MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — New West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez has been hard at work putting together his staff, attempting to keep players on the current roster, and finding players in the transfer portal.

Since Neal Brown was fired earlier this month, West Virginia has lost 18 players to the transfer portal, including Jaylen Anderson, Ryder Burton, Raleigh Collins, Hudson Clement, TJ Crandall, CJ Donaldson, Will Dixon, Aiden Ellis, Ric’Darious Farmer, Ayden Garnes, Josiah Jackson, Trey Lathan, Sullivan Weidman, Tomas Rimac, Bryce Briggs, Josiah Trotter, Johnny Williams IV and Obinna Onwuka.

Since Rodriguez has taken over, he has brought two players from Jacksonville State – former Martinsburg High School players Jarod Bowie and Jacob Barrick – as well as Tulsa offensive line transfer Walter Young Bear, Jordan Scruggs, a cornerback from South Alabama and Oran Singleton, a wide receiver from Eastern Michigan.

Rodriguez now has his eyes set on several players who are set to Morgantown in the coming weeks. Here’s who West Virginia is currently targeting in the transfer portal:

1. Cam Vaughn: Vaughn tells me that he has already visited West Virginia, but has other visits set up in the coming days. Vaughn, a freshman from Temple, Georgia, 49 receptions for 804 yards and 5 touchdowns last season under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State. Vaughn is a big (6’2) receiver with great speed who would be a perfect big-play receiver for the Mountaineers. (8/10 confidence)

2. Fred Perry: Perry, a 5’11 safety from Vienna, Georgia, is another former Jacksonville State player who has visited West Virginia since Rodriguez became the head coach of the Mountaineers. An All-Conference player last year, Perry finished his junior year with 97 tackles (42 solo), nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. (9/10 confidence)

3. Hauss Hejny: Hejny, a 6’0 freshman quarterback from Aledo, Texas, Hejny had 15 rushes for 65 yards at TCU during his freshman season, but did not throw a pass. Hejny has followed several WVU-related accounts over the last couple of days on social media and clearly has interest, but it remains to be seen if West Virginia has the same level of interest. Since entering the portal last week, Hejny has reportedly been contacted by BYU, James Madison, UCF, Utah, and Utah State. Hejny would be an ideal backup to presumed starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol, but he may want to play immediately. With elite speed and athleticism, Hejny could make his way on the field next season in certain spots while he develops under Marchiol for the next two seasons. West Virginia has its starter, but will need to add depth with freshman Khalil Wilkins not yet ready to step in to lead the program yet.  (7/10 confidence) 

4. David Pantelis: In four seasons with Yale, David Pantelis has 127 career receptions 1,778 career receiving yards, and 17 career touchdowns. That’s an average of 14 yards per reception. He also averaged 52.3 yards per game. Pantelis was exceptional in 2024, finishing the season with 69 receptions for 1,018 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games. (8/10 confidence)

5. Adam Tomczyk: A 6’3 250 pound defensive end, Tomczyk is an under-the-radar player who the coaching staff has identified as a Power 4 talent who can contribute immediately. According to his social media footprint, Tomczyk and West Virginia have major mutual interest right now.  (9/10 confidence)

6. Matthew Henry: A 6’1 wide receiver from Miami, Florida, Henry had 63 receptions for 1,179 yards and 6 touchdowns this season at Western Illinois before entering the transfer portal. Henry is an ultra-talented receiver who has a ton of experience. (8/10 confidence)

7. Mo Westmoreland II: A two-time JUCO All-American, 2 time Conference USA first team All-Conference player and Conference USA’s Sack Leader in 2024 with 7.5 sacks, Westmoreland is an experienced, proven player on the defensive line that West Virginia is very high on. (9/10 confidence)

8. Chris Henry, Jr.: The son of former West Virginia wide receiver Chris Henry and the “nephew” of Adam “Pacman” Jones, Henry, Jr. is the #1 rated wide receiver, the #1 player in California and the #6 overall rated player in the nation, and is reportedly being heavily recruited by Rodriguez and the Mountaineers. Although he is currently still “locked in” as a commit at Ohio State, there are multiple programs, including West Virginia, attempting to steal him from the Buckeyes. Henry recently told national recruiting analyst Tom Loy that Oregon, Tennessee, Alabama and West Virginia are all heavily pursuing him, despite his current commitment to Ohio State. On his interest in West Virginia, Henry said, “Rich Rod coached my pops (the late Chris Henry, Sr.) and my uncle (Adam “Pacman” Jones). It’s West Virginia.” (5/10 confidence) 

Beloved Virginia TV news anchor Mark Spain has died of pancreatic cancer. 

The 64-year-old journalist had spent decades anchoring the news at ABC affiliate WSET-TV in Virginia before working in Indianapolis, Cleveland and Jacksonville. 

The seasoned newsman was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer on November 27 and began undergoing chemotherapy on December 16, according to his Facebook posts. 

However, two days later his wife, Lynita announced that he had succumbed to the disease. 

In a lengthy social media post, the grieving wife said Spain was ‘a pillar of the community’ and spent his last weeks staying positive and fighting the disease.

Lynthia also commented on how much the journalist loved his job and thanked well-wishers for their messages.  

‘Hello sunshines! It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my loving husband Mark. Our family along with the city of Lynchburg lost a man of hope, someone who loves his city and stood for equality, treating others with respect and kindness. He was a husband, father, brother, friend and a positive light in the community. 

‘My first true love. He brought so much joy, compassion, love and strength into our lives, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him. The last 23 years have been a wonderful journey filled with love, laughter and many wonderful memories. A journey that I would do all over again.

His wife noted how ‘surreal’ the loss felt just about three weeks after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

‘He fought hard, he stayed positive throughout the battle and wasn’t afraid. We have comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering, it was not easy watching him fight for his life and battle this disease, but he was not alone., and neither were we,’ she wrote.

‘He encouraged those around him. He loved to help others and longed for peace and was an ambassador for positivity. He loved his family and was extremely proud of his children. He also loved his job and felt so blessed to do what he did for a living. He was one hell of a journalist and took his job very seriously.’ 

Lynthia called him ‘a pillar of the community,’ adding how people loved to share how much they enjoyed watching him on the news.

‘As we navigate this difficult time, we take comfort in remembering the wonderful moments we shared with him. Your kindness and support mean the world to us. Friends, you showed up and showed out with love support during his fight!! You have all been amazing and a true village! I can’t thank you all enough for all of the prayers, cards, flowers, blankets, texts, comments and checking in on us,’ she said.

‘This new journey, one I never thought I’d be on, as a single parent will be a new and challenging one. God is walking along side us, guiding and protecting us. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers,’ she wrote. 

Kristen Mirand, a reporter and anchor at Buffalo-based WKBW-TV and a former colleague of Spain’s at Sinclair-owned WSET-TV posted tribute for him – remembering him as an ‘incredible person who inspired everyone he met’. 

The seasoned newsman was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer on November 27 and began undergoing chemotherapy on December 16, according to his Facebook posts. However, two days later his wife, Lynita announced that he had passed away from the disease

In a lengthy social media post, she noted that Spain, who was ‘a pillar of the community’, spent his last weeks staying positive and fighting against the disease

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Lynthia also commented on how much the journalist loved his job and thanked well-wishers for their messages

Spain had started his news career as a paperboy for the Cleveland Press at merely nine years of age

‘To know Mark Spain was to know positivity, faith & kindness. He was the anchor at my last news station in VA. 

More than a gifted journalist, he was an incredible person who inspired everyone he met Mark passed away after battling pancreatic cancer. His legacy will live on,’ she wrote in a sentimental X post. 

Spain’s colleagues at WSET memorialized him and said in a statement: ‘His smile and positivity were known to his family, our team here at WSET, and the thousands across Lynchburg and beyond who welcomed Mark into their homes each night on TV. 

‘When he first addressed the community regarding his cancer diagnosis in early December, he echoed that familiar sunny outlook despite the heavy situation. His battle against cancer was not fought alone.’

Jacksonville’s First Coast News, where Spain worked for 14 years, also remembered the anchor. 

‘We are deeply saddened to hear of Mark’s passing. He always worked to better the First Coast in every story he produced. 

‘Our thoughts are with his wife Lynita and his three children during this difficult time,’ General Manager Tim Thomas said. 

Spain had started his news career as a paperboy for the Cleveland Press at merely nine years of age. 

He went on to major in Communications from the Cleveland State University and collected accolades like 2018 and 2019 Best News Anchor award from the Association Press of the Virginias. 

Apart from his wife, Spain is survived by two daughters and a son.