Impact of West Virginia football transfers
Under head coach Neal Brown, West Virginia has been active in the transfer market in an effort to bolster the roster.
We examine the newcomers to the program and how they mesh with the players that have been there for the previous two seasons and beyond.
At the FCS level, French was a multiple-time all-American and had over 2,300 snaps of play to show for it at Gardner-Webb. French will enter the scene of the banditry to provide the assistance that West Virginia was hoping to obtain off the edge. Throughout his four seasons at the collegiate level, he finished with at least 8.5 sacks in three of them… French, a Georgia native, will be relied upon right away in the West Virginia defense this autumn. He has one more year of eligibility left.
As a true freshman, Crandall entered the game and immediately made an impression on the field during his more than 300 snaps. became one of the most sought-after young defensive backs on the transfer portal the moment he joined it after the year. Crandall, a Washington native, has three full years of eligibility remaining on the field. He will enter the game and immediately compete for a significant role in the Mountaineers secondary.
After playing in just three games during the 2022 season, Bray will have two years remaining on his eligibility after spending three seasons at Oklahoma State.For the Cowboys, Bray caught 48 passes for 686 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023, he had his best year yet, catching 30 passes for 382 yards and two scores. Throughout his career, the Norman, Oklahoma native has demonstrated big-play potential. The day he went through the portal and was able to schedule a visit and confirm his commitment, West Virginia offered. As a seasoned player, Bray will be relied upon in the wide receiver room.
Jackson played for Troy for three seasons. During that time, he recorded eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, which earned him first-team all-Sun Belt honors in 2022. A defensive lineman with versatility who can fill a variety of front-line positions, Jackson’s eligibility will last one more year. He has a wealth of experience to offer and has earned good grades while playing.
After spending two seasons at Jacksonville State, Bausley was named an all-freshman Conference USA selection and started eleven games in his second season. When the native of the state used the transfer portal to find a new school, West Virginia and a long list of other universities immediately jumped into the mix. After visiting both West Virginia and Kentucky, Bausley eventually reduced his options to just one and decided to join the Mountaineers. Bausley, who will play right tackle for West Virginia, will still have three years of eligibility.
The 6-foot-170-pound Garnes just finished his sophomore season with 51 tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a sack. The Philadelphia native was the highest-rated defensive player on the Dukes roster after playing 688 snaps. He has two years left in his career and is expected to play cornerback for the Mountaineers.
Despite spending four seasons at Northwestern, Joseph had his best year in terms of production and snaps played in 2023. Joseph played 357 snaps for the Wildcats during that season, resulting in 24 tackles and 3 interceptions.The defensive back’s versatility allowed him to play multiple positions in the West Virginia secondary, but it was his February transfer portal entry that made him a target. Less than ten days after receiving an offer, he committed to the Mountaineers. With two years left in his career, Joseph has power four experience.
Hollis played for the Wildcats for four seasons, but his final season—in which he started all thirteen games—saw the most of his action. He made good use of that, recording 49 tackles and an interception. The Tennessee native applied for a graduate transfer through the transfer portal in February, and West Virginia responded right away by offering him a scholarship. Hollis committed to the Mountaineers quickly, providing the team with an accomplished cornerback with over 1,000 snaps at the power four level. Hollis’ career at Morgantown is limited to one more season of eligibility.
Over the course of his four seasons with the Wildcats, Hollis saw the most of the court in his final season, starting all thirteen games. With 49 tackles and an interception, he made good use of that. West Virginia immediately offered the Tennessee native a scholarship after he submitted a graduate transfer application through the transfer portal in February. At the power four level, Hollis played over 1,000 snaps as a cornerback for the Mountaineers, demonstrating his quick commitment to the team. Only one more season of eligibility remains for Hollis to play at Morgantown.
