Pair of WVU Football Freshman Make Outlet’s All-America Team

It remains to be seen how much any true freshman will be able to impact the WVU football team in 2026. However, offensive lineman Kevin Brown and safety Matt Sieg are the two with the best chance.

On3 Sports agrees with that sentiment, listing both Mountaineers on their True-Freshman All-America Team ahead of the season. And to West Virginia’s credit, especially in recruiting, they make up two of three Big 12 freshman who made the cut. Kansas State offensive lineman Oliver Miller is the only other player from the conference who also appears on the list.

Brown, West Virginia’s prized legacy four-star recruit, who Rich Rodriguez and his staff flipped from Penn State ahead of National Signing Day, has all the makings of a future Mountaineer star.

WVU freshman offensive lineman Kevin Brown during the scrimmage part of the Gold-Blue Spring Festival. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)

Rodriguez isn’t surprised by Brown’s progression either, so much so that he’s on track to start right away.

“He’s physically ready. He has a certain type of maturity. We knew that when we got him.”

As another feather in the cap of Rodriguez, Sieg flipped from Penn State to West Virginia on the December National Signing Day. Sieg’s flip surprised many recruiting experts nationally, but added an accomplished athlete to WVU’s important 2026 class.

WVU safety Matt Sieg enjoys a break during the scrimmage of the 2026 Gold-Blue Spring Festival. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)

Fully expected to be a key member of the group that turns the WVU program around, Sieg, who moved south to Morgantown as a four-star recruit and owner of numerous WPIAL records, will play safety, and MAYBE float over to the offense as well. Rodriguez initially vocalized being open to using Sieg on both sides of the ball, but has expressed more recent hesitation as well.

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