WVU’s 2025 recruiting class is ranked 46th by ON3, and some of them should compete for their respective positions. They also added a lot of transfers, which will be key. The transfers have a much better chance of stepping into a starting position and contributing immediately. Head coach Rich Rodriguez has changed this team immensely and brought in recruits that fit his system, but he is not against changing to fit the needs and skills of his players. He coaches hard, but players who are hard-nosed and loyal should thrive under Rodriguez. Read more: WVU Football’s 2025 Recruiting Class: How Will They Perform?
2025 Recruiting Class
Dawayne Galloway Jr. (CB)
He is the highest-rated player WVU signed out of high school. ESPN rates him as a four-star recruit, ranking 29th at his position. He may not contribute immediately, as they have brought in a lot of seniors at his position through the transfer portal. He is talented, nonetheless, and could find his way on the field due to injuries or poor play. Galloway Jr. provides depth, at the very least.
Related: Tale of the Tape: 2025 WVU Football Opponent #1 – Robert Morris
Romando Johnson (LB)
He is the next highest-rated player in the class as a three-star recruit (83rd at his position). Johnson is not listed on the projected depth chart, but he could compete for a linebacker position. He has several upperclassmen in front of him, but he is talented and is a superb athlete. He factors into the scheme as time progresses, and he improves in practice.
Taylor Brown (DL)
Brown is a three-star recruit from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He is the 50th-rated recruit at his position. Brown is listed as the third-string defensive tackle on the projected depth chart. He is competing against two returning players, so I would not expect him to contribute unless injuries thrust him into playing time.
Gavin Crawford (OL)
Crawford is a three-star recruit (29th at his position) and one of the better recruits in this class. He will not help immediately but will learn behind an experienced bunch of offensive linemen as he grows into his role on the team.
Brandon Caesar (DL)
He is a three-star recruit (79th at his position). Caesar is projected as the fourth-string defensive end behind two transfers and one true freshman recruit (below). Injuries could help him see time on the field, but it will not be immediate.
Wilnerson Telemaque (DL)
Telemaque is a three-star recruit (67th in his position). He has a chance to compete at an edge position but will have to beat out a couple of transfers to earn time. Injuries could allow him an opportunity to see the field, but I would not expect him to see the field immediately.
Scotty Fox Jr. (QB)
Fox is the 30th-ranked quarterback in his class as a three-star recruit. He will not compete for the quarterback job immediately, as they have Nicco Marchiol returning and Jaylen Henderson coming in as a transfer, but Fox is worth mentioning. He is the future of the position and will learn a lot in the next couple of years.
2025 Transfer Class
Jaylen Henderson (QB)
He is a transfer from Texas A&M after playing a season at Fresno State. He will compete with Marchiol after not seeing any action with the Aggies last season. Henderson started the final four games with Fresno State in 2023 and accounted for 14 touchdowns in the last three games of the regular season. He is a mobile quarterback that could offer WVU elite athleticism at the position.
Jimmori Robinson (DL)
Robinson is going to impact this team immediately. He is slated to be the starting defensive end after transferring from UTSA. He had 43 total tackles last season and 10.5 sacks. His pressure off the edge will provide WVU with a reliable pass rusher.
Ty’Kieast Crawford (OT)
Crawford is projected to be the starting right tackle for the Mountaineers in 2025. I talked about him in my offensive line preview from the Spring game. He is transferring from Arkansas after only playing 10 snaps last season. He played 39 games at Charlotte prior and should be a pivotal cog on the offensive line.
Chase Wilson (LB)
Wilson is a transfer from Colorado State. He had 98 total tackles last season with two interceptions. One of those interceptions came against Texas in the opening game last season. He is projected to be the starting Will linebacker. Wilson is a senior and should provide leadership with Reid Carrico in the middle of the defense.
Justin Harrington (S)
Harrington played at Washington last season after a season at Oklahoma. The senior will step in right away at strong safety for the Mountaineers. He does not have much experience and overcame a season-ending injury at Oklahoma. Harrington had six tackles and an interception in two games with the Sooners in 2023.
Position Battles
The biggest position battle for the Mountaineers is likely at the quarterback position. Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson will compete for the job. Henderson is a redshirt senior, and Marchiol is a redshirt junior. Marchiol has the upper edge as a returning player, but Henderson could battle for the position depending on how Rodriguez wants his offense to look. He is mobile and provides a change of pace, especially as a runner. It opens up the playbook for the Mountaineers, but he does not have much experience. Marchiol has more experience, but not by much. He threw 56 passes for WVU last season, completing 37 for five touchdowns and two interceptions. He took the first-team reps in the Spring game, but Henderson is worthy competition.
All of the cornerback positions are up in the air this season. They have six senior transfers competing for the three positions. Michael Coats Jr. is projected as the starting left corner, while Derek Carter Jr. is projected to start on the right side. Fred Perry is projected to start at the nickel, with Jordan Scruggs competing for the job. Jason Chambers and Devonte Golden-Nelson are the other two corners competing for the job and could be valuable, especially as the season progresses. The Mountaineers have a lot of depth at the position, but they are all transfers. They are all seniors and have a lot of experience, but must prove it on the field leading up to the first game and beyond.
