Wyoming guard Wes King (78) in the first half during an NCAA football game against Arizona State on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

West Virginia addressed one of its biggest issues in 2025, adding a veteran offensive lineman out of the transfer portal.

Kansas State offensive lineman Devin Vass announced on social media Wednesday night that he’s committed to the Mountaineers, becoming the first offensive line addition for Rich Rodriguez. He chose WVU after taking a visit on Tuesday, and after a visit to Auburn.

Vass was a 3-star recruit out of high school and chose the Wildcats over Vanderbilt. He didn’t see any action in his first two seasons, redshirting. In Year 3, Vass finally saw some action and started in seven games, playing in nine at right guard. In his limited action, Vass didn’t allow a sack in every game he started, and is graded highly at pass blocking, according to PFF. He has two years of eligibility left.

Vass is listed at 6-foot-6, 308 pounds, giving the Mountaineers a big offensive lineman to help improve the pass blocking for 2026. WVU struggled mightily at protecting the quarterback in 2025. The Mountaineers allowed the second-most sacks in the Big 12 (31) for a loss of 172 yards. The performance resulted in Rodriguez bringing in Jacksonville State and long-time coach Rick Trickett to coach the line, moving on from 2025 O-line coach Jack Bicknell Jr.

With Vass, WVU’s offensive line for 2026 is coming together. Vass would fill one of the guard spots for the Mountaineers. WVU still needs to add one or two linemen more for depth, and potentially a starter at the other guard spot, and a tackle if Rodriguez and Trickett don’t feel that 4-star Kevin Brown will be an automatic starter as a true freshman.

Vass was the fourth commitment on Wednesday for Rodriguez, totaling 14 for this cycle. WVU has been very active, and there should be more to come with multiple visits scheduled in the coming days.

WVU added another offensive lineman Thursday afternoon.

Wyoming offensive guard Wes King has reportedly committed to the Mountaineers, according to CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer. He considered Texas and Kansas State as other options.

King is a veteran offensive lineman who’s been with Wyoming since 2022, after committing as a 3-star lineman recruit out of high school. King didn’t play his freshman season and redshirted. In his sophomore year, he took over. King started in all 13 games and helped running back Harrison Waylee rush for the century mark four different times. He missed some time in 2024 with an injury, but started in eight games. King played a role in the Cowboys’ 604-yard performance against Mexico State. King played in 12 games in 2025, tallying 33 starts over three seasons.

King is a big lineman at 6-foot-5, 313 pounds, adding a lot more size to the room. The Mountaineers already made a splash Wednesday night when Kansas State lineman Devin Vass committed. Vass is 6-foot-6, 308 pounds. WVU also added 4-star Kevin Brown in the high school class, who is 6-foot-6. Rich Rodriguez’s biggest complaint from 2025 was that the line wasn’t able to move mass up front, and now the Mountaineers should be able to.

WVU’s offensive line needed help after a rough 2025 season. The Mountaineers allowed 31 sacks, which was the second-most in the Big 12. The performance was bad enough for Rodriguez to move on from offensive line coach Jack Bicknell and hire long-time line coach Rick Trickett to replace him.

With portal editions, WVU’s offensive line should improve. Both guard spots should be filled for 2026. Vass and King will fill the guard spots, then Landen Livingston will return at center, and Nick Krahe will take one of the tackle spots. WVU could add another tackle if it doesn’t feel Brown will make an immediate impact.

Former 4-star SEC wide receiver transfers to WVU

MORGANTOWN — LSU wide receiver TaRon Francis has committed to the Mountaineers, according to CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer. Francis picked WVU after a reported visit with Iowa State and his visit to Morgantown on Wednesday.

Francis was a highly recruited 4-star prospect out of high school, the 7th-best player in Louisiana and the 21st-best in the class at the time. Francis appeared in five games his true freshman season and didn’t register a stat.

The Tigers have received a major overhaul. Brian Kelly was fired during the middle of the season and was replaced by Lane Kiffin. Francis transferred out, looking to play elsewhere.

The former 4-star hasn’t done much in his first year, but has a lot of eligibility left, and is a nice piece of raw clay for the Mountaineers to mold in years to come. He’s 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, and has a lot of speed, running track in high school.

This isn’t the first Power Four wide receiver the Mountaineers have added this cycle. USC wide receiver Prince Strachan committed to WVU on Sunday. He’s another receiver who didn’t play much at his previous school, but has a lot of talent.

WVU needed to revamp the receiver room. The Mountaineers lost almost every pass catcher from 2025 to the portal or graduation. Leading receiver Cam Vaughn left, which was a surprise, and a bunch of other depth receivers also left. Rodriguez has now added three receivers in this cycle.

Francis is another one of the many younger players Rodriguez has added. Rodriguez wants to build the program from the ground up and is taking chances on less proven players to hopefully develop them into stars.