MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s defense needed some depth and experience during this cycle, but at first, the Mountaineers focused on offense. As the portal closed and the additions started to wind down, Rich Rodriguez and staff have loaded up on defense.
Villanova linebacker Jason Hall has reportedly committed to the Mountaineers, according to multiple sources. This is WVU’s fifth defensive commit since Friday and the first linebacker out of that bunch.
Hall started his college career at Villanova in 2023, and he played in four games that season, but he didn’t record a defensive stat. In 2024, his playing time ramped up, and Hall played in 14 games, tallied five tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. He had two stops in the first round of the FCS Playoffs against Eastern Kentucky.
In 2025, Hall really found his identity as a hard-hitting linebacker. He saw action in 14 games again and had 40 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Hall also forced another fumble, totaling two over the past two seasons.
WVU has added four linebackers now, and almost all of them have experience. The Mountaineers needed some veteran linebackers. The heart of WVU’s defense, Reid Carrico and Chase Wilson, both ran out of eligibility, so the Mountaineers needed replacements. WVU had some linebackers coming up in the pipeline, but they transferred out. Some true freshmen are arriving in 2026, but they aren’t expected to start right away.
WVU’s transfer pick-ups have slowed down, but there should be one or two more coming in, with a few reportedly on visits to Morgantown. It’s already been a big class, and Hall gave the Mountaineers their 32nd transfer. With the high school recruits and transfers, WVU is expected to have over 70 new players for 2026. Rodriguez joked about learning names in 2025, and he’ll probably have a tough time again in 2026.
