The West Virginia Mountaineers continued to build on their 2026 transfer portal class with a pair of commitments with Big Ten experience on Sunday night.
WVU football has landed commitments from USC wide receiver Prince Strachan and UNLV (and former UCLA) linebacker Isaiah Patterson. Along with UT-Permian Basin defensive lineman Will LeBlanc and Oklahoma transfers Michael Hawkins Jr. and Maliek Hawkins, the Mountaineers are now up to five transfer portal commits.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Strachan joins the Mountaineers after a one-season stint with the USC Trojans, where he caught one pass for 25 yards in the season opening win against Missouri State before suffering an ankle injury which he battled for several weeks. He did not end up seeing the field again. Before USC, he accumulated 578 receiving yards in three touchdowns during his first two collegiate seasons at Boise State, and was a member of the 2024 Broncos team that advanced to the College Football Playoff. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
West Virginia has signed USC wide receiver transfer Prince Strachan, @chris_hummer and I have learned.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 5, 2026
The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder had 25 catches at Boise State last season before transferring to USC. pic.twitter.com/uelL91T4TN
Strachan also has a previous connection to the WVU staff, as his brother Michael Strachan played for current West Virginia assistant Pat Kirkland when Kirkland helmed the Division 2 Charleston (WV) Golden Eagles. The elder Strachan also played wide receiver was a two-time all MEC selection and an AFCA All-American in 2019 after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He was selected in the seventh overall round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, and has since also spent stints with the Panthers and Commanders.
Patterson began his career at the Big Ten level with the UCLA Bruins as a three-star recruit and the 31st-best linebacker in the Class of 2024, according to 247Sports. He played in one game as a true freshman and earned the Nick Pasquale “Pac” Award for scout-team excellence at the end of the season before transferring to UNLV, where he appeared in 12 games this past season and tallied 46 total tackles.
Patterson also brings unique athleticism to the table as a 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker that reportedly runs a 4.4 40-yard dash, and will make a unique potential addition with plenty of time to develop. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
UNLV LB Isaiah Patterson has committed to West Virginia, his rep @DannyErvin48 tells @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) January 5, 2026
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound redshirt freshman had 46 total tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a PBU in 2025. Has three years of eligibility remaining.https://t.co/wMrfFrdlE6