Football

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Moments ago, one of the top players in the state, Mykel Davis, decided to stay home and play his collegiate career at West Virginia University for the Mountaineers! Davis, a 6'2 185 pound wide receiver from Wheeling, West Virginia chose to accept a Preferred Walk-on over a scholarship from Morehead State. As a senior this year, Davis had 39 receptions for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns. Although Davis will not have a scholarship to begin his career at West Virginia, he has the size and skill to earn a scholarship for the Mountaineers as a wide receiver or defensive back during his time in  Morgantown. Neal Brown has said that he has made keeping homegrown players home, and he's certainly done that this season with the additions of Davis, Keyshawn Robinson (Jefferson), Abe Fenwick (Charleston) and Dominick Collins (Princeton). https://twitter.com/MykelDavis1of1/status/1754912915256181198?s=20 https://twitter.com/MykelDavis1of1/status/1746620152710369493?s=20  

MORGANTOWN, WV - Moments ago, former Martinsburg Bulldog Murphy Clement announced his commitment to West Virginia University via social media. https://twitter.com/murphy_clement2/status/1754674010300858624?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw Murphy, whose brother Hudson plays for the Mountaineers, was named the 2023 West Virginia Gatorade State Player of the Year. During his senior season with the Bulldogs, Clement passed for 1,673 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also tallied 1,128 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1754680855291699287?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw  

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- Former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez, who is now the head coach at Jacksonville State, has led the Gamecocks to an 18-6 record in 2 seasons with the program. Now, Rodriguez is attempting to land the son of one of his former players at West Virginia. Andre Devine, a senior running back from Fort Myers, Florida, is the son of Mountaineers' standout Noel Devine, and is currently being recruiting by Rodriguez. Devine, who has offers from UMASS, Marshall and USF, has 145 carries for 908 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and 6 touchdowns in three seasons at North Fort Myers. His father, Noel, was one of the greatest players ever at West Virginia University, where he rushed for 4,315 yards and 92 TDs between 2007-2010. Noel Devine expressed his displeasure with West Virginia coaches Neal Brown and Chad Scott, who he said he was disappointed in for not following through on their offer to his son. Devine said the following: "My experience as a WVU player and as a person that loves Mountaineer fans is that a man's word is a man's word. Especially with my coaches. Neal Brown and Chad Scott verbally promised my son a scholarship and now they are backing out. So I guess this coaching staff can't be taken at their word. WVU needs to go back to its winning roots and get some of us to come back and coach and turn this program around to its old glory." Earlier today, Devine posted a picture of his son, Andre, Rich Rodriguez and himself with the following caption: "My college head coach Rich Rod recruiting my son at Jacksonville State. Life comes full circle." https://twitter.com/voicemorgantown/status/1753871181466259872?s=20

MORGANTOWN, WV - Rodney Gallagher has quickly become a fan favorite in Morgantown. The incoming sophomore receiver may not have produced many stats on the field in 2023, but he is viewed as one of the key pieces of the future for the Mountaineers. Earlier this week, he sat down with the 1 Team Podcast to talk Mountaineer Football. During his time on the show, Gallagher made it a point to brag on the Mountaineer fanbase. https://twitter.com/gallagher120/status/1753041054012453030?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw Here is what Gallagher had to say about the fans traveling to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl: ”Like it’s just a different feeling when you’re in Morgantown, especially when you’re successful. Like we’re like the pro team in West Virginia…the fanbase is just like crazy.” Gallagher understands just what makes Morgantown special. The Mountaineers are the only show in town, and the fans will show up no matter the circumstances. Watch a clip from Gallagher’s interview in the tweet above.  

MORGANTOWN, WV - Earlier today, Neal Brown and the Mountaineers added to their 2024 recruiting class. Raymond Kovalesky, a multi-position athlete from the Linsly School in Wheeling, West Virginia, announced his commitment to the Mountaineers, via social media. https://twitter.com/raykovalesky52/status/1753119835670655020?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw Kovalesky, standing at 6’3” and weighing 225 pounds, listed himself as a tight end/fullback on his commitment post. He currently does not possess any recruiting rating from any major outlet. He will be a preferred walk-on. (Photo via WVU Recruiting) 

COVER PHOTO: WVU Athletics MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- According to multiple sources, two current members of the West Virginia football program are no longer a part of the team. As first reported by 247 Sports, DJ Oliver and Charlie Katarinic have left the Mountaineers' team. DJ Oliver, a freshman running back from Perry, Florida, has left the team but will not enter the transfer portal. The portal is currently closed and Oliver will have to wait until it re-opens in the Spring. Oliver, considered one of the team's best young future options in the backfield, rushed 12 times for 47 yards and 1 touchdown during his freshman season. He was supposed to get quality playing time in the Duke's Mayo Bowl while filling in for the injured CJ Donaldson, but he had a costly fumble early in the game and finished with only 2 carries for 9 yards. Charlie Katarinic, a 6'4 293 pound offensive lineman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has also decided to leave the team. Katarinic, a redshirt sophomore, played in two games last season (Duquesne and Cincinnati), but was expected to add depth to the offensive line next year. At this time, it's unclear why either Oliver or Katarinic decided to leave the team, but both were talented young players that were expected to contribute in the future.

MORGANTOWN, WV - Coming off of yet another impressive season with the Seahawks, former WVU Quarterback Geno Smith has been selected to the NFL Pro Bowl. https://twitter.com/wvufootball/status/1752481048934400095?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw This marks the second straight Pro Bowl for Smith. The Seahawks did not qualify for the NFL Playoffs after finishing with a 9-8 record good enough for 3rd in the NFC West. Smith finished the 2023 season with 3,624 yards and 20 touchdown passes. (Photo by WVU Athletics)

MORGANTOWN, WV - Moments ago, the Big 12 Conference officially revealed their football schedule for the 2024 season. The West Virginia Mountaineers, coming off of a 9-4 season, were will play five home games, and four away games in conference play. The following is the official 2024 schedule for WVU Football: August 31st: PENN STATE September 7th: ALBANY September 14th: at PITT September 21st: KANSAS October 5th: at OKLAHOMA STATE October 12th: IOWA STATE October 19th: KANSAS STATE October 26th: at ARIZONA November 7/8th: at CINCINNATI November 16th: BAYLOR November 23rd: UCF November 30th: at TEXAS TECH What is your prediction for the upcoming season? (Photo by WVU Athletics) https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1752361824643645708?s=20

MORGANTOWN, WV - Hudson Clement had quite the freshman season in Morgantown. After receiving praise all through fall camp, the redshirt freshman splashed onto the scene with a big three touchdown effort against Duquesne. He finished the 2023 season with 22 catches for 480 yards and four touchdowns. Earlier today, Clement saw his name included among the best freshman receivers in all of college football. According to Pro Football Focus, Clement finished with a 78.3 grade as a freshman, good enough for 5th-best in the nation. https://twitter.com/pff_college/status/1752001020010418681?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw The former Martinsburg Bulldog also finished with the impressive feat of being the highest graded freshman receiver against press coverage. https://twitter.com/pff_college/status/1752068346038653090?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw Clement has quickly become a household name for the Mountaineers, and will have the opportunity to build on his resume as a key contributor in 2024. (Photo by WVU Athletics) 

Morgantown, WV - According to Matt Zenitz and Brandon Marcello of 247Sports, the West Virginia Mountaineers are expected to name Tyler Allen as their new quarterbacks coach. https://twitter.com/mzenitz/status/1751655240502276533?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw Allen spent the 2023 season as an offensive analyst and special assistant to the head coach for the Mountaineers. He has previously served as the quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State. Stay tuned to The Voice of Motown for updates.

MORGANTOWN, WV - Last night, it was reported by 247Sports that WVU Quarterbacks Coach Sean Reagan had been hired by Troy as their new offensive coordinator. The news came as a shock to everyone, but considering that Troy just hired Gerad Parker as head coach, it made perfect sense for Reagan to make the move. Now, Head Coach Neal Brown is left scrambling to find a replacement for a quarterback room that is loaded with young talent. Brown has been on record stating that the program plans to recruit only mobile quarterbacks moving forward. Given his current stance on the quarterback position, there is a logical choice to replace Reagan in Morgantown. That man is WVU great Pat White. White played for the Mountaineers from 2005 to 2008, and left as arguably the most decorated quarterback in program history. He made his name using his incredible scrambling ability, and understands what it takes to make a difference with a particular skill set. Since the conclusion of his playing career, White has also found his way into the coaching scene. He spent the last two seasons as an offensive analyst for the Los Angeles Chargers, and has coached quarterbacks previously at Alabama State and Alcorn State. The Chargers recently made a coaching change that will likely leave White without an immediate home for the 2024 season. With some years under his belt, a return to Morgantown should ultimately be in the cards for the Alabama native. White would be the perfect coach to bring in a new era of mobile quarterbacks in Morgantown. The three primary quarterbacks on WVU’s roster heading in 2024, Garrett Greene, Nicco Marchiol, and Khalil Wilkins, all have the ability to make defense pay with their legs. Under the guidance of one of the best to ever do it, this quarterback room could quickly become a force to be reckoned with. Only time will tell if Brown will even consider White. But if he does, this could be the perfect marriage for the program moving forward.

MORGANTOWN, WV - After losing Dontae Wright to Troy, another WVU staff member has officially taken a job with the Trojans. According to Brandon Marcello and Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Sean Reagan has been hired as Troy’s offensive coordinator. https://twitter.com/mzenitz/status/1751442591583809884?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw Reagan has been on WVU’s coaching staff since 2019. He spent his time with the Mountaineers primarily as the quarterbacks coach, but also coached tight ends in 2022. This marks his third stint with Troy. Stay tuned to The Voice of Motown for updates. (Photo via WVU Football on YouTube) 

MORGANTOWN, WV - We may only be one month removed from the 2023 WVU Football season, but this has not kept fans from looking ahead for what’s to come. For the first time in what seems like forever, there is some serious buzz surrounding the program. Neal Brown, who was on the hot seat going into 2023, did arguably the best job of defying odds in the nation. The Mountaineers, projected to finish dead-last in the Big 12 in 2023, finished in the top four of the conference with a 9-4 record. Most of the team’s production will once again be suiting up in 2024, and expectations are officially through the roof. Nobody has a crystal ball to truly tell the future, but that is what we are going to try to do today. Here are VOM’s 5 Way-Too-Early Predictions for WVU Football’s 2024 Season: Jahiem White wins Big 12 rushing title - To say that the Mountaineers struck gold with Jahiem White would be an understatement. The Pennsylvania native splashed onto the scene late in the 2023 season, finishing as the team’s leading rusher. Returning on an offense that led the Big 12 in rushing yards, it isn’t too far fetched to believe that White could win the conference’s rushing title. That’s exactly what we believe will happen. Look for a massive sophomore season from White. Garrett Greene vs Jalon Daniels is the game of the year - If Daniels and Greene can stay healthy next season, their scheduled matchup in Morgantown will be a memorable one. Both will be among the best quarterbacks in the Big 12, and will provide fireworks in the Mountain State. It may not reach the levels of WVU’s 70-63 win over Baylor in 2012, but it will certainly be featured among the top games on Sportscenter that night. WVU will be playing for a conference championship game spot in the season finale - We may not have the official schedule yet, but it’s easy to predict that the Mountaineers will be in the mix for the Big 12 title late in the game. Neal Brown has always said he wants to play meaningful football in November - this will be his first chance to do so on the sidelines of Milan Puskar Stadium. A close loss to Penn State does not keep WVU out of CFP discussions - The College Football Playoff officially moves to 12 teams in 2024. This will give more teams the opportunity to play for the ultimate title as the nation’s best. The Mountaineers will have their first slugfest with a potential College Football Playoff participant with Penn State on August 31st. While we expect WVU to lose a closely contested battle in their season opener, this will not keep them out of discussions for the extended playoffs late in the season. If WVU can take care of business in-league play, there’s no reason to believe they can’t be a dark-horse. Neal Brown receives contract extension - Love him or hate him, Neal Brown has quickly turned around WVU’s projection. It took him only one year to take his team as the presumed worst team in the Big 12 to a contender. With the success we expect him to have in 2024, we predict that Wren Baker will want to lock him down for the foreseeable future. Brace yourself for the impact of the news, haters. The Mountaineers have their guy in Brown. (Photo by WVU Athletics) 

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia -- According to 247 Sports' Matt Zenitz, the West Virginia Mountaineers have hired a new defensive assistant coach! Zenitz posted the following message on social media moments ago: "West Virginia is expected to hire Appalachian State's Victor Cabral as outside linebackers coach. Aided by Cabral, App State improved this year to fourth in the Sun Belt in sacks and sixth in tackles for loss after ranking seventh and 12th in those categories in 2022." Cabral, 42, has experience coaching at Georgia Southern, Georgia Military, Samford and Applachian State. He also played college football at Georgia Southern and professionally for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. Here's Cabral's full coaching experience as posted on the Applachian State Football's official website. Coaching Experience 2005-06: Georgia Southern (Video/Quality control) 2007-09: Georgia Military (Defensive line/Special teams) 2010-13: Georgia Southern (Defensive line) 2014: Georgia Southern (Director of player personnel) 2015-17: Samford (Defensive line) 2018: Georgia Southern (Defensive line) 2019-21: Georgia Southern (Defensive line/Recruiting coordinator) 2023: App State (Defensive line) Playing Experience 2000-04: Georgia Southern (DL) 2005: Montreal Alouettes (DL) Alma Mater: Georgia Southern, 2006 Hometown: Naples, Fla. Birthdate: Dec. 31, 1982 in Toronto, Canada Wife: Erin Son: Zac Daughter: Lucy Twitter: @Coach_Cab https://twitter.com/mzenitz/status/1750573090734592235?s=20

MORGANTOWN, WV - Tavon Austin is a living legend in West Virginia. That is no secret. Millions across the nation remember him for his incredible senior highlight tape that was produced by DougityDog all the way back in 2013. To this day, fans still watch and consider it one of the best highlights of all time. Earlier today, a video was shared of Austin sharing this highlight tape with someone very special to him - his daughter. https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1748386948522397930?s=46&t=cXIQ4JQG-pp-P6qrRwLwjw In the link above, Austin’s daughter is seen watching her father’s highlights with pure joy, quickly recognizing him. Austin has played for four different teams throughout his NFL career. He has tallied 244 receptions for 2,239 yards and 16 touchdowns. His production also carried over to the ground and return game with 1,361 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, and 3 punt return touchdowns.