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 lordš¤š¾ pic.twitter.com/wwFNoSwlH0
ā Curtis Jones Jr (@CurtisJonesJr6) January 18, 2026Now, 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.
Tracking wherever erstwhile West Virginia Mountaineers are transferring to
RB Cyncir Bowers ----> UConn
RB Jahiem White ----> North Texas
WR Rodney Gallagher III ----> Arizona
WR Christian Hamilton ----> Marshall
WR Oran Singleton ----> Tulsa
WR Cam Vaughn ----> Miami
OL Xavier Bausley ----> Marshall
OL Donovan Haslam ----> Tennessee
OL Robby Martin ----> Marshall
DL Asani Redwood ----> South Florida
DL Hammond Russell IV ----> Wisconsin
EDGE Curtis Jones Jr. ----> Virginia Tech
EDGE MarShon Oxley ----> South Florida
LB Ben Bogle ----> Arkansas
S Israel Boyce ----> South Florida
S Jason Cross Jr. ----> North Texas
S Zae Jennings ----> Buffalo
S Chris Fileppo ----> Penn State
K Ethan Head ----> Troy
P Aidan Stire ----> Akron
MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI
Sunday Morning Thoughts: Rich Rod, WVU May Have Found a Niche successful Portal Recruiting
Ross Hodge Credits Experience After WVU Turns Back Colorado
Stock Up, Stock Down: Eaglestaff Heats Up, Mountaineers Finish nan Job + More
Rapid Takeaways From West Virginia's 15th Straight Home Victory
Who Stayed? The Transfer Portal is Closed, and WVU Knows nan Bulk of Its Roster
English (US) ·
Indonesian (ID) ·