Our weekly position reviews for WVU Football rolled on Monday with the introduction of the Mountaineers’ linebacker group. If you have not read that yet, you can by clicking here.
However, to save you the time and a ton of reading, WV Sports Nation opted to break up the front seven into two different articles. Today, we will conclude the sixth position review with a deep dive into West Virginia’s defensive line. Read more: Position Review #6, part 2.
A lot of uncertainty on the defensive line
One thing that sticks out is the pure uncertainty among the group. Not only are there a lot of young guys throughout the group, but there are also a ton of new faces through the transfer portal.
Overall, it is safe to say that West Virginia fans will see a plethora of new names rushing the quarterback and stuffing the run in 2026.
One of the most exciting new faces to see is Coastal Carolina transfer Zeke Durham-Campbell. Despite only playing one year with the Chanticleers, Campbell made the most of it with 42 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
After his standout year, he earned 2025 All-Sun Third Team Defensive honors. Listed as an EDGE rusher by Coastal Carolina, recruiting outlets such as 247Sports gave him a three-star ranking once he entered the transfer portal.
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Overall, I expect Campbell to make a huge impact for the Mountaineers this season. He has seen the field in 35 games across his four-year college career, and is also coming off his most productive year. He gets his first action as Mountaineer, ironically, against his former team. CCU opens the season in Morgantown on September 5.
The biggest question will be if he can consistently do it against Power Four competition. On the other hand, Oregon transfer Tobi Haastrup clearly has the potential to make some serious strides at West Virginia.
Despite just starting football as a senior in high school, the London native signed with Oregon as the No. 25 EDGE rusher in the class of 2025. That came after recording 48 tackles, 20 TFLs, and nine sacks in his only year playing high school football.
While he didn’t see the field much in his only season with the Ducks, Haastrup has a lot of potential still untapped. It will be up to the coaching staff to unlock that potential.
A plethora of JUCO additions
Speaking of unlocking untapped potential, the junior college ranks are a perfect place for Power Four programs to look. Many talented players fly under the radar in high school and take the JUCO route.
West Virginia brought in plenty of junior college talent to replenish its defensive line this season. Four players came from the JUCO ranks, while another arrived from Division II.
Texas native Will LeBlanc is the lone Division II transfer. At UT Permian Basin, he appeared in all 14 games, recording 32 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.
At 6’5 and 288 pounds, the redshirt sophomore should provide a strong rotational presence in the middle of the defensive line.
Moving over to the JUCO transfers, KJ Henson is certainly a name to keep an eye on. Coming from Hutchinson Community College, Henson ranked third on the team with 45 tackles, fourth with 5.5 sacks, and fifth in TFLs (10.5).
The incoming redshirt junior was also named to the 2025 NJCAA D1 All-American Honorable Mention Defensive team.
Jeremiah Johnson is another JUCO transfer who made a splash for his team last season. Playing for Butte CC, Johnson totaled 34 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 11 games.
He played outside linebacker, but will likely get moved to the line at WVU due to his frame.
Henson’s former teammate, Darius Wiley, is also headed to Morgantown after recording 57 tackles, nine sacks, and a nation-leading 20 tackles for loss in 2025. Paired with Henson, Wiley has the potential to make plenty of noise in the Big 12 this season.
Jaylen Thomas wraps up the list of JUCO transfers to WVU. Originally playing for Northwest Mississippi CC, the incoming junior recorded 18 tackles and 2.5 TFLs last season.
New faces will dominate
There are a few returners on West Virginia’s line as well, such as junior Nate Gabriel and redshirt junior Corey McIntyre Jr. The two of them were quality depth players for the defense last season.
McIntyre added 13 tackles and 1.5 TFLs in nine games, while Gabriel also finished with 13 tackles in 12 games. The two of them should expect to see the field plenty of times this season.
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However, as a whole, expect a lot of the production on the defensive line to come from the new faces this season. Specifically, guys like Campbell and Wiley should not have any issue moving up in competition and still making a big impact.
Last season, WVU allowed over 33 points per game and 452 yards per game. Both ranked WVU at 118.
If the Mountaineers want to improve on those abysmal numbers, it has to start at the front with all the new faces.
