West Virginia’s 2026 projected depth chart is already taking shape, and the board has changed plenty since the first offseason update.
With the 2025 season now finished at 4-8 in Rich Rodriguez’s return year, and spring practice in the books, the focus has shifted to who fits where for 2026. This depth chart is being tracked all offseason and will keep changing as the roster settles.
A few housekeeping notes are baked into the projection: italics mark newcomers, INJ flags players recovering from serious injuries, and jersey numbers will be added once they’re finalized in the summer. Because this is a depth chart rather than a full roster tracker, not every player is included, and some walk-ons may be left off. If eligibility is still unclear, that player is not listed.
The latest July 25 update brought another round of tweaks. Two players who are not currently on the official roster were removed, with the note that they’ll be added back if they reappear.
Kameron Reddic also moved up a spot at high safety. Earlier updates had already shuffled the board quite a bit, including weight changes on July 25 and jersey numbers plus defensive-line adjustments on July 8.
The safety room has been one of the more active areas on the chart. On May 23, Andrew Powdrell was moved into the starting role after leaked testing times were described as remarkable, and coach Rodriguez also said in an interview that he was ready to start the moment he stepped on campus. That same update included a minor change at Bandit.
Other offseason movement has been constant. On June 27, Wes King was elevated to first string at center.
On July 6, RB Darius Morant was added, Mossor moved from running back to wide receiver, Phillip Bowser was removed after no longer being on the roster, and a change was made along the offensive line. SirPaul Cheeks was also absent from the roster, which was noted as something to monitor.
The chart has also been shaped by official roster updates and spring work. On April 20, several players were moved around based on spring ball and the spring showcase.
On March 13, official heights and weights from the WVU roster were updated, along with a couple of personnel changes. On February 13, JUCO defensive back Tim Roberson was added as a player who will suit up for WVU this season.
The earlier offseason brought a long list of additions and departures. On February 3, positions were shifted again because of official roster updates, and Shane Cornali from Wheeling University was added; he was a high school teammate of Matt Sieg. On January 24, S Kameron Reddic committed to WVU, and a few players no longer on the roster were removed.
January was especially busy. FB Kayden Luke, LB Jason Hall and EDGE Zeke Campbell committed on January 19.
On January 16, Oregon EDGE Tobi Haastrup, LSU S Jacob Bradford, Kent State CB Jaire Rawlison and Brad Mossor all committed, while incoming freshman DE Kamdon Gillespie was released of his NLI. On January 13, OL Brandon Homady and Mickel Clay transferred out, and TE Cam Ball transferred in.
The additions kept coming on January 8 with Wyoming OG Wes King and LSU WR TaRon Francis. On January 7, UNLV CB Andrew Powdrell, BGSU EDGE David Afogho, Memphis S Kamari Wilson and FAU LB Tyler Stolsky, KSU OL Devin Vass all committed, while EDGE Curtis Jones Jr. transferred out.
On January 6, WR Prince Strachan, a transfer from USC, committed along with RB Cam Cook from Jax State and Illinois LB Malachi Hood, while LB Ben Bogle announced he would enter the portal and UNLV LB Isaiah Patterson announced his transfer to WVU. Also on January 6, WR DJ Epps, a transfer from Troy, committed.
The first week of January brought even more movement. On January 5, QB Michael Hawkins Jr, CB Maliek Hawkins and CB Geimere Latimer II committed, all from power-4 programs.
On January 4, DL Will LeBlanc committed, and WR Christian Hamilton transferred out. On January 3, BANDIT Keenan Eck, WR Jordan McCants and TE Noah Braham all transferred.
On January 1, WR Rodney Gallagher III and DL Asani Redwood transferred.
The roster churn started before the calendar flipped. On December 31, BAN Marshon Oxley, RB Cyncir Bowers and DL Elijah Simmons were expected to transfer.
On December 30, the chart was updated for the expected transfers of WR Jarel Williams and IOL Donovan Haslam. On December 27, it reflected the expected transfers of DB Israel Boyce, OL Xavier Bausley and WR Cam Vaughn.
On December 22, it was updated for the expected transfer of CB Dawayne Galloway Jr. On December 19, the expected departure of RB Clay Ash and Kannon Katzer was noted.
And on December 14, the chart was updated for the expected transfers of LB Caleb Nuhi-Yandall and S Jason Cross Jr.
In Other News...
WVU Fall Camp Could Reshape The Offense Faster Than Expected
Fall camp is the point in the summer when West Virginias offense starts to sort itself out, and this year the backup picture might matter almost as much as the starters. The Mountaineers have a handful of reserve linemen and skill players who are not just there to fill space on the depth chart, but to push for real roles once the season begins. That makes the next few weeks especially important for a unit that still has several spots worth watching.
The most intriguing part is how many of those battles feel open-ended. Devin Vass has the look of a lineman who could force his way into the conversation, Malik Agbo has drawn attention with his progress, and the receiving group has its own wild card in TaRon Francis. Add in the tight end competition and the possibility that John Neider could become a useful option sooner rather than later, and it is easy to see why this camp could reshape the offense faster than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Who Really Looks Like West Virginias 2026 Cornerstone At Every Position
The early look at West Virginias 2026 roster comes down to a simple question at every spot: who is most likely to shape the season if the Mountaineers are trying to build something sturdier than a one-year fix? On offense, the projection leans on familiar roster-building logic, with Michael Hawkins Jr. viewed as the quarterback most likely to take the first snap and Cam Cook standing out as the back who could give the unit its most dependable edge. Up front, Nick Krahes move from left tackle to guard adds another layer to the conversation about where the lines best piece might actually settle.
The receiver room is where the picture gets murkier, because West Virginia is still trying to sort out which options can stay on the field long enough to matter. Jaden Bray is the kind of talent who would make the answer easy if health stopped being part of the discussion, while Ryan Ward gives the tight end group a more straightforward anchor. On the other side of the ball, Nate Gabriel is the name that keeps surfacing inside the defensive line room, and that matters because the Mountaineers broader 2026 outlook will depend on whether their best players are merely promising pieces or the kind who can carry a reset under a changing staff and shifting roster. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Just Made A Rare 2027 Football Schedule Change
West Virginias 2027 football calendar picked up a notable tweak this week when athletic director Wren Baker announced that the home game against Ohio at Milan Puskar Stadium has been moved up from Sept. 18 to Aug. 28. The adjustment gives the Mountaineers a rare spot on the opening weekend of the college football season and marks the first time the program will play in Week 0.
The change stands out even more because no other schedule moves have been announced, leaving the rest of the 2027 slate intact for now. West Virginia is still set to open that season against Southern Miss on Sept. 4 and VMI on Sept. 11, while the Ohio series remains part of a longer arrangement that will bring the teams back together again down the road. [Read more 🡒]