Morgantown, WV – WVU’s annual Gold-Blue Spring Game is upon us. Fans will get a first look at their 2024 Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium on April 27th. Kickoff is set for noon, and the university has announced various festivities taking place prior to and after the event.
While fans will certainly enjoy the atmosphere, the extracurriculars will not be where everyone’s attention will be. West Virginia has the opportunity to build off of a successful 9-4 season in 2023. With many key contributors returning, the search will be on for potential breakout stars who will emerge over the next four months.
Today, we are going to take a look at FIVE potential breakout players for the Mountaineers in 2024. Taken into consideration will be their skill sets as well as their previous production and potential.
Here are the names that Mountaineer Nation should be keeping a close eye on:
- EJ Horton, WR (Sr.) – The speedy Marshall transfer has been deemed one of the fastest players on the team by the coaching staff. While his stats were relatively quiet in 2023 (10 catches for 201 yards and 1 touchdown), his skill set makes him one of the most intriguing prospects on the roster. If he can put it all together, Horton could be a name that Mountaineer fans become familiar with very quickly in 2024.
- Josiah Trotter, LB (R-Fr.) – Trotter was the talk of fall camp last season until a lower leg injury ended his inaugural campaign in Morgantown before it got started. With his return comes a plethora of intrigue as everyone will be anticipating how well he can play after a serious injury. His size resembles that of Lee Kpogba, and we can expect that his play will also. Trotter’s career trajectory has the potential to be one celebrated by WVU for years to come.
- Rodney Gallagher, WR (So.) – Gallagher is the second and final receiver on this list. His true freshman season saw him adjusting to the college game. The Pennsylvania native garnered early playing time, but was only able to muster 65 receiving yards on 8 catches. His athleticism makes him a threat to score each time he touches the ball. If he can display any kind of significant adjustment to the speed of the game, he could become a pivotal playmaker for the Mountaineers.
- Garnett Hollis Jr., CB (Sr.) – The Northwestern transfer brings with him loads of excitement. WVU Co-Defensive Coordinator ShaDon Brown has been on record calling him the “steal of the portal.” During his time with the Wildcats, he accumulated 78 tackles and 2 interceptions. With Beanie Bishop gone, Hollis will become a voice that the locker room depends on in big moments. His experience sets him up perfectly for a huge final season of eligibility with WVU.
- Sean Martin, DL (Sr.) – Martin is easily the surprise of this list as many consider him to be one of the critical pieces to the defense. However, Martin has yet to reach his full potential in a Mountaineer uniform. Given his stature and skill set, the Bluefield, West Virginia native should have had no problem coming in and dominating the Big 12. While his stats are respectable, he has yet to put together a truly jaw-dropping season. With yet another year under his belt, 2024 is now or never for Martin. This is his last opportunity to become a household name for the Mountaineers – and we believe he will.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
