Multiple WVU football true freshmen showing starting potential early
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MORGANTOWN -- Rich Rodriguez used this offseason to create a foundation to build the West Virginia program on. Rodriguez didn’t have a normal offseason the year before since he was hired in December. There wasn't time to bring in a freshman recruiting class. The only commits left were the ones who stayed from the Neal Brown class.
Rodriguez brought in almost 50 high school and junior college players to hopefully create continuity for the next couple of years at WVU instead of living by the transfer portal like some schools do.
Rodriguez landed a couple of highly recruited freshman, and they've already started to make an impact after the spring and into the first three days of fall camp.
"I really like our freshman class," Rodriguez said.
There are already a couple that have a chance to start, or be impact players this season.
Offensive lineman Kevin Brown was one of the big scores this offseason. He was a 4-star recruit, who recently decommitted from Penn State. He was a physical monster at 6-foot-6 and has continued to fill out that frame. Brown is the fourth-highest rated recruit in recent history, according to 247Sports.
Rodriguez mentioned Brown as a player who could potentially start this fall. He’s been taking reps at both tackle positions.
"He's physically ready, but more than anything, he's got a certain level of maturity, football maturity that you don't typically see in a true freshman," Rodriguez said. "I kind of knew that when we signed him. He's been what we thought he would be. He'll keep getting better, too."
Brown's offensive line coach, Rick Trickett, is no stranger to starting a true freshman on the line. Trickett's had numerous true freshmen start and have them go on to be named All-American. Trickett listed off NFL linemen Rodney Hudson, Victor Riley and Willie Anderson as some of the great ones to start for him. He also mentioned Amare "Bubba" Grayson, who is on the team now, started for him as a true freshman at Jacksonville State. Grayson started eight games at right guard.
Trickett pumped the brakes a little on Brown, but agreed with Rodriguez that he has a chance to start. There's still work for Brown to do.
"You throw the word around great an awful lot," Trickett said. "I think he's got a chance to be a good player right now. Then, hopefully in another year or so, he's a really good player. He's a competitive guy. I love his attitude. First guy out, first guy for everything. One of the first guys in the building every day. But again, as a freshman, he's got a lot to learn."
Trickett talked about how he really likes true freshman Aidan Woods so far in camp, too.
Outside of the offensive line, Rodriguez said true freshman running back Amari Latimer has taken reps with the first-team offense. Latimer won't start because last year's leading rusher in the nation, Cam Cook, holds firm on that spot.
Latimer was a big flip on National Signing Day. He is a 4-star and was originally committed to Wisconsin. Latimer was the third-highest recruit for WVU's 2026 recruiting class, and was the 21st-ranked running back in the whole class.
Latimer isn't your average true freshman running back. He's listed on the online roster as 5-foot-10, 230 pounds. Latimer is a unit.
"Talented guy," Rodriguez said. "A really hard worker. I've known him since he was a freshman because his brother was playing for us. He comes from a football family that's really important. Everything is still happening fast. He's a big physical guy."
With the bigger size, Latimer can still catch passes out of the backfield and is capable of being a three-down back.
Even though Rodriguez has liked what he's seen from the freshman class, there's still a long way to go. It's just the third practice into fall camp. But that means there's still four weeks for the freshman to earn their way into more reps.
The biggest thing Rodriguez said the freshmen need to improve at is adjusting to the speed.
"Everything’s so much faster," Rodriguez said. "Mentally, a lot of times the young guys, it just takes them a while mentally to understand the speed of the game."