The transfer portal is officially open, and the West Virginia Mountaineers are taking no time getting into the thick of recruiting potential players to the program.
Things are starting off quick as reports indicate that Georgia Southern EDGE rusher/outside linebacker MJ Stroud will be in town on Friday to check out the program. Stroud was a First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection this past season, racking up 33 tackles (15.5 TFLs), 6.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. His tackles for loss number led the league. Stroud also has visits arranged with Colorado and Michigan State over the next week.
Georgia Southern all-conference EDGE/OLB MJ Stroud has set the following visits, his rep @kohllleo tells @CodyNagel247 and @chris_hummer:
— 247Sports Transfer Portal (@247SportsPortal) January 2, 2026
Jan. 2 - West Virginia
Jan. 6 - Colorado
Jan. 9 - Michigan State@JustinThind @adamcm777 @CMAnderson247 https://t.co/SW8grawO3b
The Mountaineers are also set to host visits from a pair of transfer targets from the same program, and Division 2 Texas-Permian Basin linebacker Tristan Exline and defenive lineman Will Leblanc are set to make trips to Morgantown.
Exline is a two-time Division 2 All-American, and finished this past season with 143 tackles (20 TFLs), six sacks, and an interception this past season. He's currently visiting Florida State, but is scheduled to come to West Virginia next Friday. Leblanc, meanwhile, posted 32 total tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks this season for the program, and contributed on a Permian Basin team that was a Division 2 playoff quarterfinalist. He also has visits set with NC State and Wisconsin.
Division II two-time All-American linebacker Tristan Exline has set official visits to Florida State (Jan. 2) and West Virginia (Jan. 9), per @chris_hummer and @mzenitz
— 247Sports Transfer Portal (@247SportsPortal) December 23, 2025
Posted 143 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six sacks and an interception this year.https://t.co/7UxyTsrrT3 pic.twitter.com/uyrQxnSiMB
DL Will LeBlanc (UTPB) visit schedule:
— The Business of Athletes (@thebizofathlete) January 1, 2026
(Jan 2-6)
West Virginia
NC State
Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/DOgu9cRUme
WVU has two big wide receiver targets who were announced to be setting up a visit on Friday in Kennesaw State's Christian Moss and Troy's DJ Epps. Moss finished his season with 669 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He is also setting up a visit with the Boise State Broncos. Epps, meanwhile, had 512 receiving yards and five touchdowns, and also was a top-ten kick returner in the nation with 554 yards. He will also visit Cincinnati.
Visiting town on Saturday will be UNLV linebacker Isaiah Patterson, who finished last season with 46 tackles (1.5 TFLs). Patterson will also visit UCLA, where he originally signed out of high school and spent to 2024 season under a different staff.
Kennesaw State WR Christian Moss is setting up official visits with West Virginia and Boise State, his agents @ed_waz and @SAGN316 tell @PeteNakos. https://t.co/BwNRgepGne pic.twitter.com/WZ1sZL4hxv
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 2, 2026
Troy WR DJ Epps plans to visit West Virginia and Cincinnati, his rep @IanJohnsonAce tells @PeteNakos.
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 2, 2026
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound WR posted 47 catches for 512 receiving yards and 5 TDs in 2025. Also finished top-10 in the nation with 554 kick returning yards.… pic.twitter.com/b87ckUEXYU
Isaiah Patterson has set a visit to West Virginia for this weekend.
— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) January 2, 2026
And UCLA, where he signed in 2024 and spent as a freshman, has been back in communication under new staff.@CMAnderson247 https://t.co/mtMcSepkUr
The Mountaineers will be looking to replenish their roster after 43 players on last season's roster have hit the portal, with many more retiring or seeing their eligibility come to a close. The Mountaineers boast a 49-person high school and JUCO signing class which will also contribute to rebuilding the roster entering 2026.