Which WVU Football Player Does ESPN View as Potential ‘Sleeper?’

Is there a WVU football player who could come out of nowhere and make an impact in 2025? Well, there’s a member of the secondary who the Mountaineers are banking on having a big year.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg even selected a West Virginia cornerback as one of his potential “sleeper” players who break out. Transfer addition Michael Coats Jr. made the cut along with other possible new stars from around the country.

Below is what Rittenberg had to say about why he included Coats.

“Coats did not even play high school football before trying out for a junior college team in Mississippi. He made the team at East Mississippi Community College and worked his way to Nevada, where he became an All-Mountain West selection last season. But the team’s overall struggles kept Coats somewhat under the radar. He’s among a large group of transfers joining West Virginia for coach Rich Rodriguez’s return.”

Coats’ inclusion also comes after his head coach hyped him up, going as far as to compare him to a WVU legend and suggest he’s an NFL caliber player.

“I think he’s an NFL guy, really explosive kid,” Rich Rodriguez told ESPN.

Rodriguez then even took his praise one step further.

“Some of the guys I’ve had the most success with, like, Pacman [Jones] were, like uber competitive, over-the-top competitive, like pissed off on every rep. And that’s what Michael is. You can see that on film, and then after you watch him work out, this dude is like, tear your throat off,'” he added.

More about Coats and his journey to WVU:

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

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.

He put together a statement season during his second year at Nevada, helping him become one of the top cornerbacks in the transfer portal. Coats snagged four interceptions, broke up 17 passes and made 41 tackles during the 2024 season, his first as a starter in Division I.

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