-regarded players on the depth chart - and not all of them arrived by way of the transfer portal. For this exercise, the focus is on projected two-deep players, with starters in the trenches, using the 247Sports industry composite.
At quarterback, Michael Hawkins Jr. comes in as the highest-rated name in the room from high school, a four-star prospect ranked No. 297 overall and No. 20 among quarterbacks with a 0.9073 rating in 2024. Scotty Fox Jr. followed as a three-star recruit, ranked No. 975 overall and No. 55 at the position with a 0.8694 rating in 2025.
The backfield brings a pair of four-stars. Cam Cook was ranked No. 347 overall and No. 23 among running backs with a 0.8985 rating in 2023, while Amari Latimer arrived as a four-star in 2026, checking in at No. 279 overall and No. 20 at running back with a 0.9089 rating.
Wide receiver is a little more spread out in terms of recruiting profile. TaRon Francis stands out as the top-rated player in the group, a four-star prospect ranked No. 160 overall and No. 21 among wideouts with a 0.9329 rating in 2025.
Jaden Bray was a three-star, ranked No. 969 overall and No. 141 at receiver with a 0.8578 rating in 2021. Prince Strachan came in at No. 1637 overall and No. 209 at receiver with a 0.8367 rating in 2022.
John Neider was unrated in 2023, DJ Epps was unrated in 2022, and Armoni Weaver was a three-star prospect ranked No. 1062 overall and No. 99 at cornerback with a 0.8669 rating in 2025.
At tight end, Ryan Ward was a three-star recruit ranked No. 1150 overall and No. 63 at the position with a 0.8625 rating in 2024. Cam Ball followed as a three-star, ranked No. 1939 overall and No. 115 among tight ends with a 0.8237 rating in 2022.
The offensive line starter group includes one major blue-chip name. Kevin Brown was a four-star prospect ranked No. 76 overall and No. 8 among offensive tackles with a 0.9680 rating in 2026. The rest of the line features Carsten Casady, who was unrated in 2023; Nick Krahe, a three-star ranked No. 1473 overall and No. 104 among interior offensive linemen with a 0.8489 rating in 2023; Wes King, a three-star ranked No. 1989 overall and No. 226 on the defensive line with a 0.8206 rating in 2022; and Amare Grayson, a three-star ranked No. 2316 overall and No. 187 among interior offensive linemen with a 0.8282 rating in 2024.
On defense, the line is built more on depth and development than splashy recruiting rankings. Ezekiel Durham-Campbell was unrated in 2022.
Corey McIntyre Jr. was a three-star, ranked No. 1347 overall and No. 145 among defensive linemen with a 0.8517 rating in 2023. Nate Gabriel was a three-star ranked No. 1315 overall and No. 135 on the defensive line with a 0.8581 rating in 2024.
Harper Holloman was also a three-star, ranked No. 1682 overall and No. 174 among defensive linemen with a 0.8483 rating in 2024.
The linebacker group has a wider spread. Ashton Woods is the highest-rated of the bunch, a three-star ranked No. 563 overall and No. 50 at linebacker with a 0.8850 rating in 2024.
Ben Cutter was a three-star ranked No. 1380 overall and No. 116 at linebacker with a 0.8508 rating in 2023. Malachi Hood was a three-star ranked No. 1136 overall and No. 114 at linebacker with a 0.8552 rating in 2022.
Tyler Stolsky was a three-star ranked No. 2364 overall and No. 247 at linebacker with a 0.8000 rating in 2022.
At cornerback, ChaMarryus Bomar brings the strongest recruiting résumé, a three-star ranked No. 665 overall and No. 33 among athletes with a 0.8794 rating in 2025. Keyshawn Robinson was a three-star ranked No. 1123 overall and No. 152 at receiver with a 0.8633 rating in 2024.
Nick Taylor was a three-star ranked No. 2075 overall and No. 198 at safety with a 0.8361 rating in 2024. Chams Diagne was unrated in 2024.
The safety room is headlined by a pair of four-stars. Kamari Wilson was ranked No. 44 overall, No. 3 among safeties, and carried a 0.9807 rating.
Matt Sieg was also a four-star, ranked No. 184 overall and No. 16 at safety with a 0.9262 rating. Andrew Powdrell was unrated in 2023.
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 🡒]
WVU Linebacker Room Just Took Another Turn Fans Will Notice
West Virginias linebacker room has already started to take shape for the coming season, and the depth chart picture is getting clearer as the Mountaineers sort through who fits where. Trey McGlothlin, a true freshman who arrived after high school, had been part of that mix after originally landing with WVU following a decommitment from Oklahoma State, giving the staff another young body to develop in a room that still has several moving parts.
The bigger conversation now is less about one newcomer and more about how the rest of the group settles in behind the top options. Torbor, Jason Hall Jr., Ashton Woods, Stolsky, Cutter, Patterson and Cam Dwyer all factor into the projection work, with roles still being sorted as the season approaches. For a position group that needs both immediate reliability and long-term depth, every roster change matters, even the ones that only register once fans notice the name is no longer there. [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 🡒]