WVU Football
Carter Kessler Joins Crowded D-Line Room | WVU Football All 105
All 105 is a West Virginia Sports Now series profiling each member of the 2026 WVU Football Roster.
Freshman defensive lineman Carter Kessler enrolled with the Mountaineers in January, getting an early introduction to the rigors of a college weight room and practices. Standing 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Kessler excelled on both sides of the ball in high school, playing both defensive end and tight end and earning a three-star rating from 247Sports.
While he’s shorter than the average high school tight end, Kessler’s ability to excel at the position is a testament to his overall athleticism and savvy. That will help him on the other side of the ball with WVU Football. Any snaps Kessler picks up this season will likely come in a reserve role, giving him a chance to acclimate to the speed of Division I offenses.
49 • Carter Kessler, freshman defensive lineman
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Post-Camp Outlook: Kessler enrolled ahead of the spring semester, giving himself a vital period to prepare for the college game.
Projected Role: As one of 16 defensive linemen listed on the Mountaineers’ roster, expect Kessler to face an uphill battle for playing time. If he doesn’t redshirt, he’ll likely get his feet wet with some snaps as a reserve or on special teams.
Accolades, Highlights: Kessler picked up a bevy of awards for his play at Shelby High School (Shelby, Ohio), including First Team All-State honors and an offensive player of the year award in Division 4.
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