West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez cautioned against overanalyzing the events of the Gold-Blue Showcase and indicated that additional roster changes were forthcoming.
“It’s not grand coaching jargon, but I wouldn’t read too much into anything that took place today,” he stated.
Now, a couple of weeks later, it has become very evident that this was indeed the situation.
The Mountaineers have seen a typical surge of player departures since the conclusion of spring, with 36 individuals entering the transfer portal during the spring period, comprising 24 who were on scholarship and one who had previously medically retired.
It’s a result, though regrettable, that Rodriguez cautioned about numerous times during spring practice while he championed the idea of grandfathering in those currently on the roster amid the anticipated roster reduction to just 105 positions with the impending House Settlement.
Rodriguez acknowledged that he postponed the conclusion of spring practice by a week to have the opportunity to meet with the players on the roster and provide them with an understanding of their position on the depth chart. Clearly, those discussions resulted in players who were either motivated or chose to enter the transfer portal for a fresh opportunity.
Assessment was the focus during the spring, and this presents the outcomes of that clearly.
The spring window shuts on April 25, and on a positive note, only two of those players were not brought in by Rodriguez when he assumed control of the program: transfer running back LJ Turner and tight end Johnny Pascuzzi. In today’s win-oriented environment, a head coach must have the freedom to build a program with players that align with his culture and playing style, and it’s evident that this is occurring in Morgantown.
The roster changes will function in both directions, and with players leaving the team, it creates additional openings for the coaching staff to actively seek to fill before the summer season. That is a vital moment for the team since they can engage in off-season training events before the schedule changes to fall camp, where the emphasis shifts entirely to getting ready for the season.
West Virginia has been proactive in the transfer portal to address those gaps and has already secured some players anticipated to compete right away. That will persist until the lineup meets the coaching staff’s expectations concerning the essential remaining requirements.
Certain additions will likely act as potential starters, while others aim to enhance competition in areas that require it to optimize the Mountaineers’ chances of success. The clear positions that have been focused on include linebacker, offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver, tight end, and defensive back.
However, there might be additional positions too, like running back.
The main objective is to finalize the roster by July so that Rodriguez and his team will understand what they have going into the 2025 football season.
The spring proved fruitful for several reasons, and there is no doubt that the Mountaineers are in a stronger position than when it began. However, there remains work to complete.
“However, we can collaborate with them somewhat this summer.” “Unlike this practice mode, we can train our players adequately to prepare them for fall camp,” Rodriguez stated.
