WVU Football Cuts Down Roster Following End of Spring Ball

As expected, the end of spring ball meant the end of the line for several WVU football players. After being open all spring about the need to cut a significant portion of his roster, both to meet the limit and to leave room for additional transfers, at least 20 players were removed from West Virginia’s roster on Monday.

Below is a list of the players who were with WVU football throughout the spring practice period, but will now go their own way. While most of these players were cut, it’s always possible Rodriguez and the rest of the staff offered an opportunity for some of these players to stay on the team, but they decided to try transferring elsewhere instead.

Of course, it’s possible, and even likely, more will be added to this list in the coming days.

• Johnny Pascuzzi, TE
• Jackson Accuardi, TE
• TJ Johnson, WR
• Dom Collins, WR
• Andrew Phares, WR
• LJ Turner, RB
• Judah Price, RB
• Justin Terry, OL
• Jonah Ulloa, DL
• Elijah Kinsler, DL
• Makai Byerson, DL
• Amir Leonard-Jean Charles, DL
• Oryend Fisher, DL
• Zyir Daniel, DL
• Obinna Onwuka Bandit
• Romando Johnson, Bandit
• Aydin Fleming, LB
• Chris Henry, DB
• Sammy Etienne, DB
• Aden Tagaloa-Nelson, DB
• Zah Jackson, DB
• Jordan Jackson, DB
• Casey Stanley, K/P
• Luke Savino, K/P

Rodriguez knew his first spring back leading the Mountaineers would be his toughest as far as evaluating players. Having flipped most of the roster from who played for Neal Brown in 2024, Rodriguez knows it’s just too early in the process to truly know what he has.

“We are a whole long way from being in game shape,” said Rodriguez about his team being in “spring shape” but not close to where they need to be before the ball kicks off in the fall.

No matter what happens, every move Rodriguez makes is done in the interest of helping West Virginia win. Of course, he only wants players who fit his “hard edge” philosophy and doesn’t want anyone only in it for the money. But at the same time, he’s not going to shy away from pursuing talent and is confident WVU will pay to bring those type of players in if necessary.

Rich Rodriguez Explains Method to His Madness, Benefits of ‘Hard Edge’ to Mountaineers

As far as what WVU will focus on when looking for new transfer players, wide receiver and the defensive secondary stand out as positions of emphasis.

“I still think we got to get a little more depth at wide out. We just don’t have the numbers right now at wide receiver,” said Rodriguez.

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

For a related story, WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti and Cody Nespor discuss Rich Rodriguez bringing up Neal Brown.

A refresher to WVU’s winter portal work can be also be found at WVSN.

Keeping Tabs on the WVU Football Transfer Additions