With the transfer portal action mostly winding down and spring football rapidly approaching, let's take a look at some of the best and the most intriguing moves WVU would in their portal class, and where there are still questions.
Best of the West Virginia Mountaineers Transfer Portal Class of 2026
Best Offensive Player - Cam Cook
This one is hard to debate. Cook was the leading FBS rusher last season and one of the top running backs available in the portal. Cook rushed for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025, and forced over 100 missed tackles – he was named the Conference USA Player of the Year and an All-American. The Mountaineers knew their running back room needed an overhaul, and Cook can lead the charge.
Best Defensive Player(s) - Kamari Wilson, Tyler Stolsky
This side of the ball is a bit tougher to distinguish, as it feels like there are less flashy and/or proven names. I'm torn between Wilson and Stolsky here – both began their careers at the Power 4 level before transferring to Group of 5 programs in 2025 and having standout seasons where both started and recorded 80+ tackles. They could easily fill the roles Fred Perry and Chase Wilson vacate.
Most Intriguing Offensive Player - Taron Francis
Francis is one year removed from being a four-star prospect, and signed with a blue blood program. He didn't see much action last season, which isn't uncommon for a true freshman as that high a level of football. Now, he reunites with high school quarterback John "Hollywood" Johnson, after the pair helped Edna Karr High School (LA) win a state championship in 2024.
Most Intriguing Defensive Player - Tobi Haastrup
This is another case of a four-star prospect signing with a College Football Playoff contender and not seeing action as a freshman before transferring. These moves could be looked at as akin to adding a high school four-star with four years left to play, but without quite as much flash. Haastrup is a freakish athlete that could develop into a star in Morgantown.
Best Position Group - Offensive Line
I wrote about this before, but the Mountaineers seakily rebuilt their offensive line into a potential workhorse unit in 2026. It was needed after a dismal effort in the trenches last season, and WVU spared no expense. They secured a Big 12 starting guard in Kansas State transfer Devin Vass, who started the final seven games for the Wildcats last season.
Then they added a pair of All-Conference USA selections (all-conference being a designation that none of the program's O-line transfers could boast last year) from Jacksonville State in Cameron Griffin and Amare Grayson. They have experience under Rich Rodriguez and new offensive line coach Rick Trickett and paved the way for Cam Cook's stunning season last year.
Add a starter from a nine-win UConn team tha competes as an independent and a starter from Wyoming that was offered by Texas, and you've got what is likely a winning starting five. And that's before you add two returning starter and standout four-star high school signee Kevin brown to the mix.
Most Intriguing Position Group - Wide Receiver
With Jeff Weimer and Preston Fox graduating and Cam Vaughn and Rodney Gallagher III transferring, the Mountaineers lose a ton of veteran experience and production in this room. None of the transfer additions, meanwhile, are proven at the Power 4 level.
But Prince Strachan brings a 6-foot-5 frame and impressive stats from his time at Boise State – and he was in USC's rotation last year before an injury. Francis, as we've talked about, could be a hidden gem with elite talent lying in wait.
The Mountaineers also added two receivers with significant production from winning program's in Troy's DJ Epps and UConn's John Neider. This group is an unknown, but could materialize into something great if the pieces come together.
Toughest Loss - Curtis Jones Jr.
Jones Jr. was a significant piece of WVU's rotation on both sides of the ball last year, first as a piece of the defensive rotation and then as a short-yardage running back when injuries decimated that room. Jones Jr. saw action in 2024 as well, and his experience and athleticism were expected to be huge upsides for the Mountaineers.
He seemed tp be set to stick around, but suddenly decided to enter his name into the portal late in the process. Before long, he would end up at WVU's bitter nonconference rival Virginia Tech under former Penn State head coach James Franklin.
Biggest Question Mark - Defense
You look at the offensive side of the ball, and at just about every position you can talk yourself into the portal acquisitions eithers boosting the room or, at least, being somewhat sufficient replacements for lost production.
It's tougher to do that on defense. The Mountaineers lose a lot of production at every single position, with a couple positions having no returning experience. But a lot of the additions in the portal on that side of the ball lack proven experience at the level they'll need to excel at, and many don't move the needle much at all.
It's hard to look at the big picture and say WVU got better on defense in the portal, and that's particularly true in the secondary, which was a weak point last year. It's a big question mark, and we'll see how it is answered in spring ball.