Incoming WVU Football FB Kayden Luke Tells Owen Schmitt He Understands Assignment

Soon after announcing his plans to transfer to the WVU football program, Kayden Luke made sure to let a Mountaineer legend know he understands the assignment. Brought over as a fullback, Luke could be why the fullback position returns to West Virginia.

And of course, whenever any WVU fan thinks about a fullback, they remember Owen Schmitt using his power and athleticism to help power the West Virginia offense during the extremely successful days of Rich Rodriguez’s first tenure.

That even prompted Schmitt himself to provide some words of encouragement to Luke. The new Mountaineer then responded “yesirrrr absolutely!!!!!” to let Schmitt know he won’t let him down.

Yesirrrr absolutely!!!!! https://t.co/g2qdLzu0u5

— Kayden Luke (@KaydenLuke2) January 19, 2026

Luke, listed at 5-foot-11 and 249-pounds, spent the past two seasons with the Wildcats. He ran for 20 yards on five carries.

But despite limited time in college with Arizona, Luke put up big numbers in high school.

The Arizona native totaled 3,609 rushing yards and scored 52 touchdowns on 451 carries including recording 2,307 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior in 2023.

Luke took an official visit to Morgantown soon after entering the transfer portal.

West Virginia tight ends coach Michael Nysewander had a few interesting responses to questions about the fullback position after a fall camp practice ahead of the 2025 season in August.

“It’s funny the title fullback… A lot of our plays are like an old school fullback. We kinda play in the “sniffer” position or the “wing” position or whatever you want to call it. So there’s a lot of schemes where those guys are doing what you’d call fullback type plays,” said Nysewander when asked if he has any players who could possibly serve as a fullback.

“They’re really kinda one in the same position. There are some schemes where we’ll be off the ball more and some schemes we’ll be in line,” he added.

However, Nysewander knows if any coach could bring back any form of the fullback position it’s Rodriguez.

“Coach has always been really good at utilizing the type of players you have on the team, and obviously, that goes to how we recruit and stuff like that,” Nysewander explained.

Maybe if there’s a bad SOB (like Schmitt) that is nothing but a fullback and he’s really good and can’t afford to not be out on the field, then coach will use him,” he joked. Nysewander then cited the first touchdown Jacksonville State ever scored in an FBS bowl game was from a fullback lined up in an “I” Formation.

Find more coverage of WVU football recruiting at WV Sports Now.

For a related story, West Virginia also extended an offer to another transfer fullback.