Pair of WVU Corners Gain National Recognition as Among Best in Big 12

Despite a giant cloud of uncertainty hanging over this year’s WVU football team, there are some individual Mountaineers who talent evaluators have high expectations for heading into the season.

PFF has two West Virginia cornerbacks graded among their best returning players in the Big 12. So after the secondary was one of WVU’s weakest units in 2024, the additions of Jordan Scruggs and Michael Coats Jr. could be game changers based on their grades.

Tied with Iowa State’s Jontez Williams for the highest grade, Scruggs is at 81.1 while Coats is just behind at 80.8.

Highest Graded Returning Big 12 Cornerbacks🔒 pic.twitter.com/wLKxh6FJFp

— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 22, 2025

Scruggs, who entered the transfer portal on the first day it opened on Dec. 1, 2024, committed to WVU before the close of the year. He recorded had 69 tackles, four tackles for a loss, a pair of pass breakups and an interception in 11 games during the 2024 season. He transferred to South Alabama after spending the 2023 season at Central Missouri, where he registered 37 total tackles. Prior to CMU, Scruggs played at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.

West Virginia beat out fellow Big 12 member Colorado and rival Virginia Tech for Scruggs.

An early recruiting win for Rich Rodriguez and his staff, Coats had visits to West Virginia and Ole Miss scheduled in early January. After visiting Morgantown, however, Coats knew he was home, committing to WVU before checking out his other options.

A 5-foot-10, 180 pound cornerback who snagged four interceptions and broke up another 17 passes in 2024, Coats solidified himself as one of the top transfers on the market. He began his college career with three JUCO seasons before transferring to Nevada in 2022, and will retain a year of eligibility thanks to a new NCAA rule designed to help former junior college athletes get a chance at the upper echelons of the sport.

Top Transfer Corner Michael Coats Jr. | WVU Football All 105

With an All-Mountain West nod under his belt and a clear competitive drive, WVU Football fans should feel plenty of excitement as Coats tests his hand at Big 12 play.

Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.

For related content, Mike Asti previewed the 2025 WVU football season with Phil Steele on a recent episode of his “Mike Drop” show.