Prince Strachan’s emergence 1 of few positives from West Virginia football’s loss to Arizona
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia's receiver room was decimated by the transfer portal this offseason. Seven of the top receivers aren't on the team this year, and No. 8, Jaden Bray, played a game and a bit in 2025. Rich Rodriguez had to rebuild through the transfer portal.
Obviously, throwing the ball isn't Rodriguez's priority. You can look at any of his past teams Rodriguez has coached, or listen to his preseason press conferences. WVU was going to win running the ball, and if it could, run every play. Despite a bad offensive line, the Mountaineers ran the ball the fifth-most times in the conference.
At some point, the Mountaineers have to throw, like against Arizona, when they're trailing. Rodriguez added a couple of talented pass catchers in the portal for those situations, including big 6-foot-5 veteran transfer Prince Strachan. He was one of the more anticipated transfers this offseason.
Strachan had his biggest game of the season since transferring Saturday in the matchup with the Wildcats. He was quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.'s favorite target with five catches for 121 yards, and hauled in a couple of big-time catches downfield, picking up long third downs.
"He’s great," Hawkins said. "Obviously, a huge target. His radius is great. Just getting him going was a good thing for us."
Strachan is one of the older receivers in the room and is in his fourth season of college football on his third different team. He played for two years at Boise State, where he played in the Broncos’ College Football Playoff trip, and then played for head coach Lincoln Riley at Southern California for a year. He was injured in his lone season at USC.
Strachan hasn't had his breakout game until Game 6 this year because, like with the Trojans, he'd been banged up. Strachan missed the first two games and debuted against Virginia.
"You never want to go through those things," Strachan said. "But I just see those things as a challenge. Stay focused and still get better, however I can. I don’t get down on myself. That’s the game. Keep focused on the same goal because the team still needs you."
Strachan was still getting used to playing and just blocked during Virginia. Over the past two games, Strachan has slowly ramped up. He had a grab against Oklahoma State and three in the Iowa State game.
In four games, Strachan has emerged as another target for Hawkins, especially when he couldn't connect with Epps: his top target on the season. Strachan said his injury wasn't a setback to the Hawkins link-up.
"Really comfortable with Mike Hawkins because we had a whole spring together and a whole summer," Strachan said. "We still were working and getting stuff in."
Strachan fills a couple of needs for the Mountaineers. He helps add another deep-ball option, alongside D.J. Epps, who didn't have a reception Saturday. Strachan caught two passes over 30 yards. At 6-foot-5, he becomes a jump-ball threat in the end zone, even if WVU didn't target him in the red zone. The Mountaineers lacked a big target last season.
There weren't a lot of positive takeaways from WVU's 52-31 loss to Arizona, moving the Mountaineers to 3-3 on the season and 0-3 in the Big 12. But at least Hawkins has another reliable receiver outside in Strachan.
"I feel really good out there," Strachan said. "All glory to God. I’ll be lying if I say it’s of my strength. He’s been helping me and strengthening me to go out there and to do the things I do. It’s just a blessing to be out there. Feels like home."