For the first time since 2018, we can have a serious conversation about West Virginia and the preseason top 25 rankings. The Mountaineers rattled off nine wins in 2023, ending the year on a strong note winning five of its final six games including a win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Neal Brown and GM Drew Fabianich did a masterful job of keeping the roster intact through the two transfer portal windows. Of course, they lost a few contributors, but nothing they can’t replace.

WVU returns three members of what was considered to be one of the top offensive line’s in all of college football in 2024. Two others, Nick Malone and Xavier Bausley, have started games at the collegiate level. The depth up front is in terrific shape. In the backfield, the Mountaineers will feature one of the top duos in the country with the contrasting styles of Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson. At receiver, they see the return of four of their top five pass catchers from a year ago, including tight end Kole Taylor who led the team with 35 receptions.

Defensively, the front seven is the unit’s strength. They’ll be able to rotate in anywhere from six to eight along the defensive line while housing the most depth they’ve had at linebacker since this staff arrived in 2019. The secondary is the biggest question mark. On paper, it looks to be an improved group but there are several new faces that make up that third level of the defense which could take some time to gel.

There’s more than enough proven talent on this roster for West Virginia to have a number next to its name to start the 2024 season, but will they? My guess is no. They’ll continue to rank the bigger brands who always fall extremely short of expectations instead – think of Miami, Texas A&M, USC and Tennessee – and others who probably aren’t as deserving but could find their way in such as Louisville, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech. If I had a vote, I’d put West Virginia in the 22-24 range. Instead, they’ll be in the back end of “receiving votes” category when the first set of rankings come out in a matter of weeks.

READ MORE ABOUT WVU ATHLETICS

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WVU Absent From College Football 25’s Top 25 Offenses

West Virginia Ranked in Phil Steele’s Preseason Top 40

Virginia Lee (Hadley) Hall

Coralville

Virginia Lee (Hadley) Hall, 99, of Coralville, Iowa, formerly of Manchester, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, June 23, 2024, with her two youngest daughters by her side, at Grand Living of Bridgewater in Coralville.

Survivors include a son, Robert Hadley Hall (Carol) of Leavenworth, Kansas, and three daughters, Mary H. Kroninger, of Fresno, California, Eileen L. Hall of St. Louis, Missouri, and Elizabeth H. Bolin (Don) of Iowa City; three grandsons, Jay K. Nevin, (Amanda), Ian R. McGowan, and Clayton Hadley Hall, one granddaughter, Natalie Hall-Krishnamurthy (Akshay); two great-granddaughters, Abigail R. Nevin and Kavya Hall-Krishnamurthy; and one great-grandson, Benjamen R. Nevin.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Manchester, Oskaloosa, Iowa City, or to the charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.

Visitation: 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Manchester, Iowa.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Manchester, Iowa.

Private Family Inurnment: Oakland Cemetery – Manchester, Iowa.

Saying that this has been a huge month for Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry in terms of recruiting would be a major understatement. Recruiting has been going very well and on Sunday afternoon, the third-year Hokies coach picked up another key commitment.

Six days after Green Run edge Zeke Chinwike committed to Virginia Tech in the Class of 2025, the Hokies got a second commitment in the class from an edge, this time Sherrod Henderson. The Rocky Point, N.C. native is a three-star and picked Virginia Tech over Virginia, Pittsburgh, Duke, Michigan State, West Virginia, and others.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Heide Trask High School is the 20th-ranked player in North Carolina according to 247Sports and he visited Blacksburg last weekend as his last visit of the month. Previously, he visited Duke on May 31, Michigan State on June 7, and South Florida on June 14.

A duel-sport athlete, Henderson had 75 tackles last season as a junior, including 12 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss. Offensively, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also is a standout on the basketball court.

Henderson gives Virginia Tech two legitimate edge rushers in the defensive line room in the Class of 2025 with Chinwike. Also committed in the class on the defensive side of the ball are linebacker Brett Clatterbaugh, safety Sheldon Robinson, defensive lineman Christian Evans, cornerback Knahlij Harrell, and linebacker Noah Chambers.

The Hokies are moving up the ranks in terms of recruiting in the Class of 2025 and they are doing it mostly with three-star recruits with Clatterbaugh being a four-star. It would not be surprising to see some of the other players in the class be four stars before ending up on campus. Not to be outdone, the Class of 2026 is off to a good start with quarterback Peyton Falzone committing Saturday night.