The Mountaineers Are Losing Another Weapon
West Virginia’s receiving corps just took another hit. Wide receiver Cam Vaughn is heading for the transfer portal when the window opens next week, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. It’s the latest departure from a Mountaineers offense that desperately needs continuity after a rough 4-8 campaign.
Vaughn reunited with Rich Rodriguez in Morgantown this past season after the two worked together at Jacksonville State. That partnership paid immediate dividends—Vaughn hauled in 35 catches for 541 yards and four scores in his lone year wearing the gold and blue. Those numbers came after he racked up 803 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a redshirt freshman at JSU in 2024.
The Georgia native will have two years of eligibility remaining, making him an attractive option for programs shopping for proven playmakers. According to the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings, Vaughn entered as the No. 439 overall player and No. 73-ranked receiver in the 2025 cycle when he first transferred to West Virginia.
A Bright Spot in a Tough Season
Despite the Mountaineers’ struggles, Vaughn was one of the highest-graded offensive players on the roster, per PFF. He emerged as a legitimate deep threat and became one of the few consistent weapons Rodriguez could lean on. That makes his departure sting even more for a program trying to rebuild under their returning head coach.
Vaughn isn’t the only offensive player eyeing the exit. Running back Diore Hubbard also plans to test the portal waters after logging 335 yards and four touchdowns on 96 carries this season. The true freshman showed flashes but appeared in just eight games after getting banged up late in the year.
Rodriguez’s Rocky Return to Morgantown
Rodriguez’s homecoming hasn’t gone according to plan. After leaving Jacksonville State to take over his old stomping grounds, the Mountaineers stumbled to a brutal 4-8 record that included a five-game losing streak. They started 2-1 and looked competitive, but the bottom fell out quickly.
Now Rodriguez faces the challenge of keeping his roster intact while also hitting the portal hard to upgrade the talent level. Losing productive pieces like Vaughn and Hubbard only makes that job tougher. The portal giveth and the portal taketh away—and right now, West Virginia is on the wrong end of that equation.
The transfer portal window officially opens next week, and WVU fans better brace themselves for more movement. Building a winner in Morgantown is going to take time, patience, and a whole lot of recruiting magic.
