There are a plethora of unknowns facing college football teams as the spring transfer portal opens, especially for programs undergoing coaching transitions.
Players will have 10 days to entertain scholarship and NIL offers before making their decisions for the 2025 season. While some have already signed elsewhere, others waited till Wednesday morning’s opening to announce their intentions.
Perhaps the most notable mass-exodus has taken place at West Virginia, as the Mountaineers enter a new era under new head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, 61, is entering his second stint at his alma mater following two seasons at Jackson State. The former West Virginia safety previously led the Mountaineers to a 60-26 record in seven seasons, securing four Big East championships from 2001-06.
The new coaching staff already faced a tough challenge in revamping West Virginia after a 6-7 season under former head coach Neal Brown. And the roster will look largely different, as an additional 25 Mountaineers entered the transfer portal on Wednesday.
The group is headlined by former four-star cornerback Jacolby Spells, one of five cornerbacks to open up their recruitment. Most of the recent transfer announcements come on the defensive side of the ball (15).
Wednesday’s losses bring West Virginia’s number to 49 outgoing transfers in the 2025 cycle. And that’s not exactly a surprise given the coaching transition.
The silver lining for Mountaineers fans is Rodriguez and Co. have made some notable transfer additions of their own, signing 31 players to date, including four-star EDGE Jimmori Robinson (UTSA).
The spring transfer window will range from April 16-25 before new-look West Virginia opens the 2025 season at home against Robert Morris on Aug. 30.
