A Deep Dive into WVU Football’s Roster Turnover and What It Means for Rich Rodriguez’s First Season
by: Justin Walker
The West Virginia Mountaineers are facing a significant roster overhaul heading into the 2025 college football season. After a coaching change that saw the dismissal of Neal Brown and the hiring of Rich Rodriguez, many players have entered the transfer portal, leaving the Mountaineers with a depleted roster.
According to ESPN’s Bill Connelly, who releases an annual list of FBS teams’ returning production, West Virginia ranks 98th out of 136 teams, returning just 46% of their overall production from the 2024 season. This places them 14th in the Big 12 Conference, a concerning statistic for a program looking to bounce back under a new coaching staff.
In this in-depth analysis, we’ll take a closer look at the Mountaineers’ returning production numbers, position by position, to understand the full scope of the challenge facing Rich Rodriguez and his staff as they look to rebuild West Virginia into a contender in the Big 12.
Quarterback: A Glimmer of Hope Amid the Uncertainty
The quarterback position is one of the few bright spots for the Mountaineers in terms of returning production. While they lose starter Garrett Greene to graduation, they do have Nicco Marchiol returning, who accounted for 18-20% of the team’s overall snaps in 2024.
Marchiol threw for 434 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, while also adding 120 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. He has experience running an offense against Big 12 competition, which should provide a solid foundation for the new coaching staff to build upon.
Additionally, West Virginia has brought in transfers Jaylen Henderson from Texas A&M and Max Brown from Charlotte, both of whom have game experience at the FBS collegiate level. This depth at the quarterback position, coupled with the potential of young talents like Khalil Wilkins and Scotty Fox, gives the Mountaineers a glimmer of hope as they look to replace the production of Garrett Greene.
Wide Receiver: A Position in Flux, but Promising Newcomers Provide Hope
The wide receiver position is one of the biggest areas of concern for the Mountaineers, as they are returning just 25% of their overall snaps played at the position in 2024. The departure of key contributors like Hudson Clement and Traylon Ray leaves a significant void in the passing game.
The leading returning receiver is Rodney Gallagher III, who caught 26 passes for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. After Gallagher, the next leading receiver is Jaden Bray, who had just 2 catches for 88 yards. This stark drop-off in production is a major concern for the Mountaineers.
However, West Virginia has brought in some promising newcomers to bolster the receiving corps. Cam Vaughn, a transfer from Jacksonville State, and the return of Bray; along with Jarel Williams, Dom Collins and Brandon Rehman from last year’s team, provide Rich Rodriguez with some talented options to work with. The coaching staff will need to quickly integrate these new pieces and develop chemistry to offset the significant losses at the position.
Tight End: A Position in Need of Reinforcements
The tight end position is another area of concern for the Mountaineers, as they are losing almost all of their production from the 2024 season. The departures of Kole Taylor (graduation) and Treylan Davis (retirement), who were the team’s primary pass-catching tight ends, leave a significant void.
The only returning tight end with any game experience is Jack Sammarco, who caught one pass for 4 yards last season. The rest of the tight end room is largely unproven, with the new additions likely being more focused on blocking rather than receiving.
Rich Rodriguez and his staff may need to explore the transfer portal again to bring in a more experienced tight end who can contribute in the passing game. This position group will be crucial in supporting the new-look offense and providing reliable targets for the quarterback.
Offensive Line: The Biggest Concern for the Mountaineers
The most alarming statistic for the Mountaineers is the returning production on the offensive line. West Virginia is bringing back just 2% of the overall snaps played by their offensive line in 2024, a staggeringly low number.
- The Mountaineers lost four of their five starting offensive linemen to graduation, as well as a starter and two key backups in the transfer portal.
- The only returning players with game experience are Xavier Bausley, Landon Livingsten, and Nick Krahe, who combined for just 116 snaps last season.
- This lack of continuity and experience on the offensive line is a major concern, as the unit’s cohesion is crucial for success in Rich Rodriguez’s offense.
Offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. has his work cut out for him, as he must quickly integrate the new transfers and incoming recruits to form a cohesive unit capable of protecting the quarterback and opening holes for the running game. This will be one of the most critical areas of focus for the coaching staff during the offseason and spring practices.
Defensive Outlook: Potential Bright Spots Amid the Roster Turnover
While the offensive production numbers are concerning, the defensive side of the ball for the Mountaineers presents some potential bright spots amidst the overall roster turnover.
Defensive Line: A Glimmer of Hope
The defensive line is one of the more stable units for West Virginia, as they are returning 36% of the overall snaps played in 2024. This includes the return of players like Edward Vesterinen, Hammond Russell IV, and Redwood, along with the potential comeback of Corey McIntyre Jr., who missed most of the 2024 season due to injury.
Additionally, the Mountaineers have brought in transfers like Jimmori Robinson (UTSA) and Braden Siders (Wyoming), who could provide an immediate impact and help offset the losses of key contributors from last year’s team.
Linebacker: A Solid Foundation
The linebacker position is another area where the Mountaineers have a solid foundation, returning 29% of the overall snaps played in 2024. This includes the return of standouts Reid Carrico and Ben Cutter, who combined for 93 tackles last season.
The coaching staff has also brought in talented young linebackers like Chase Wilson from Colorado State and Ashton Woods from North Carolina, providing depth and potential for the future at this critical position.
Secondary: A Work in Progress
The secondary is the biggest question mark on the defensive side of the ball, as West Virginia is returning just 22% of the overall snaps played in the defensive backfield in 2024. This unit struggled mightily last season, and the Mountaineers will need to rely on a combination of returning players like Jacolby Spells and Kekoura Tarnue, as well as newcomers like Michael Coats Jr. (Nevada) and Fred Perry (Jacksonville State).
The Coaching Factor: Rich Rodriguez’s Proven Offensive Prowess
While the returning production numbers for the Mountaineers may seem daunting, there is one significant factor that could work in West Virginia’s favor: the arrival of head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and successful offensive minds in college football history. His track record of building high-powered offenses, even with limited returning production, could be a game-changer for the Mountaineers.
Throughout his coaching career, Rodriguez has demonstrated the ability to quickly integrate new players and develop them into productive contributors within his system. His expertise in the spread offense and his proven ability to maximize the talents of his players could be the key to overcoming the roster turnover and lack of returning production that West Virginia is facing.
Additionally, the Mountaineers’ defensive struggles in 2024 may actually work in their favor, as the new coaching staff can implement their own schemes and philosophies. This clean slate could allow the Mountaineers to build a defense that complements their offensive strengths and provides a more balanced approach to the game.
Embracing the Challenge: West Virginia’s Path to Redemption
While the returning production numbers for the Mountaineers may seem daunting, the arrival of Rich Rodriguez and his coaching staff presents a unique opportunity for West Virginia to embrace the challenge and chart a new course for the program.
By focusing on the development of their talented newcomers, both through the transfer portal and incoming recruits, the Mountaineers can quickly rebuild and reshape their roster to fit Rodriguez’s philosophy. The coaching staff’s ability to maximize the potential of their players, regardless of their previous experience, could be the key to West Virginia’s success in 2025 and beyond.
As the Mountaineers embark on this new era of West Virginia football, the fanbase and the program must embrace the challenge and trust in the leadership of Rich Rodriguez and his staff. With a renewed sense of energy and a commitment to development, West Virginia can overcome the roster turnover and surprise the college football world in 2025.
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The road ahead may be challenging, but with the right mindset and the leadership of Rich Rodriguez, the West Virginia Mountaineers are poised to embark on an exciting new chapter in their storied football history.
See the video version of this article at the link below.
https://youtu.be/aiSUDz0DifE?si=Qycx7nr2IFd2rQCq
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
