Ahead of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl game against North Carolina on Dec. 27, the football program is in a recruiting frenzy with the transfer portal opening on Dec. 4. The Mountaineers look to add talent in positions of need while attempting to retain those who had an impact.
DEPARTURES
RB Justin Johnson Jr.
The Junior from St.Louis compiled over 700 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns in three seasons with the Mountaineers. With the Jahiem White breaking out party in 2023, Johnson saw fewer opportunities as the season progressed, ultimately deciding to enter the transfer portal. More on Johnson here.
WR Davis Mallinger
Mallinger switched to playing receiver this offseason after playing defensive back in the past. He did not see much game action in 2023, but made 26 total tackles (17 solo) and had two sacks in 2022. More on Mallinger here.
WR Ja’Shaun Poke
As a senior in 2023, Poke caught two passes for 11 yards against Duquesne. At Kent State (2019-2022), Poke had 81 catches for 1,033 yards and five touchdowns. Poke has transferred to San Diego State. More on Poke here.
WR Cortez Braham Jr.
Braham was one of the two wide receivers dismissed from the team ahead of the game against TCU. In 2022 at West Virginia, Braham caught 14 passes for 147 yards, this year he managed only three receptions for 17 yards before getting dismissed. He previously played at Hutchinson Community College.
WR Jeremiah Aaron
Aaron, the other receiver dismissed from the team, made just one catch this year for eight yards. In 2022, he had 12 catches for 124 yards and one touchdown. Aaron was also a JUCO product, coming from Navarro College in Texas.
DL Mike Lockhart
Lockhart was a starter for West Virginia in 2023, finishing with 21 tackles including nine tackles for loss and two-and-a-half sacks. He was previously at Georgia Tech and has already found his new home at SMU. More on Lockhart here.
DL/LB James Heard
Heard was a true freshman taking a redshirt in 2023. He saw very little action with West Virginia, deciding to enter the transfer at the end of the regular season. Heard announced he would be transferring to Syracuse. More on him here.
CB Andrew Wilson-Lamp
Wilson-Lamp saw limited opportunities with West Virginia, playing special teams from time to time. In his career at WVU (2021-2023), he had 15 total tackles and two passes defended. More on Wilson-Lamp here.
DB Hershey McLaurin
Another defensive starter for West Virginia in 2023, McLaurin had 44 total tackles, three passes defended and half a sack. He put up very similar numbers in 2022. McLaurin will be transferring to Houston. More on McLaurin here.
S Keyshawn Cobb
Cobb transferred to West Virginia in 2023 and helped make just two tackles. In 2022 at Buffalo, he made 67 total tackles, had seven passes defended, three forced fumbles, one and a half sacks and an interception. More on Cobb here.
S Christion Stokes
Stokes was in his second year, originally from Detroit and did not get to play much for West Virginia. He had three total tackles in his time.
K Danny King
King the backup placekicker, made two extra points against Duquesne this season. King has two years of eligibility left. King has transferred to Southern Utah. Video on King here.
LB Jared Bartlett
Bartlett, a player recruited during the Dana Holgorsen era in Morgantown, decided to stay with the new staff and has spent five years with the Mountaineers. He has totaled 135 tackles (74 solo), 14 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defended since 2019. Bartlett will be transferring to Cincinnati. More on Bartlett here.
LB Lance Dixon
Dixon, a redshirt junior from Oak Park, Michigan spent three seasons with West Virginia after transferring from Penn State following the 2020 season. In his time with the Mountaineers, Dixon accumulated 72 total tackles (47 solo) with three passes defended. More on Dixon here.
DL Tomiwa Durojaiye
Durojaiye, a redshirt freshman had 23 total tackles this season and three-and-a-half sacks. Durojaiye was previously at Kentucky. Durojaiye announced he will be transferring to Florida State. More on him here.
ADDITIONS
DB Ayden Garnes
Garnes, a redshirt sophomore from Duquesne was a First Team All-NEC decision in 2023. He had three tackles and a pass-defended when he played West Virginia this year. Garnes could help bolster a currently thin WVU secondary. More on Garnes here.
WR Jaden Bray
The sophomore from Norman put up 382 receiving yards and two touchdowns (one against WVU) for Oklahoma State this season. Bray adds experience and explosive play-making ability to the Mountaineers’ receiving corps. More on Bray here.
CB TJ Crandall
Crandall, a true freshman, played in seven games this season for Colorado State, making 19 total tackles with two passes defended and an interception. Having some experience and three years of eligibility, Crandall can be seen as a well-needed addition to West Virginia’s secondary. More on Crandall here.
EDGE Ty French
A 3x FCS All-American from Gardner-Webb, French put up dominating numbers in his time with the Runnin’ Bulldogs. In 41 games he had 125 solo tackles, 61 tackles for loss, 34.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles. With just a year of eligibility, French can make the most instant impact with West Virginia due to his refined ability to create pressure and get to the ball carrier. More on French here.
LB Reid Carrico
Carrico, a linebacker transfer who didn’t play much at Ohio State should serve a big role in WVU’s defense with two years of remaining eligibility. Coming out of high school, Carrico was a four-star recruit and the No. 8 LB in the class of 2021 according to 247Sports. More on him here.
DL T.J. Jackson
Jackson, a defensive tackle from Troy had 27 total tackles in 2023 including seven tackles for loss and three-and-a-half sacks. With the addition of Jackson, WVU begins to rebuild the defensive line after losing some DL to the transfer portal. More on him here.
OL Xavier Bausley
Bausley, a redshirt freshman was named a freshman All-American by The Athletic after a productive season with Jacksonville State in 2023. Bausley is originally from Dunbar, West Virginia playing his high school ball at South Charleston. More on him here.
