Rich Rodriguez put some significant work into the transfer portal for the second consecutive offseason to re-load WVU football's roster entering his second year at the helm of the program. And the overall consensus around the program seems to be that the talent level has taken an overall boost.
Fans are itching for a reason to be truly excited about the program again, and there are at least a couple of offensive players who could help Rodriguez and the West Virginia Mountaineers take that step back into national prominence. And as the Preseason All-Big 12 Team was released on Monday ahead of Big 12 Media Days, they were representing the Mountaineers among the top talents in the league.
Cam Cook, Kayden Luke earn their spot on the Big 12 All-Conference Team
There is no surprise in seeing Cam Cook pop up on this list. He previously played in the Big 12 from 2022-2024, tallying 460 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. He transferred to Jacksonville State last season, he had a breakout campaign – leading all FBS players with 1,659 yards and 16 touchdowns. Now, he returns to the league as a preseason all-conference selection.
The second honoree, fullback Kayden Luke, is also no stranger to the Big 12. he joined the Mountaineers after spending his first two years with the Arizona Wildcats. Luke handled five carries for 20 yards and made 12 appearances as a freshman, serving mainly as a lead blocker. He then played in 12 games as a sophomore, serving as the primary lead blocker once again but taking no carries.
He is helped along by the decline of the fullback position in college football, but Rodriguez happens to love using such players and will likely incorporate Luke into an Owen Schmitt-style role where he is a blocker and big body when needed but is also a short-yardage back – which WVU mostly didn't have last year.
One glaring ommission is along the offensive line, where no Mountaineers were named preseason all-conference picks. It is the area most media members feel the program improved most this offseason. Two starters from last year's team return, and another former Big 12 starter who transferred into the program and two All-Conference USA lineman from Jacksonville State were among the offseason additions.
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