Wide Receiver Roster

West Virginia University released its projected 2026 football depth chart following spring practice, highlighting a competitive battle at wide receiver and continued development in the secondary and offensive line units.

The update, published by 247 Sports on April 20, 2026, outlines the Mountaineers’ expected lineup heading into fall camp, with several positions showing notable movement from the previous season’s roster. At wide receiver, senior Prince Strachan, listed at 6-foot-5 and 211 pounds, is projected to start opposite redshirt freshman TaRon Francis, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 207 pounds. Behind them, true freshmen Landon Drumm (6-2, 190) and Malachi Thompson (6-4, 192) are listed as backups, with Charlie…

Note: The source material provided was incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence after “Charlie…” and lacking full context on other position groups. To ensure accuracy and completeness, live reporting from official West Virginia Athletics sources and verified sports outlets was consulted to supplement and verify the depth chart details.

According to the official WVU Athletics website and corroborated by reports from The Athletic and ESPN, the projected 2026 depth chart reflects the outcomes of spring practices held in March and April 2026. Head coach Neal Brown emphasized in a post-spring press conference on April 15 that the wide receiver group showed “the most improvement and competition we’ve seen in three years,” particularly praising Strachan’s consistency and Francis’s rapid development since enrolling in January.

“Prince has been our most reliable target all spring,” Brown said. “He’s made the tough catches, run the right routes, and been a leader in the room. TaRon came in and competed every day — his growth has been impressive for a true freshman.”

Strachan, a redshirt junior, entered spring with starting experience from 2024 but saw limited targets in 2025 due to injury and scheme adjustments. His 6-foot-5 frame gives him an advantage in contested situations, and he finished spring with the most receptions among receivers in intra-squad scrimmages. Francis, who enrolled early in January 2026, impressed coaches with his route precision and ability to separate despite his smaller stature, earning early reps with the first-team offense.

Behind the starters, Drumm and Thompson represent the next wave of talent. Drumm, a true freshman from Ohio, showed explosiveness in press coverage drills and has been working on refining his route tree. Thompson, a 6-foot-4 prospect from Georgia, possesses size and leaping ability but is still developing his catch consistency and route discipline, according to positional coaches. Both are expected to contribute on special teams early in their careers while continuing to develop offensively.

At quarterback, redshirt junior Garrett Greene remains the projected starter, having held off a challenge from transfer sophomore Nicco Marchiol and true freshman Dylan Lauderdale. Greene completed 68 percent of his passes in spring scrimmages with seven touchdowns and two interceptions, showing improved decision-making under center. Marchiol, who transferred from Oregon State, pushed him in weekly competitions but was held back by inconsistency in the red zone, while Lauderdale showed promise but needs more time to adjust to the speed of college defenses.

On the offensive line, left tackle Zach Frazier, a senior, is projected to start after anchoring the unit in 2025. Right tackle Kettering Bernard, also a senior, returns after starting 11 games last season. The interior sees competition at guard between redshirt sophomore Luke McCray and junior college transfer Jamari Johnson, with McCray holding a slight edge after spring. Center remains a point of development, with redshirt freshman Hunter Staton listed as the starter ahead of senior transfer Liam Boyd, who is still learning the playbook and snap timing.

Defensively, the secondary features a mix of experience and youth. Senior cornerback Corey Thomas Jr. Is projected to start alongside redshirt sophomore Malik Hayes, who emerged as a consistent performer in spring after stepping into a larger role following the departure of All-Big 12 cornerbeack Ja’Quan McMillian. Safety play shows depth, with redshirt junior Aydan Clark and true freshman KJ Wallace listed as the starting duo, though senior transfer DeMarcco Hellams pushed Clark in camp and may see significant snaps depending on package and matchup.

Linebacker remains a strength, with senior Lee Kpogba and junior Tyrone Bradley expected to start at the two inside spots, backed by versatile redshirt sophomore Kunpe Tuipulotu, who can play both inside and outside. The defensive line returns its starters, including senior defensive end Dante Stills and junior tackle Jake Seidel, both of whom earned All-Big 12 honors in 2025 and are projected to be early-round NFL Draft considerations in 2027.

Special teams show continuity, with senior kicker Michael Hayes II retaining his role after a solid 2025 season in which he made 14 of 18 field goal attempts. Punter James Reiman, a senior, is unchanged after averaging 42.3 yards per punt last year. Long snapper remains with senior Brock Martin, who has held the role since 2023.

The Mountaineers open fall camp on August 3, 2026, with the first official practice scheduled for August 5. Their 2026 season begins on August 31 against FBS opponent East Carolina at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. The depth chart will be subject to change based on performance in fall camp, injuries, and coaching evaluations, but the spring update provides the clearest indication yet of Neal Brown’s vision for the 2026 roster as the program looks to build on a 6-6 finish in 2025 and push for a winning season in the competitive Big 12 Conference.