Transfer Players Who Have Signed with West Virginia Football

Since the Mountaineers have been increasingly active in pursuing transfers lately and there’s an important distinction between a player committing and a player actually signing with a school, here’s a recap of which players have officially signed with West Virginia.

CB Anthony Wilson

Anthony Wilson is a Mountaineer. The Georgia Southern transfer defensive back will look to help stabilize the West Virginia secondary.

But for those unfamiliar with Wilson (5-foot-10, 200 pounds), a player who spent the past four years with an non major conference program, WV Sports Now caught up with Wilson to learn more about who he is as a player and why he feels he is now ready for major conference football.

WR EJ Horton

EJ Horton is going to be able to experience a rarity in West Virginia – attending both major universities in the state. Horton has now signed on with the Mountaineers after transferring out of Marshall, but what does he bring to WVU?

Asti: Flipping Transfer WR EJ Horton Fills Void for West Virginia Offense

Initially, Horton was planning to leave the state of West Virginia and join Deion Sanders in Colorado. But after Colorado stole away a receiver previously committed to WVU, Horton changed his mind and decided to play for Neal Brown in 2023. Horton wants to be somewhere that can offer him an opportunity as much as anything.

In order to fully get an idea of what Horton brings to the West Virginia offense, we asked members of media who cover the Thundering Herd what they think of the 6-foot, 180-pound Louisville, Kentucky native.

Marshall Media Helps to Evaluate West Virginia WR EJ Horton

WR Noah Massey

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Massey comes to Morgantown from Angelo State, where he spent the last two seasons. Massey initially stated his college career at Bowling Green before moving down to the Division II level. In his two years at Angelo State, Massey made 81 receptions for 1,083 yards and scored nine touchdowns. He caught 52 balls for 684 yards and four touchdowns during the 2022 season.

While the addition of Marshall transfer EJ Horton is intended to make up for the loss of previously committed Jaylen Ellis, Massey’s bigger size should see him used as more of chain moving receiving threat.

Asti: Transfer WR Noah Massey Provides Big Body Option for WVU Passing Game

DB Beanie Bishop 

WVU has secured one of its biggest transfer additions in defensive back Beanie Bishop. The Minnesota transfer signed with the Mountaineers.

Bishop was with the Golden Gophers for one season, totaling 29 tackles (20 solo), one sack and one pass breakup while playing in all 13 games. Prior to Minnesota, Bishop spent four years at Western Kentucky, playing in 36 career games. This means he knows what it’s like to be the star of a team and also be apart of a group in a major conference.

Asti: Transfer DB Beanie Bishop Will Boost WVU Football in Multiple Ways

DL Tyrin Bradley 

Tyrin Bradley has signed a grant-in-aid to complete his transfer to West Virginia.

The Abilene Christian transfer defensive lineman Bradley, 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, is coming to Morgantown with two more years left of college eligibility. He announced his commitment to join the Mountaineers just a week or so after entering the Transfer Portal.

DL Tomiwa Durojaiye

Tomiwa Durojaiye is officially a Mountaineer. The former Kentucky defensive lineman signed a grant-in-aid to complete his transfer to WVU.

Durojaiye ends up signing just a week after announcing his commitment, which came only a couple days removed from his visit to Morgantown. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 278 pounds, Durojaiye has four years of eligibility. He appeared in three games for the Wild Cats during the 2022 season.

Asti: Tomiwa Durojaiye Has Potential to be Big Win for WVU Defense

WR Devin Carter 

North Carolina State transfer wide receiver Devin Carter signed a grant-in-aid and will now complete the rest of his college eligibility with WVU. This concludes Carter’s bizarre journey from announcing his intentions to transfer from the Wolfpack soon after his head coach publicly stated he was declaring for the NFL Draft, to his surprise commitment to Penn State, to then switching to West Virginia only nine days later. Carter now becomes West Virginia’s 6th total transfer addition who has actually signed.

Asti: Devin Carter is Proving to be Invaluable to WVU Before He Even Plays a Game

Did Bryce Ford-Wheaton Help Convince Devin Carter to Join Mountaineers?

DL Davoan Hawkins

Tennessee State defensive lineman transfer Davoan Hawkins signed with WVU on Jan. 17 and will provide much-needed  depth to the defensive line.

Hawkins recorded 31 total tackles, 1.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries in 11 games for TSU. Hawkins previously played at Kentucky from 2018-20. The Florida native is a former 3-star prospect out of high school.

WR Da’Shaun Poke 

The Kent State transfer became the fourth Mountaineer to sign on Jan. 13. He brings four years of college experience to WVU. He made 31 receptions for 362 yards, both single season highs for him, and a caught a touchdown during the 2022 season. Poke can also return kicks and punts, making him a returner option for WVU.

Jeff Koonz Details Plan for Special Teams, Sees Ja’Shaun Poke as Solid Returner Option

Kicker Michael Hayes 

Hayes was added to replace Casey Legg after Legg decided to forgo his remaining year of eligibility and retire from football. The Georgia State transfer signed on Jan. 13 and brings a strong booming leg and experience with field goals, kickoffs and punting, although that will still be handled by sophomore Oliver Straw.

Hayes spoke with WVSN following his decision to commit to West Virginia.

Michael Hayes Fell in Love with West Virginia Despite Interest from Other Major Programs

CB Montre Miller 

Miller comes to Morgantown from Kent State, where he spent the past five years. He has one final year of eligibility left to use at WVU after signing on Jan. 13.

Miller was a member of the Golden Flashes program for five years, taking a redshirt in his true freshman season and also drawing another campaign from the impact of COVID-19.

The 5-foot-10, 179 pound South Carolina native recorded 52 tackles, 40 solo, in 2022, while also tallying two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and eight pass breakups.

TE Kole Taylor

Perhaps West Virginia’s biggest addition was the first transfer to officially sign. Kole Taylor completed his transfer from LSU to WVU by signing on Jan. 13. He will replace Mike O’Laughlin as the Mountaineers top tight end, and provide a significantly better option in the passing game.

WVU TE Kole Taylor Believes He’s Forcing Mountaineers to Use Him in Offense

Taylor has three years and 32 games of experience coming with him from LSU. However, only seven of those 32 games were starts, and just 17 career catches for 159 yards and just one touchdown. Despite minimal production in the SEC, Taylor has been promised that he will be a focal point of the West Virginia offense. His size should make incorporating him more than past tight ends a bit easier too.