By: Justin “Couz” Walker | WV Sports Chat
WVU football coach Rich Rodriguez was not lying when he said he wanted to implement the fullback more into the offense. He proved it by getting a commitment from former Arizona fullback, Kayden Luke. The 5-foot-11 inch, 235-pound sophomore announced his commitment to the Mountaineers on social media Sunday afternoon.
A native of Tucson, Arizona, Luke spent two seasons with the Wildcats. He played a total of 71 snaps according to Pro Football Focus, with 61 of those in run blocking situations. He had an average run blocking grade of 62.3 during that time. He’s carried the ball just five times in his career for a total of 20 yards. All five carries came during the 2024 season.
Luke has already become a fan favorite among WVU fans by posing in his cowboy hat and blue jeans during his visit to Morgantown. He also embraced the fullback legacy left by former Mountaineer great Owen Schmitt. His commitment announcement read, “Hard people doing hard things!! Beer truck loading.”
“Big Red,” as he was affectionately called by his former Arizona teammates, was a star running back at Canyon Del Oro High School, where he rushed for 2,307 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior.
Known for his physicality, he earned great respect from his teammates for his work ethic.
Rodriguez expressed frustration several times in postgame press conferences in 2025 because his offense was unable to have success in short yardage situations. Getting a hard-nosed, physical fullback who is a proven blocker can go a long way in helping the Mountaineer run game in 2026.
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Photo Credit: KVOA.com
