Opinion
Key WVU Football Transfer Additions Poised for Big Seasons
The Mountaineers benefited from the impacts of newcomers like Beanie Bishop and Kole Taylor last season, and WVU will need to enjoy production from transfers again in 2024 in order to be a true contender.
Fortunately for WVU, Neal Brown and his staff were able to bring in several high quality players who could be poised for big seasons.
Let’s take a look at some of the key transfer additions expected to play a big role for West Virginia this fall. In no particular order
Garnett Hollis, CB
Obviously, Aubrey Burks sticking around is a saving grace of sorts for the secondary and he also serves as the leader for the group, but he’s a safety. What WVU needed to find is a cornerback who can fill the void left by Bishop.
The most likely candidate is a player trying to follow Bishop’s path. Much like Bishop, Garnett Hollis transferred from the Big Ten to join the Mountaineers in the Big 12. Hollis made the jump from Northwestern along with teammate Jaheem Joseph in March. And while some could argue Joseph also has the opportunity to step up as well, Hollis is the one with the experience edge as a top corner and who most around the WVU program are banking on being the next Bishop.
Asti: WVU Defense Relying on Garnett Hollis to be Next Beanie Bishop
“Hollis was pretty unquestionably the Wildcats’ CB1 this year. Granted, the team didn’t play against a ton of star receivers, but he was tasked with a good amount on the perimeter — both in the pass and run,” Bradley Lackey, who covered Northwestern for SB Nation, described Hollis to WV Sports Now at the time.
After making four starts and appearing in eight games as a junior in 2022, Hollis played in all 13 games for the Wildcats in 2023 and recorded an interception and three pass deflections. He also made 49 total tackles, including 3.5 for a loss.
Jaden Bray, WR
The addition of Jaden Bray will open up new possibilities for the WVU offense. When WVU Brown made it known the Mountaineer were on the hunt for wide receiver help in the portal, there was no telling what options they would find.
West Virginia sent offers to receivers from all over the country from all different levels of football, spanning the power conferences and even Division II. And while many of them have talent and were also coveted by other similar programs to WVU, landing a player like Bray is the best case scenario.
Bray brings experience and knowledge of the Big 12, having competed at Oklahoma State. But on top of his experience, Bray also brings production with him. He made 30 receptions for 382 yards and scored two touchdowns for the Cowboys in 2023.
The expectation is that Bray will fit nicely on the outside with Hudson Clement and has the size to handle most one-on-one battles. It might require some work to get all of these receivers involved, but there was a sense of needing to replenish the receiver room some based on the inconsistent play at times during the 2023 season.
Why Neal Brown Expects WR Jaden Bray to Be Even Better at WVU
Bray even knows what it’s like to play in a Big 12 Championship Game, something he did twice at OSU. A bonus of the Bray move is taking a key player away from a conference foe, making it all that much sweeter for the Mountaineers.
Justin Robinson, WR
After months of searching for another experienced wide receiver, WVU found one in Mississippi State transfer Justin Robinson.
A former consensus four-star out of high school, Robinson comes to West Virginia after spending the past two seasons with Mississippi State. Prior to MSU, Robinson was with Georgia for one year but saw limited action.
With the Bulldogs, Robinson caught 51 balls for 583 yards and 3 touchdowns. He made 21 receptions for 257 yards in 2023 while battling injuries and has one year left of eligibility.
Adding Robinson now gives the WVU coaching staff another veteran leader in the receiver room. Transfer addition Jaden Bray may have the resume to help young players, but he’s not very vocal, something Traylon Ray mentioned after a spring practice. Robinson provides someone like Ray another receiver to go to for advice both on and off the field.
T.J. Jackson, DL
The WVU coaching staff believes they landed a steal in transfer T.J. Jackson, and it’s clear that opinion is shared by some in the national media.
PFF ranks Jackson as one of their highest graded defensive transfers. They have Jackson with a grade of 89.7, tying him with Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds for third on their list. Jackson is also the highest graded player at his position, ranking well ahead of other defensive tackles.
Hype for WVU DL Intensifies After Rank Among Defensive Transfers
Jackson moved on from Troy after four years and 91 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. The 6-foot-1, 262-pound edge rusher helped lead the Trojans to back-to-back conference titles and was named an All-Sun Belt first-team player in 2022. He posted 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks that season.
Kekoura Tarnue, CB
Joining Jackson, Kekoura Taruna clocks in at No. 8 on On3’s latest ranking of defensive transfers.
Tarnue, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, signed with West Virginia in early May after playing one season with Jacksonville State for Rich Rodriguez. Tarnue recorded 53 tackles, with two being for loss. Tarnue also had three interceptions during his junior season. The Monrovia, Liberia native previously played at Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota. Tarnue played at Coon Rapids High School as well.
Follow WV Sports Now for more coverage of the WVU football program.
For a related story, WVU avoided a doomsday scenario by retaining top contributors from 2023.
