Justin Smith-Brown, Gadget Play Threat | WVU Football All 105

All 105 is a West Virginia Sports Now series profiling each member of the 2025 WVU Football Roster.

Wide receiver Justin Smith-Brown transferred to WVU Football for his final season of college after four successful seasons at South Carolina State (D-I FCS).

Smith-Brown racked up 749 receiving yards last season, the second-best mark in his conference. The Bulldogs also used the 5-foot-11, 185 pound speedster out of the backfield on plays like end-arounds.

Returning Mountaineers’ head coach Rich Rodriguez often prioritizes the run game — Jacksonville State had the third-most carries per game in the nation under his guidance last season — which could limit the amount of targets to go around, but Smith-Brown’s ability on gadget plays should help him pick up snaps regardless.

11 • Justin Smith-Brown, redshirt senior wide receiver

Last year: Smith-Brown picked up All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference First-Team honors after hauling in 54 passes for 749 yards, good for the second-best mark in the conference.

Stats: 81 catches for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns at South Carolina State.

Camp outlook: The wide receiver room is one of the best position groups WVU Football has this season, so Smith-Brown will have plenty of work to do in order to secure his place in Rodriguez’s hard-edge system.

Projected role: Expect significant playing time for Smith-Brown in 2025, with carries and receptions depending on the offensive style Rodriguez decides to go with.

Accolades, highlights: First-Team All-MEAC honors in 2024; Second Team honors in 2023.

Coverage Links:

WVU Football Adds Transfer WR with Commitment of Justin Smith-Brown