MORGANTOWN — Rich Rodriguez went on a rant after losing to Arizona State about how the difference in the game was that West Virginia couldn’t get a yard of push from the line. Rodriguez has made fixing that issue a top priority in the portal.

Two offensive linemen transferred to the Mountaineers late Thursday night, making for another big day in the portal. Jacksonville State offensive lineman Cameron Griffin has reportedly committed to WVU, according to Keenan Cummings from On3. Shortly after, UConn offensive lineman Carsten Casady reportedly signed with the Mountaineers, according to Chris Hummer of CBS Sports.

Griffin has played since his true freshman season, playing under Rodriguez when he was there. He played in 12 games, mostly on special teams. In his sophomore year, Griffin started at guard and played 10 games, not allowing a sack on 45 pass plays.

In 2025, Griffin only got better under new WVU offensive line coach Rick Trickett. He played left tackle, guard and center, making for a versatile lineman for the Mountaineers. Griffin had a strong enough performance to be named first-team All-Conference USA.

Casady from UConn is just as good. Casady made an impact in his redshirt freshman season and saw action in nine games at right guard and center. Then, he played in all 12 games in 2025 and saw 774 snaps. In his college career, Casady hasn’t allowed a sack.

Rodriguez is putting together a team of players who haven’t allowed a sack after a rough year where WVU’s offensive line allowed the second-most sacks in the Big 12. Wyoming O-line transfer Wes King didn’t allow a sack, returners Nick Krahe and Landen Livingston only allowed one apiece and Casady didn’t allow one either.

This new offensive line also has a lot of size. Casady is 6-foot-7, 300 pounds and Griffin is 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds. Then, returner Nick Krahe is 6-foot-6, 316 pounds, King is 6-foot-5, 313 pounds and Kansas State transfer Devin Vass is 6-foot-6, 308 pounds. Almost every lineman added and returning is over 300 pounds.

Most of WVU’s new offensive linemen are more experienced, yet most have a couple of years of eligibility left. The more experienced linemen should take over for one or two years, so the new freshman, like 4-star Kevin Brown and 3-star Camden Goforth, can ease their way into the next level. Both should be starters in the coming years.

With the additions of Casady and Griffin, Rodriguez and Trickett have added four linemen, totaling 18 transfers for this cycle. 18 is far more than what Rodriguez said at National Signing Day. He mentioned five or seven impact additions, but the Mountaineers had a lot of departures, so it makes sense. Rodriguez isn’t done. It’s only been a week since the portal officially opened.

WVU Brings In Fourth WR From Portal

West Virginia’s wide receiver room is coming together through the transfer portal.

UConn wide receiver John Neider announced on social media that he’s transferring to the Mountaineers. He becomes the fourth receiver WVU has added in the portal since it opened on Jan. 2.

Neider, who is from Milford, Connecticut, walked on to his local school in 2023 after converting from a quarterback to receiver. He didn’t see any action in 2023 and redshirted. Neider had a bigger season in 2024, playing on special teams in all 13 games. He had 12 tackles and forced one fumble on special teams. Neider helped a blocked punt to win over Merrimack in 2024.

In 2025, Neider got his shot at receiver. He made an impact on a successful Huskies season that ended in a 9-4 season with a bowl game loss to Army. Neider had 27 catches for 422 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a long 45-yard grab against FIU earlier in the year. Rich Rodriguez likes his versatile players, who can play multiple positions, and Neider played on special teams, receiver and threw for a touchdown against Syracuse for 15 yards.

Rodriguez needed to add a lot of pass catchers in the portal. The Mountaineers’ leading receiver, Cam Vaughn, entered the portal, Jeff Weimer most likely won’t get another year of eligibility and Rodney Gallagher entered the portal. All seven of WVU’s receiving leaders won’t be back in 2026. Rodriguez got to work and added two Power Four receivers and two Group of 5 receivers to fill the room. There’s also a couple coming in through the 2026 recruiting class, including two top-five JUCO receivers.

Neider is the second player WVU has added from the successful UConn roster. The Mountaineers reportedly added offensive lineman Carsten Casady on Thursday night. WVU’s transfer count is now up to 19.

Colorado State punter transfers to WVU, along with pass rusher

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia has picked up a commitment from its first specialist of this transfer portal period. The Mountaineers also had a defensive end commit shortly after.

Colorado State punter Bryan Hansen announced his commitment to WVU on social media. A few minutes later, Western Kentucky pass rusher Harper Holloman announced his commitment in the same way.

Hansen walked on to the Rams in 2022 and made one appearance on one snap. He redshirted and handled most of the kickoff duties his redshirt freshman season. Out of 45 kickoffs, 27 of them were for touchbacks. In 2024, he appeared in all 13 games as the starting kickoff guy. Hansen also punted in nine games for an average of 41.1, with five inside the 20 and a pair going over 50 yards.

Last season was when Hansen really made a case to be a Power Four player. Hansen had 57 punts and averaged 47.89 yards per punt, which was third in the FBS. He also had a high NET punting average of 44.2 yards, according to his X account. He also had 13 punts inside the 20 and 23 punts over 50 yards.

WVU needed a punter. Long-time punter Oliver Straw ran out of eligibility, so Hansen should be next year’s starter. The Mountaineers punted a lot in 2025, so having a talented punter is a necessity.

Pass rusher Holloman was also a nice pickup for Rich Rodriguez. Holloman made an immediate impact in his true freshman season. He played in eight games and had nine total tackles, with one for loss. Holloman faced Rodriguez’s Jacksonville State in 2024, and he had a tackle for loss in that game. In 2025, Holloman had 39 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Holloman has a lot of eligibility left, so he should develop in the years to come. He’s another one of the many young transfers added by Rodriguez, playing into his plan of building WVU from the ground up. Rodriguez added 49 players to the 2026 freshman class.

He’s the second pass rusher for WVU and the third defensive lineman. Holloman joined Bowling Green EDGE David Afogho and Division II starter Will LeBlanc as the three in the D-line room. Defensive coordinator Zac Alley wanted to make getting into the backfield a point of emphasis in 2025, and they were off to a hot start, but fizzled out at the end of the season.

The Mountaineers have now added 21 transfers just a week after the portal opened on Jan. 2. Rodriguez didn’t want to add too many transfers, but there were a lot of departures, making it necessary.