Division II Transfer Center Picks Up Offer from West Virginia

It isn’t easy to make the jump from the Division II to the Division I level, let alone all the way up to the Power Five level, but it appears as though Michael Marotta just might.

Marotta, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound graduate transfer offensive lineman from Valdosta State (D2), picked up an offer from West Virginia Thursday morning.

He’s also picked up offers from USF, San Diego State, Western Kentucky, Georgia State, Texas Tech, UCF, Eastern Kentucky, Old Dominion, UMass, UTEP, Mercer, Tennessee-Martin and McNeese State since entering the portal earlier this week.

Marotta, who worked his way into the Valdosta State starting lineup in 2023, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his next destination.

Blessed to have received an offer from West Virginia!! pic.twitter.com/8em9YnNm5W

— Michael Marotta (@Tech_mj70) December 7, 2023

Marotta was not on many radars coming out of Spring Hill, Fla. in the class of 2021, choosing to take the Division II route, and it took two seasons to finally emerge as a starter on the line.

Valdosta State went 12-2 in 2023, making it all the way to the Division II quarterfinals before bowing out in a 35-7 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne. Marotta was a key lineman in an offense that averaged 36.9 points per game and racked up 433.6 yards per game — including 312.2 yards through the air.

Marotta is the sort of big, physical offensive lineman — moonlighting as a cage fighter — who would provide a bit of physicality to an offensive line that should once again be very good in 2024. And it just so happens that he’s a natural center.

Star center Zach Frazier announced he’s headed off to the NFL, but the bulk of the West Virginia line — including Wyatt Milum, who announced he would be returning to Morgantown — will be in place.

It’s a unit that should once again pave the way for a leading rushing attack in college football, but there’s always room for improvement.

For all your college football transfer portal needs, check out the Portal Report and their Transfer Portal Tracker.

2023-24 College Football Transfer Portal Database