West Virginia football transfer review
The West Virginia Mountaineers football program will welcome a number of talented transfers into the fold and WVSports.com looks at each of those.
What are the opportunities for each this coming season and how do they fit into the picture with the football program?
We examine each.
Career snaps: 303
Crandall played as a true freshman at Colorado State where he recorded 19 tackles and an interception. The Washington native was one of the most highly recruited young defensive backs in the portal with offers from UCLA, Michigan State, Louisville, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Indiana, California, Purdue, Cincinnati, Wake Forest, Arizona State and Oregon State outside of West Virginia. Crandall is going to be depended on to step into a major role for West Virginia from the start and has the skill set to do just that. The extra bonus here is the fact that Crandall still has three years remaining in his career and plenty of room to grow with his size and athleticism.
Career snaps: 2,374
West Virginia needed to find pass-rushing help and who better than a multi-time FCS all-American? French French appeared in 41 games during his time at the FCS level and compiled 239 tackles, 34.5 sacks and 61 tackles for loss to go along with an interception. He recorded at least 8.5 sacks in three of his four seasons on the field. The Georgia native will have one year left and will be counted on immediately to provide juice off the edge for the Mountaineers at the bandit spot. This is the type of commitment that can make a significant impact from the jump.
Career snaps: 1,070
West Virginia was the first school to offer Bray when he entered the transfer portal and made his way to Morgantown for a visit on Dec. 15. That was enough to close the deal and give the Mountaineers an athletic big-play wide receiver. Bray spent three seasons at Oklahoma State, but will have two years of eligibility left after appearing in only 3 games during the 2022 season. Bray hauled in 48 passes for 686 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Cowboys and had his most productive year in 2023 with 30 catches for 382 yards and 2 scores. That included 54 yards and a touchdown against the Mountaineers. West Virginia targeted this option in the transfer portal and he is going to have a chance for a major role in his first season in Morgantown as a field-stretching option.
Career snaps: 1,108
Jackson spent three seasons at Troy on the field where he was productive with 94 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks across 36 games. A versatile defensive lineman at 6-foot-2, 300-pounds, Jackson can slide around to multiple spots on the defensive front and that flexibility is going to allow him opportunities to make his way onto the field. West Virginia made Jackson a priority once he entered the transfer portal and was able to get him on campus first even after offers from Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Houston. The Alabama native only has one year left and is going to slide right into the rotation up front for the Mountaineers this coming season.
Career snaps: 1,276
West Virginia needed help in the secondary and Garnes became an immediate target for the Mountaineers once he entered the transfer portal. It doesn't hurt matters that the coaching staff got a first-hand look at him in the 2023 contest against Duquesne where he recorded 4 tackles and didn't allow a pass to be completed in his coverage. Garnes, has two years left in his career, and stood out on the field the past two seasons. During 2023, Garnes was the highest-graded defender on the Dukes and recorded 79 tackles and 4 interceptions during that time. The Philadelphia native has the ability to play boundary cornerback or in the slot and could do either in Morgantown. He is going to need to continue to add weight to his frame heading into the year but Garnes was recruited to play and the Mountaineers have the holes in the secondary where he should be given every opportunity to do that. The strength of his game is coverage.
Career snaps: 927
Bausley spent two seasons at Jacksonville State but redshirted during the first year on campus. In the second, Bausley started 11 games while earning freshman all-conference honors in Conference USA for his play on the field. West Virginia jumped into the mix for the South Charleston product when he entered the transfer portal and was able to win his commitment over Kentucky. West Virginia specifically targeted a younger offensive tackle option and Bausley has three years left in his career. Given what he has already done at the college level, it's reasonable to expect he will compete immediately for a starting role at the right tackle spot this coming season.
Career snaps: 1,193
Minkins appeared in 39 games during his time with the Cardinals including starting all 13 games during the 2022 season. The Louisville native recorded 92 tackles and 2 interceptions during that time and was targeted in the portal by the Mountaineers. Minkins is going to be able to compete with several in the backend of the defense but will look to recapture his form in his final year of eligibility. There is a pathway for him to carve out a large role in the backend of the defense given his versatility. That alone is going to help him find a way onto the field and should put him in a position to succeed.
Career snaps: 173
Carrico was a highly regarded recruit out of Ironton but played primarily on special teams and as a reserve linebacker during his three seasons at Ohio State. The former four-star prospect is expected to compete for time at both the MIKE and WILL spots and has a pedigree that garnered offers from North Carolina State, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Indiana, Marshall, Ohio and Tulsa despite the limited snaps. West Virginia needed more experience at the position and Carrico is going to provide an opportunity to play a much larger role than he has previously in his career. The Mountaineers have had a lot of success in the past with these types.
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