Like every football team across the country, WVU is going into next season with a lot of new faces across the board. Read more: Grass may not be greener on the other side for WVU Football transfers.
This is not unusual in the NIL era of college athletics; in fact, it is becoming the norm for many schools.
Instead of looking at how West Virginia is currently faring with its new roster, let’s take a deeper look at some of the marquee players who left Morgantown in hopes of greener pastures. As we all know, it doesn’t always turn out the way many players expect— Jimmori Robinson being a perfect example of this last year for the Mountaineers.
Cam Vaughn
Arguably the most notable Mountaineer that left after last year was star wide receiver Cam Vaughn. After an up and down 2025, Vaughn looks toward a fresh start at Miami in 2026.
Overall, Vaughn had a strong one-year stint with WVU, finishing with a team-high 541 yards and four receiving touchdowns. However, a lack of offensive consistency and other factors forced him to take his talents to The Magic City.
Miami is coming off its best season in decades after narrowly losing to Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 19. The Hurricanes managed to retain a good portion of that team, as well as bring in a number of high-profile transfers.
The wide receiver room is no exception to this. The Canes return star slot receiver Malachi Toney, as well as up-and-coming players in JoJo Trader and Josh Moore.
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Vaughn wasn’t the only impact transfer to join the ACC powerhouse, as former South Carolina receiver Vandrevius Jacobs brings with him a true long-ball threat to the wide receiver room.
There’s no doubt that Vaughn will play, and most likely start, for the Hurricanes. But with a lot more talent to go around, it will be a lot harder for him to get consistent looks on the outside.
It’s doubtful Vaughn will regret his decision with how good Miami is primed to be, but there’s a good chance he will miss being the No. 1 option at all times in the passing game. Compared to his time with WVU and even Jacksonville State, Vaughn will have to fight a lot harder for reps and targets.
Nicco Marchiol
The former starting quarterback for the Mountaineers, Nicco Marchiol, decided to bet on himself and transfer to Northwestern University.
Marchiol spent four years with WVU, playing 20 games across his career. He started in seven games, with his most notable being the come-from-behind victory against Pittsburgh on September 13, 2025. Marchiol was even taken out of the game due to poor play, but after being brought in late in the fourth quarter, he led a game-tying drive and capped it off with a game-winning touchdown drive in overtime.
Now with the Wildcats in the Big Ten, Marchiol will once again find himself in a battle for the starting job. Currently, Michigan State transfer Aiden Chiles is listed as the presumed starter.
Chiles is coming off two years at Michigan State, where he started in 20 games for the Spartans. The former four-star recruit out of high school is coming off his most productive season after compiling 16 total touchdowns to just three interceptions. This is also after missing the last three games of the season due to injury.
While Chiles hasn’t had the most productive career, he brings with him ample experience in the Big Ten and a consistent dual-threat ability. Two things that Marchiol does not possess.
Marchiol entered college behind former WVU starting QB Garrett Greene. After Greene graduated, Marchiol was primed to be the full-time starter. Injuries and inconsistent play just never allowed that to come to fruition.
Just a few years later, Marchiol now finds himself in another battle for the starting job. And as of right now, he looks to be on the shorter end of the stick.
Jahiem White
When healthy, Jahiem White was one of the best running backs in the Big 12. After rushing for 800-plus yards in his first two seasons at WVU, a significant knee injury sustained in week 2 cut his 2025 campaign short.
After rehabbing the rest of the year, White ultimately decided to reunite with former WVU head coach Neal Brown at North Texas. Former running backs coach Chad Scott is also on the staff at UNT.
For White, it’s an opportunity to rejoin a staff that recruited him and coached him in his first two seasons of college. As someone who has a lot of talent but has also been plagued with injuries, it’s a chance to return to his high standard.
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It’s expected White will be the No. 1 running back and garner a lot of opportunities with the Mean Green. He’s already comfortable with Coach Brown’s system, which will allow him to hit the ground running right away.
Expect White to be one of the West Virginia transfers from last season who thrives on his new team. As long as he stays healthy, it would not be shocking if he amasses career highs in every major statistical category.
And if that happens, White will likely transfer again after next season to a bigger school in hopes of continuing his football career at the next level.
Honorable mentions
There’s no question that those three players are the most notable transfers out of West Virginia. However, there are still plenty of players who will be seeking second chances at their new school.
Former wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III will attempt to gain a bigger role for the first time in his collegiate career at Arizona. In his three years with the Mountaineers, the former four-star recruit out of Pennsylvania could never find consistency with WVU.
On the defensive side, notable transfers Asani Redwood and Ben Bogle both opted to leave WVU in hopes of more success. Redwood will be playing for South Florida in 2026, and Bogle has turned to Arkansas to play in the competitive SEC.
Each one of these players will try to bounce back from an overall disappointing season in 2025. As a whole, none of them played to their full potential.
Now, time will tell if they made the right decision in leaving West Virginia in hopes of a more productive college career.
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