WVU Football
WVU Football Offers Surgery Update for Injured DL Darius Wiley
Nine days after Rich Rodriguez announced defensive lineman Darius Wiley, who had to be carted off in the third quarter of West Virginia’s 31-24 season opening win over Coastal Carolina, will miss the rest of the 2026 season, the program offered another update.
As of Wednesday, Sept. 16, Wiley had successful surgery and is now embarking on his road to recovery.
“It was a severe ligament. He had a great camp. Not a good camp, but a great camp,” revealed Rodriguez during his weekly press conference on the Tuesday following the incident.
WVU defensive lineman Darius Wiley lays on the field injured during the 2026 season opener against Coastal Carolina. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)
WVU HC Rich Rodriguez standing on the field as Darius Wiley is carted off during the 2026 opening game against Coastal Carolina. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)
He then offered more information and words of encouragement for Wiley’s future.
“He’s a young guy with three years and was really going to get going with it. He’ll obviously be out all year, but guys that have those kinds of injuries, that tear every ligament, it takes at least a year, maybe more. We’ve got some really good doctors lined up, got a great medical staff, and they’re going to hopefully this week, maybe Friday, get the first surgery, and hopefully that’ll be the only one he needs. He’ll rehab like crazy. He’s a tough kid, so hopefully he’ll be back and ready to go next year.”
Wiley picked WVU over several other Power Four offers in December, 2025. He was named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year, totaling 49 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks.
Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.
