West Virginia’s offensive line makeover has been about more than just plugging in transfers. The Mountaineers have spent real time building from the ground up, and that’s where the buzz around this freshman class starts.
Kevin Brown may be the headliner, but he’s not the only young lineman turning heads. Rich Rodriguez pointed to a group that includes Aidan Woods, big Jonas Muya and Camden Goforth, and he said some of those freshmen could get on the field early.
“Our young guys, Kevin (Brown) and Aidan (Woods) and big Jonas (Muya), Camden (Goforth), I really like our freshmen class. I think some of those guys got a chance to play early.
Kevin’s got a chance to start. He’s physically ready, but more than anything, he’s got a certain level of maturity, football maturity, that you don’t see typically in a true freshman.
I kind of knew that when we signed him, and then he’s been what we thought he would be, and he’ll keep getting better too.”
Offensive line coach Rick Trickett also singled out a couple of freshmen beyond Brown, including Woods and Lamarcus Dillard.
“I like this freshman kid, Aidan Woods. I like him.
He’s got some things about him,” Trickett said. “I got a young kid named Lamarcus Dillard that down the road he has a chance to be a really, really good kind of player.”
Brown, Muya and Woods are all projected tackles. Goforth is working at guard, while Dillard is being used at both guard and center.
Goforth became a favorite among WVU fans during the recruiting process by making his commitment obvious, constantly trying to bring in other prospects on social media and posting workout videos to show he was putting in the work.
Muya joined the class late, choosing the Mountaineers on the eve of signing day over offers from Cincinnati, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Purdue, Tennessee and others. At 6-foot-7 and around 290 pounds, he brings major length, and adding more muscle should help. He has a very bright future and could push into a starting job by year three.
In Other News...
Rich Rodriguez Just Put West Virginia's NIL Pressure In Focus
Rich Rodriguez has put a sharper spotlight on the reality West Virginia is trying to manage in the NIL era: keeping good players from becoming good players somewhere else. The Mountaineers coach said the program wants to reward players who have earned it, and he framed retention as part football, part finances, with the added burden of past departures tied to coaching turnover and tighter budgets.
Recent fundraising gains have given West Virginia a better chance to compete in that market than it had before, but the long-term test is still ahead. For a program trying to stabilize while the roster churn of modern college football keeps accelerating, the real answer on how well the Mountaineers can hold onto talent likely will not come until after the season plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Is Giving West Virginia Fans Real Reason To Believe
West Virginia footballs latest behind-the-scenes look offered a clearer picture of how much ground the program has covered since the start of Rich Rodriguezs return. The video walked through winter workouts, spring ball and summer training, with Rodriguez and the strength staff talking through the teams progress and the culture shift that has been taking shape along the way.
What stood out most was the level of buy-in. Rodriguez sounded genuinely encouraged by how the players have responded to the work, and that matters for a program trying to build momentum before fall camp fully gets rolling. There is still a long way to go, but the tone around the team suggests a group that believes it is moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Fall Camp Is Already Reshaping Key Position Battles
Five practices into fall camp, West Virginia is already seeing several competitions start to take shape as the coaching staff sorts through new faces, position changes and a few young players making a move. A Youngstown State transfer at wide receiver has put himself in the mix for playing time, while Kings switch from left guard to center has given the Mountaineers a clear leader in that battle. Griffin has also stood out for his ability to move around the offensive line, giving the staff some flexibility as it tries to build depth up front.
The other side of the ball is offering its own intrigue, with Mack moving closer to a rotation role on the defensive line and redshirt freshman Torbor challenging for a starting linebacker job. Coaches have been encouraged by the way both players have handled the early part of camp, and the overall tone suggests these spots are far from settled. For a team still sorting out its identity this early in August, that kind of push from across the roster could end up shaping more than just the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]