Jimmori Robinson seems to be all-but-guaranteed to see the field for WVU football this year, but it might not be in The Backyard Brawl.
The news broke on Monday that Robinson seemed to have the green light to return to action for the Mountaineers, but the timeline on being able to begin practice with the team was still unclear – and given the NCAA’s five-day acclimation rule before contact, it wasn’t certain that he’d be back for this weekend’s matchup against Pitt.
During his press weekly conference on Tuesday, Rodriguez seemed to confirm that theory as he told the media that while he expects Robinson to be able to play this season, he said “there’s still a question” as to whether or not he’ll be able to play against Pitt.
WVU HC Rich Rodriguez says he does expect Jimmori Robinson to be cleared but there's still a question about if he can play this weekend.
— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) September 9, 2025
Later during the press conference, defensive coordinator Zac Alley mentioned that "today will be my first day" with Robinson, indication that he might be starting to practice on Tuesday. That should just leave the question of if the Mountaineers will practice enough times for Robinson to get four full practices in – two in helmets, and two in shoulder pads.
Robinson will be a major addition to the roster for the Mountaineers, as he brings over 40 games of experience at the FBS level to a WVU defense that has already looked to be the strength of this year’s team. In 2024, he was named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Year after recording 10.5 sacks for UTSA. He’s also a former JUCO All-American.
It would be ideal for the Mountaineers to have him for the game against the Panthers, as he has yet to be seen on film this year and could provide a unique competitive advantage for West Virginia. He also adds a level of athleticism and skill, particularly in the pass rush, that the Mountaineers might not have elsewhere on their defense.