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Apr. 15—The second of two, and final, transfer portal windows is now open to finalize fall rosters. West Virginia and Rich Rodriguez took full advantage of the winter window, adding 31 players.
Over the past week following the end of spring practice, Rodriguez made roster cuts to create space to add more players and help reach the maximum roster size of 105 by the fall. Over twenty and counting Mountaineers planned on entering the portal before it even officially opened.
Rodriguez has a lot of positions on his mind for this portal period. He probably won't add 31 new players like in the last period, but Rodriguez will be active.
He listed every position of need except long snapper and quarterback a couple of weeks ago. Quarterback makes sense since seven are on the roster, and another is coming in the summer in the 2025 class. Will there be seven by the end of the portal ? Probably not, but the quarterback is definitely not an area of need unless athletic director Wren Baker and Rodriguez want to shell out the estimated $4 million to add Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava, but that's not happening.
"We need to get some O-line and D-linemen, " Rodriguez said. "We need to get some wideouts, a running back. Probably need to get some linebackers, a corner, a safety. Probably need a kicker, maybe, to compete with."
Rodriguez's laundry list of needs doesn't mean he thinks his players are bad. He wants more depth.
"I'm unhappy with the depth, " Rodriguez said. "But I think every coach is probably unhappy with their depth at this point in the spring."
It's difficult to tell what areas Rodriguez will add in the portal, as he lists pretty much every position. Other than the spring game, Rodriguez's squad hasn't been visible to the public eye, making it difficult to analyze what positions are needed.
After the spring game, West Virginia defensive coordinator Zac Alley said the pass rush needs work but didn't discuss whether or not that'd be an area to add to in the portal.
West Virginia returns one of its top 5 sack leaders for 2025. Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV was third in sacks last year, and the closest returner is linebacker Asani Redwood, who was sixth.
In the winter portal, Rodriguez added a premier pass rusher, Jimmori Robinson, from UTSA. He had 10.5 sacks in 2024, which will provide a big boost.
There's still a need for another wrecking ball on the edge, whether a defensive lineman or a linebacker, to help create some disruption.
The wideouts didn't seem like an issue on the offensive side of the ball during the spring game. It was more of an issue of the quarterbacks getting them the ball. There were a lot of departures in the receiver room for the portal, but there is still a lot of talent in the room.
It's difficult to tell if there is a true No. 1 receiver, so adding another receiving threat could be an option.
The running back room could use another back. Last year's leading rusher, Jahiem White, suited up for the spring game but didn't participate. There were two departures in the running back room, and none are expected in the 2025 recruiting class, leaving five on the roster.
One addition was veteran Tye Edwards from Northern Iowa, who rushed for over 1, 000 yards. However, with White's health uncertain, it could be smart to add some depth to a position that's always been banged up.
It's hard to tell where Rodriguez will go in the portal, especially since the team he put together in the winter when he took the job hasn't played an actual game yet. From what Rodriguez said during press conferences, he intends to add depth to positions he feels are slim or needs someone behind starters to give them an extra push.
"We gotta increase our competition at most of our positions, " Rodriguez said. "I hope it comes from a lot of guys within, but inevitably it's going to come from, in a few spots, guys that aren't here yet."
Continue reading...
Over the past week following the end of spring practice, Rodriguez made roster cuts to create space to add more players and help reach the maximum roster size of 105 by the fall. Over twenty and counting Mountaineers planned on entering the portal before it even officially opened.
Rodriguez has a lot of positions on his mind for this portal period. He probably won't add 31 new players like in the last period, but Rodriguez will be active.
He listed every position of need except long snapper and quarterback a couple of weeks ago. Quarterback makes sense since seven are on the roster, and another is coming in the summer in the 2025 class. Will there be seven by the end of the portal ? Probably not, but the quarterback is definitely not an area of need unless athletic director Wren Baker and Rodriguez want to shell out the estimated $4 million to add Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava, but that's not happening.
"We need to get some O-line and D-linemen, " Rodriguez said. "We need to get some wideouts, a running back. Probably need to get some linebackers, a corner, a safety. Probably need a kicker, maybe, to compete with."
Rodriguez's laundry list of needs doesn't mean he thinks his players are bad. He wants more depth.
"I'm unhappy with the depth, " Rodriguez said. "But I think every coach is probably unhappy with their depth at this point in the spring."
It's difficult to tell what areas Rodriguez will add in the portal, as he lists pretty much every position. Other than the spring game, Rodriguez's squad hasn't been visible to the public eye, making it difficult to analyze what positions are needed.
After the spring game, West Virginia defensive coordinator Zac Alley said the pass rush needs work but didn't discuss whether or not that'd be an area to add to in the portal.
West Virginia returns one of its top 5 sack leaders for 2025. Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV was third in sacks last year, and the closest returner is linebacker Asani Redwood, who was sixth.
In the winter portal, Rodriguez added a premier pass rusher, Jimmori Robinson, from UTSA. He had 10.5 sacks in 2024, which will provide a big boost.
There's still a need for another wrecking ball on the edge, whether a defensive lineman or a linebacker, to help create some disruption.
The wideouts didn't seem like an issue on the offensive side of the ball during the spring game. It was more of an issue of the quarterbacks getting them the ball. There were a lot of departures in the receiver room for the portal, but there is still a lot of talent in the room.
It's difficult to tell if there is a true No. 1 receiver, so adding another receiving threat could be an option.
The running back room could use another back. Last year's leading rusher, Jahiem White, suited up for the spring game but didn't participate. There were two departures in the running back room, and none are expected in the 2025 recruiting class, leaving five on the roster.
One addition was veteran Tye Edwards from Northern Iowa, who rushed for over 1, 000 yards. However, with White's health uncertain, it could be smart to add some depth to a position that's always been banged up.
It's hard to tell where Rodriguez will go in the portal, especially since the team he put together in the winter when he took the job hasn't played an actual game yet. From what Rodriguez said during press conferences, he intends to add depth to positions he feels are slim or needs someone behind starters to give them an extra push.
"We gotta increase our competition at most of our positions, " Rodriguez said. "I hope it comes from a lot of guys within, but inevitably it's going to come from, in a few spots, guys that aren't here yet."
Continue reading...
