It's been a relatively quiet week for West Virginia football when it comes to players announcing their intent to leave the program. But it's clear that the roster movement is not yet finished.
The Mountaineers lost their fourth and fifth running backs this offseason to the transfer portal on Thursday as the news broke that both Clay Ash and Kannon katzer will be leaving the Mountaineers and entering the transfer portal once it opens in Janaury.
West Virginia sophomore RB Clay Ash (@ClayAsh1) plans to enter the portal, his rep @JoeSanfilippo30 tells @chris_hummer.
— 247Sports Transfer Portal (@247SportsPortal) December 18, 2025
Ash, who started 2 games, totaled 190 yards this season. He's the single-season IMG Academy rushing record holder out of HS. https://t.co/ab0hQOwkZo pic.twitter.com/UcqMTrysXO
Grateful for the relationships and memories I’ve made at WVU. I’ll be entering my name into the transfer portal to explore new opportunities while finishing my degree at WVU this spring. pic.twitter.com/e2Z1KTmlFt
— Kannon Katzer ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@kannon_katzer) December 18, 2025
Ash is a former Tommy Nickolich Award winner as the top walk-on inside the West Virginia program, and played in eight games for WVU in 2025, starting against both Pitt and Kansas. He tallied 43 carries for 131 yards and 10 receptions for 59 yards. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Katzer, meanwhile, saw no carries this season for the Mountaineers, only suiting up in the latter half of the season after injury issues kept him sidelined for several games in the beginning of the season. Katzer joined the Mountaineers after spending the 2024 season at the Division 2 level, rushing for 1,128 yards and 11 touchdowns for Ferris State en route to a Division 2 National Championship. He began his career at the FBS level with Washington State.
Ash and Katzer join former starter Jahiem White, 2025 leading rusher Diore Hubbard, and former JUCO star Tyler Jacklich as WVU running backs who are set to enter the portal. With Tye Edwards set to graduate, that leaves just Cyncir Bowers and Andre Devine as the only returners left in the position group.