Curtis Jones Jr. Transfers To One Of West Virginia's Most Heated Rivals

2 jam yang lalu

A West Virginia kid calved and raised has near nan Mountaineers for 1 of nan program's biggest rivals, Virginia Tech.

Linebacker and part-time moving backmost Curtis Jones Jr. announced connected X connected Saturday that he would beryllium leaving Morgantown for Blacksburg, wherever he'll beryllium a portion of James Franklin's first team.

Thank nan lord🤞🏾 pic.twitter.com/wwFNoSwlH0

— Curtis Jones Jr (@CurtisJonesJr6) January 18, 2026

Now, not each kid from nan authorities that's bully capable to play Division I shot needs to play for West Virginia, and location person been respective complete nan years that haven't. But to commit, sign, and walk aggregate years pinch nan Mountaineers to past transportation to 1 of nan school's biggest rivals, well, is surely a move.

The 2 programs haven't played 1 different since 2023 and person nary games connected nan docket successful nan future, but it conscionable goes to show really overmuch nan assemblage scenery has changed. Something for illustration this would person been a rarity, moreover arsenic overmuch arsenic 10-15 years ago. Now that NIL is simply a cardinal part, if not nan driving force, of astir decisions, these sorts of things are becoming much normal.

A root told West Virginia On SI that Jones' determination to participate nan portal was a surprise. They had galore discussions pinch players, telling them they either wouldn't person a spot connected adjacent year's roster aliases that they wouldn't beryllium successful a position to play much. That's not thing that was said to nan Huntington native. The unit afloat anticipated him to beryllium a cardinal portion of Zac Alley's defense successful 2026 and beyond.

This past season, Jones recorded 23 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, and a sack.