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 Draft Scout College Football Player News: West Virginia
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  2022 PRESEASON WUERFFEL TROPHY (COMMUNITY SERVICE) WATCHLIST: Zach Frazier, West Virginia, Jr., OL,...Earned All-America Second Team honors (AFCA, Walter Camp)Started all 13 games at center in 2021...Academic All-Big 12 First Team...2021 Iron Mountaineer Award winner. - West Virginia Football

rJr/2024 C Zach FrazierWest Virginia
News Source: West Virginia Football
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  The common view of the transfer portal is one of players hurling themselves headlong into the wormhole without any clear idea of what lies in wait on the other side. WVU safety Jasir Cox shatters that conception. Following a career at North Dakota State in which his team lost just three games over four years (2018-21) while winning three FCS national titles, the Kansas City, Missouri, native wanted, like many players at that level, to prove himself at the top tier of collegiate football.

Instead of simply jumping in and seeing what was out there, however, the sociology major (he already holds his undergraduate degree in that field) put together a thoughtful approach to finding a new destination. "I did a lot of research on the team and on the position," said Cox, who was looking for a spot where he could showcase more safety skills than he did at NDSU, where he was an outside linebacker playing at around 200 pounds. "I entered the portal in February and had a lot of time to consider what options were best for me. Oklahoma State was a big one, and Texas reached out. It was a long decision, but West Virginia was the best fit for me." He also used the experience of older brother Jabril Cox, who also played at NDSU before transferring to LSU for his final year in 2020, as an information source for his decision. - Charleston Gazette-Mail


rSr/2023 OLB Jasir CoxWest Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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  2022 PRESEASON ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCHLIST: Dante Stills, West Virginia, S-Sr DL,...All-Big 12 First Team (AP, Coaches, Phil Steele) in 2021...Sits No. 3 in program history in career TFLs (43.5) and tied for No. 6 in sacks (19)...His 15 tackles for loss in 2021 are tied for No. 10 in single-season team history...Played in 13 games and started 12 at defensive tackle...Finished with 36 tackles, including 29 solo stops, seven sacks, 15 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one interception. - West Virginia Football

rJr/2023 DT Dante StillsWest Virginia
News Source: West Virginia Football
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  Owen Chafin is looking for a new football home. The former Spring Valley High School star said Saturday he is entering the transfer portal and leaving West Virginia University. "Honestly, I'm looking for somewhere that can give me an opportunity," said Chafin, a 5-foot-8, 202-pound redshirt junior running back. "I'm ready to push my limits and be more of an asset." Chafin, an engineering major, didn't see playing time with the Mountaineers, but was named All-Academic Big 12 and won several honors for his off-field charitable work. He ran for 4,200 yards and 29 touchdowns in high school. Chafin's departure leaves WVU with Tony Mathis Jr., Justin Johnson Jr., Markquan Rucker and Jaylen Anderson vying for playing time at running back. Chafin has three years of eligibility. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rJr/2024 RB Owen ChafinWest Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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  2022 PRESEASON ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCHLIST: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia, So OT,...Played in 12 games and started eight at right tackle in 2021...FWAA Freshman All-America Team...Saw action on 628 offensive plays, including a season-high 90 against Texas...Used on 50 or more offensive plays in seven games...Helped pave the way for Leddie Brown to rush for 1,000 yards. - West Virginia Football

Sr/2025 OT Wyatt MilumWest Virginia
News Source: West Virginia Football
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  2022 PRESEASON ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCHLIST: Zach Frazier, West Virginia, So C,...Earned All-America Second Team honors (AFCA, Walter Camp) in 2021...Started all 13 games at center...Allowed only three sacks all season, registering 10 games without allowing a sack...Started all 13 games...saw action on 895 offensive snaps, including a season-high 90 against Texas. - West Virginia Football

rJr/2024 C Zach FrazierWest Virginia
News Source: West Virginia Football
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  Ready or not, Lee Kpogba would likely find himself thrust into action via necessity. The transfer of Josh Chandler-Semedo left WVU with a hole at mike with returners Exree Loe and Lance Dixon likely to share time at the will linebacker spot. Tirek Austin-Cave transferred in from Miami in May and should add depth as well. Since arriving before spring, Kpogba estimated that he's added 10-15 pounds of weight to help him stand up to a Big 12 Conference schedule. And even if he's got the inside track on a starting position, he said he's still hard at work every day. "The big emphasis that I wanted to fix was me crossing over as far as my footwork and things," Kpogba said. "Put myself in better positions to make a play, not overrun the ball - things like that. And I feel I've done a better job with that." As Lesley's "quarterback" of the defense, Kpogba also understands that he must be a leader even as he still gets accustomed to the system. That balance has been the biggest undertaking of his time in Morgantown thus far. "There's still stuff that I need to learn," Kpogba admitted. "But as far as base stuff and the simple things in our defense, yes, I can teach and I've been helping them with that. Helping all the younger guys." - Charleston Gazette-Mail

Sr/2024 ILB Lee KpogbaWest Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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  Much has been made about the fact that West Virginia returns all five starters across the offensive line. But experience alone won't be enough to tilt the scales for an offense that has largely struggled in three years under coach Neal Brown. However, right guard Doug Nester believes that familiarity will be the driving force behind the needed improvement as he appeared in front of the media on Monday after the team's latest practice. "I think our chemistry is just so much better up front," Nester said. "You can tell the room has changed a lot since I got here last winter or two winters ago. Just the chemistry in there. We're all so close now and we all worked so hard together in the offseason. I think it's a whole different room." For the Mountaineers to turn the corner under new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, it will likely have to be.

By now, the struggles have been well documented. Last season WVU ranked last in the Big 12 in rushing (123.6 yards per game) and gave up the most sacks in the league (38). Those sacks led to 294 negative yards, over a hundred more than the next highest total in the conference with Oklahoma yielding 33 sacks for 188 yards. For Nester, a standout at Spring Valley High School and a transfer from Virginia Tech, much of his personal growth will come with health. Last season, the 6-foot-7, 320-pounder battled through a hand injury, requiring a large cast that he didn't shed until late in the season. Since spring practices, Nester has been healthy (and sans cast) and he said that has made - and will continue to make - a big difference in his performance. "I've got a lot to prove this year," Nester admitted. "I played half the season a little bit handicapped. I think this season is going to be a little bit different." - Charleston Gazette-Mail


rSr/2024 OT Doug NesterWest Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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  To hear West Virginia wide receivers coach Tony Washington tell it, all 12 wideouts on the roster are in play to see the field starting with the team's opener at Pitt on Sept. 1. But how those guys fill out the team's depth chart remains one of the more intriguing things to watch as fall camp rolls into week two. Washington took to the microphone on Monday and fielded questions from the media. Along the way he was asked about nearly every player under his direction, giving updates on veterans and freshmen alike. The thinking is that three receivers - redshirt juniors Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Sam James and sophomore Kaden Prather - should be starters and heavy producers. - Charleston Gazette

rSr/2023 WR Bryce Ford-WheatonWest Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette
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  Dante Stills arrived at WVU in 2018 after a blue-chip career just down the road at Fairmont Senior High School. Since joining the Mountaineers, he's played in all 47 games, starting 26 of them. He's taking advantage of the COVID-prompted free-eligibility year in 2020 to play a fifth year of college football. He's already racked up 19 career sacks (tied for sixth in school history) and 44 tackles for lost yardage (third most), and he figures to add to those numbers in 2022 after earning first-team all-Big 12 honors last season.

One thing neither Stills nor any of his Mountaineer teammates have ever done in their West Virginia careers, though, is line up against Pitt. That will change with the Sept. 1 renewal of the Backyard Brawl after a hiatus of more than a decade. "I've been waiting on this my whole life," said Stills of his opportunity to participate in the Pitt-WVU rivalry. "I remember two or three of them when I was growing up. "This isn't big just for us," he added. "This isn't just a team thing; it's a state thing. We as a whole state are looking forward to this game. Me and my guys are amped up. We're working hard during camp, so by game time we can go out and have fun." - Charleston Gazette-Mail


rJr/2023 DT Dante StillsWest Virginia
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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  For all the spectacular catches he's made over his career, Devin Carter knows two drops against Miami in 2021 still hang over his head. Just after that 31-30 loss, the N.C. State wide receiver took to Twitter and apologized. Ahead of the new season, it's a moment that still sticks with Carter. "I needed to apologize for, I guess, being distracted and not being all in," Carter told the News & Observer. "I just feel like recognizing your faults can gain respect. I recognize it, that's the first thing you're supposed to do and not run from it. You can't ignore it but you can dim the light on it." Carter, a junior, is known for making improbable grabs look routine - like his 40-yard touchdown catch against Boston College last season, when he caught the ball behind the defender's back. But for every hard catch he makes look easy, Carter wants to make the easy catches more often. "I feel like last year was probably my most inconsistent season," Carter said. "I wouldn't say anything in particular, it just happened the way it happened."

Last season the Clayton High School product caught 31 passes for 556 yards and six touchdowns. The yards and TDs were career highs, and for the second straight season, he led the team in yards per catch (17.9). The team needs to replace Emeka Emezie, the school's all-time receptions leader. Emezie could occasionally be a downfield threat, but his biggest strength was moving the chains, a prototype possession receiver. Quarterback Devin Leary could depend on Emezie to make the routine catches. Ahead of the 2022 season - which could potentially be his last - Carter wants to show he can be that player. He has the size (6-3, 215) and game experience (40 career games). "He's an emotional player, which we like, but he needs to control that and not let them control him," N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. "I think that's something that comes with maturity." - Raleigh News Observer


rSr/2024 WR Devin CarterWest Virginia
News Source: Raleigh News Observer
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  2022 PRESEASON ALL-CAA CONFERENCE TEAM (COACHES/MEDIA): Luke Hamilton, Towson, Sr., FB,...Hamilton was the 2021 Second Team All-CAA fullback and picks up his first-ever preseason all-league selection. The senior was one of the top blocking fullbacks in the league last season in seven games played, also making receptions in five contests. - Towson Football

rSr/2024 FB Luke HamiltonWest Virginia
News Source: Towson Football
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  2022 PRESEASON BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCHLIST: DT Dante Stills, West Virginia,...All-Big 12 First Team (AP, Coaches, Phil Steele) in 2021...Sits No. 3 in program history in career TFLs (43.5) and tied for No. 6 in sacks (19)...His 15 tackles for loss in 2021 are tied for No. 10 in single-season team history...Played in 13 games and started 12 at defensive tackle...Finished with 36 tackles, including 29 solo stops, seven sacks, 15 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one interception. - West Virginia Football

rJr/2023 DT Dante StillsWest Virginia
News Source: West Virginia Football
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  2022 PRESEASON OUTLAND TROPHY WATCHLIST: DT Dante Stills, West Virginia,...Finished with 36 tackles, including 29 solo stops, seven sacks, 15 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one interception in 2021...Recorded at least one tackle for loss in 10 of 13 games...Finished at No. 4 in the Big 12 in tackles for loss (1.15)...Ranked No. 10 in the Big 12 in sacks (0.54). - West Virginia Football

rJr/2023 DT Dante StillsWest Virginia
News Source: West Virginia Football
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  2022 PRESEASON CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: Dante Stills, West Virginia, Senior DT,...Stills has played in 47 career games, including 26 starts...Team leader in career sacks (19) and tackles for loss (43.5)...Finished at No. 4 in the Big 12 in tackles for loss (1.15) in 2021. - West Virginia Football

rJr/2023 DT Dante StillsWest Virginia
News Source: West Virginia Football
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