West Virginia football transfer review
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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
TJ 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? Ty 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 Dec. 15. That was enough to close the deal and give the Mountaineers an athletic big-play wide receiver. Jaden 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
TJ 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 Ayden 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
Xavier 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: 1,066
Garnett Hollis started all 13 games at cornerback for Northwestern and became a priority for the West Virginia football program once he entered the portal in February. The Tennessee native wasn't just on the field, he was productive with 49 tackles and an interception across the course of the 2023 season. Hollis has one year of eligibility remaining and is going to be able to compete immediately for one of the starting roles for the Mountaineers at the cornerback spot. Hollis has over 1,000 career snaps at the power four level and is a seasoned, lengthy option. It would be surprising if Hollis doesn't play a major role in the secondary this fall for West Virginia.
Career snaps: 465
Jaheem Joseph is an experienced option given the fact he spent four seasons at Northwestern, but saw the most extensive action of his career in his final year with the Wildcats. The versatile defensive back was recruited to step in and make an immediate impact with the Mountaineers and has experience at both free safety and the nickel. During his final year with Northwestern, Joseph recorded 24 tackles and 3 picks and will have the opportunity to make a name for himself in the back end of the defense. Expect to see Joseph on the field for West Virginia this fall possibly at several different spots especially with the strong coverage numbers that he posted in 2023.
Career snaps: 173
Reid 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 with with 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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