West Virginia’s first depth chart of the 2026 season arrived Tuesday afternoon, and Rich Rodriguez made good on his warning: it is packed with ORs.
The biggest competition sits at quarterback, where Mike Hawkins and Scotty Fox Jr. are listed together, and Jyron Hughley and Max Brown are also grouped as co-options. Running back, by contrast, comes with a straightforward order: Cam Cook, Amari Latimer, Chris Talley, and Martavious Boswell.
The same kind of shared uncertainty shows up on defense and at the other spots listed. At EDGE, Zeke Durham-Campbell OR Darius Wiley are paired up, with Emerson Joy also on the line.
At BAN, the chart lists Harper Holloman, David Afogho, and Tobi Haastrup OR Jeremiah Johnson. MIKE features Ben Cutter, Tyler Stolsky OR Isaiah Patterson, while BS has Kamari Wilson, Da'Mare Williams OR Kameron Reddic.
Rodriguez said earlier Tuesday that the ORs were coming, and he stressed that the format reflects a positive kind of depth rather than a lack of answers. He said the staff feels much better about the roster’s depth than it did a year ago and believes there are multiple players who can win at each spot.
“I think mostly for us, it’s in a good way. If you have an OR because you’re not sure either one of them are ready to do that, that makes that not so good.
Most of our ORs, probably all of them, are because we feel good about multiple guys at those positions. I think we’re a deeper team for sure than we were a year ago.”
West Virginia’s matchup with Coastal Carolina kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on TNT. More on the depth chart and the battles that could still be decided before the end of the week is expected soon.
In Other News...
Pat Whites WVU Honor Only Happened After A Longstanding Barrier Fell
Pat White is finally getting the kind of recognition that has long felt overdue in Morgantown, with his No. 5 jersey set to be ceremonially retired Saturday before West Virginias season opener. The official retirement will come after the current season ends, once Jaden Bray finishes his eligibility, but the announcement alone marks a significant shift for a program that had long held firm on a rule that kept jerseys from being retired.
The key change came when the West Virginia Athletic Council revised that policy, opening the door for Whites place in school history to be honored in the most visible way possible. In a recent interview, White said he reflected on his career and expressed gratitude for the moment, a fitting response for one of the defining figures of the Mountaineers modern era, even as the final step in the process still waits out the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Just Made West Virginias QB Situation Even More Intriguing
Rich Rodriguez used the first Coaches Show of the new season to lay out where West Virginia stands after a busy roster reset, and the biggest takeaway was how much the staff is leaning on experience to steady things up front. He touched on the additions the Mountaineers brought in through high school recruiting and the transfer portal, then quickly turned to the offensive line, where continuity figures to matter a great deal as the team tries to settle into a faster rhythm.
The quarterback picture, though, is the part that will keep drawing attention. Rodriguez named Scotty Fox and Michael Hawkins as possible starters, which only adds another layer to a room that still has to define itself while the rest of the offense takes shape around it. He also gave updates on Cam Cook, Amari Latimer, DJ Epps and Jaden Bray, all while making it clear the up-tempo approach remains the plan, so the pressure to identify the right pieces and get them moving together is already building. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Is Bringing Back A WVU Feel Fans Will Debate
Rich Rodriguez is already putting his stamp back on the Mountaineers, and one of the first visible changes will be at the start of the game. On his radio show, Rodriguez said West Virginia will not revive the inflatable helmet entrance that became a calling card in the early 2000s. Instead, the team is headed back to a more familiar setup, entering through the tunnel with smoke and a tunnel camera feeding the big screen for fans.
It is a small detail, but in Morgantown these kinds of details matter because they help shape the feel of game day. Last years entrance from the weight room was a notable departure, and now the program is leaning back toward a look that feels more connected to its past. Whether fans embrace the change or argue for the old spectacle, Rodriguez has made clear the first impression at home will have a different flavor this time around. [Read more 🡒]