The West Virginia Mountaineers are facing a whirlwind of changes as the transfer portal opens for the 2026 football season. With just one transfer window, the coaching staff is hustling—hosting visits, chasing top targets, and making moves to shore up the roster.
Let’s take a closer look at which players have entered the portal from West Virginia, who the staff has added, and which prospects have received offers.
West Virginia Players Entering the Transfer Portal
The transfer portal’s open, and several Mountaineers are looking for new opportunities. Here’s a rundown of those players, along with where they came from, how much eligibility they have left, and what they did in 2025.
Defensive Line and Linebackers
- DL Will LeBlanc from Texas-Permian Basin: 3 years left, 32 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks.
- LB Isaiah Patterson from UNLV: 3 years left, 46 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks.
- EDGE David Afogho from Bowling Green: 2 years left, 37 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2.5 sacks.
- LB Malachi Hood from Illinois: 2 years left, 39 tackles (26 solo), 1.5 TFLs, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery.
Wide Receivers and Quarterbacks
- WR Prince Strachan from USC: 2 years left, injured in 2025.
- QB Michael Hawkins from Oklahoma: 3 years left, redshirted after limited play in two games.
- WR DJ Epps from Troy: 1 year left, 47 catches for 512 yards and five TDs, 23 kickoff returns for 554 yards.
Defensive Backs and Specialists
- DB Maliek Hawkins from Oklahoma: 4 years left, redshirted.
- CB Geimere Latimer from Wisconsin: 1 year left, 422 snaps at corner, 22 tackles, 1 forced fumble.
- P Bryan Hansen from Colorado State: 1 year left, 57 punts, 47.9 average, 13 inside the 20, 23 over 50 yards.
New Additions to the Mountaineers through the Transfer Portal
West Virginia isn’t sitting still—they’ve landed some key players via the portal. Here’s who’s new, where they came from, and what they did last season.
Running Backs and Offensive Linemen
- RB Landon Walker from Colorado School of Mines: 1 year left, 2,220 rushing yards and 29 TDs, 46 catches for 295 yards and 4 scores, now at TCU.
- OL Johnnie Brown from Georgia Southern: 1 year left, 826 snaps at LT/RT, now with Louisville.
Defensive Backs and Safeties
- S Javis Mynatt from Texas State: 1 year left, 450 snaps at safety, 32 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 QB hurry, now at JMU.
- DB Jo Pierce from Oklahoma State: 4 years left, redshirted, now with UAB.
Edge Rushers and Defensive Linemen
- EDGE J’Mond Tapp from Southern Miss: 1 year left, 70 tackles, 12 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, 10 QB hurries, 2 pass breakups, now at Memphis.
- DL Jalen Thompson from Michigan State: 1 year left, 30 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 8 QB hurries, 1 pass breakup, now at Arizona State.
Prospects Receiving Offers
The Mountaineers are still on the hunt, offering scholarships to some promising prospects. Here are a few names to watch, along with their 2025 stats.
Linebackers and Defensive Backs
- LB Samuel Omosigho from Oklahoma: 1 year left, 50 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 pass breakups, now at UCLA.
- S Koen Entringer from Iowa: 1 year left, 69 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 4 pass breakups, 1 QB hurry, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, now at Louisville.
Running Backs and Wide Receivers
- RB Sutton Smith from Memphis: 1 year left, 669 rushing yards (6.55 ypc) and 7 TDs, 20 catches for 109 yards, 5 kickoff returns for 155 yards (31 avg) and 1 TD, 15 punt returns for 125 yards (8.33 avg), now at Arkansas.
- WR Christian Moss from Kennesaw State: 1 year left, 45 catches for 689 yards and 2 TDs, now at Washington.
Conclusion
The transfer portal period keeps rolling, and the West Virginia Mountaineers aren’t sitting still. They’re making some interesting moves to boost their roster and get ready for the 2026 season.
New faces are coming in, while others are heading out. It’s going to change the team’s vibe and maybe even their performance.
If you want every detail on who’s joining or leaving, check out the 2026 West Virginia Football Transfer Portal Tracker. That page has the latest updates as things keep shifting.
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