By: Justin “Couz” Walker | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – On Saturday, Rich Rodriguez and the Mountaineers received a commitment from transfer defensive lineman Will LeBlanc from UT-Permian Basin. What can WVU fans expect from the former DII star? Former college player and WV Sports Chat contributor Sam (@FootballGuy_65 on X) had this to say about the Spring, Texas native.
Pros:
He plays with good pad level and good bend. He is also athletic and moves well in space.
Several clips show him playing defensive end, where he is strong at the point of attack and made a lot of high effort plays.
Cons:
LeBlanc lacks good technique at times but wins with athleticism. His level of competition may also be considered a con. Division II to P4 is a massive jump.
Overall:
Leblanc’s tape is very good. He seems to check all the boxes (size, strong in the run game, can rush the passer, plays hard). The knock on him will be the level of competition. Being a DII guy he gets away with some stuff because he’s more athletic than the OL across from him. I think he’s a very solid addition with a ton of potential, whether he’s a stand out player or not will be determined by how quickly he can make the jump from DII to P4 football.
Side note: it deserves mentioning that he was a RS Freshman last year and picked WVU over multiple P4 schools (Wisconsin and NC State). There’s something there, can he do it at the next level is still to be determined.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder will have three years of eligibility remaining. He had a solid 2025 season after redshirting in 2024. LeBlanc tallied 32 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery during his redshirt freshman campaign at UT-Permian Basin.
Stay right here at WV Sports Chat for continued updates on WVU football’s activity in the transfer portal.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
