WVU football has been making waves with their impressive transfer portal class. Not only do the Mountaineers currently possess one of the top portal classes in the Big 12 conference, but it also currently ranks as one of the best in college football.
Listed below is a position-by-position breakdown detailing all of WVU’s portal pickups from this past week.
QB:
- Michael Hawkins Jr. (6’1 206) – Oklahoma [3 years of eligibility]
A talented young quarterback prospect that possesses breakaway speed and a skill-set that seems tailor made to thrive in a Rich Rod offensive system. The QB battle this offseason between Hawkins and Scotty Fox should be a fun one.
RB:
- Cam Cook (5’11 195) – Jax State [1 year of eligibility]
Perhaps the biggest splash WVU made in the transfer portal thus far came from landing the NCAA’s leading rusher this past season in Cam Cook. He will also now get to run behind a Rick Trickett lead offensive line for a second consecutive season.
WR:
- Prince Strachan (6’5 215) – USC [2 years of eligibility]
- DJ Epps (6’1 185) – Troy [1 year of eligibility]
- TaRon Francis (6’1 207) – LSU [4 years of eligibility]
- John Neider (6’2 205) – UCONN [2 years of eligibility]
Prince Strachan provides great size and upside as he has not been playing football all that long, but has also caught passes in the College Football playoffs already. DJ Epps should help WVU not only as a receiver, but as a kick returner as well as he ranked in the top 10 nationally in kick return yards in 2025. TaRon Francis is probably the most exciting name of the bunch, and he could be in Morgantown for seasons to come. John Neider from UConn gives the Mountaineers more length and a solid possession option at the position.
OL:
- Devin Vass (6’6 308) – Kansas State [2 years of eligibility]
- Wes King (6’5 310) – Wyoming [1 year of eligibility]
- Carsten Casady (6’7 300) – UCONN [2 years of eligibility]
- Cameron Griffin (6’4 300) – Jax State [1 year of eligibility]
WVU did not mess around here. Not only adding a lot of size to the position as you can see in the listed heights and weights, but adding a ton of talent as well. Devin Vass has not allowed a sack in nearly 200 pass blocking snaps, neither Wes King nor Carsten Casady have EVER allowed a sack in their careers to this point, and Griffin was an All-Conference performer at Jax State. Offensive Line has been upgraded.
DL:
- Will LeBlanc (6’4 300) – UTPB [3 years of eligibility]
LeBlanc was the first transfer commitment of the cycle for WVU and should help fill out the Mountaineer defensive line.
EDGE/BAN:
- David Afogho (6’3 245) – Bowling Green [2 years of eligibility]
- Harper Holloman (6’2 255) – WKU [2 years of eligibility]
Both of these additions are expected to help improve the pass rush. Afogho had 27 QB pressures last season which would have topped anyone on the WVU roster. While Holloman led all of the C-USA conference with a whopping 41 QB pressures of his own.
LB:
- Isaiah Patterson (6’4 235) – UNLV [3 years of eligibility]
- Malachi Hood (6’2 225) – Illinois [2 years of eligibility]
- Tyler Stolsky (6’3 225) – FAU [1 year of eligibility]
In Patterson, WVU gets a player with multiple years remaining who already has a good bit of experience, playing in every UNLV game last season. With Hood and Stolsky, the Mountaineers are receiving proven starters. Hood started eight games in the Big Ten this past season, while Stolsky was not only a starter but also a team captain at FAU where he racked up over 90 tackles.
DB:
- Maliek Hawkins (6’0 189) – Oklahoma [4 years of eligibility]
- Geimere Latimer (5’10 191) – Wisconsin [1 year of eligibility]
- Kamari Wilson (6’1 210) – Memphis [1 year of eligibility]
- Andrew Powdrell (5’10 180) – UNLV [1 year of eligibility]
A mix of proven starters who should contribute immediately and a young corner with a high ceiling and multiple years to develop. Latimer and Powdrell both were starting cornerbacks at their respective programs last season. While Wilson, who will play safety, was not only a starter at Memphis but he was a star player for them, racking up over 80 tackles in 2025. He is arguably the most impactful transfer the defense has landed yet and should be an instant starter at one of the WVU safety spots.
P:
- Bryan Hansen (6’3 205) – Colorado State [1 year of eligibility]
The Mountaineers didn’t add just any punter here, they went out and brought in one of the best in the country as Hansen ranked third in the NCAA in 2025 in yards per punt.
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