Transfer from Valdosta State Center Visit from Michael Marotta to WVU
The offensive line was West Virginia’s strongest offensive line this season. An abundance of elite skill and expertise set the stage for the top rushing attack in Power Five football.
Good news: most of that group is returning for the upcoming season with the Mountaineers. The unfavorable report? Zach Frazier, a center, is leaving for the NFL.
The coaching staff is targeting a few offensive linemen in the transfer portal, but they are concentrating most of their attention on defensive backs and receivers. They extended an offer to Michael Marotta, a former starting center for Valdosta State, last week.
Eastern Kentucky, Georgia State, Old Dominion, San Diego State, Texas Tech, UCF, UMass, USF, UTEP, Western Kentucky, and a few other schools have also gotten in touch with Marotta.
He informed Mountaineers Now that he anticipates traveling to West Virginia on business on December 15.
“I should be hearing from their recruiting department shortly to finalize the details on this. They are the first people I think of,” Marotta remarked. “The offensive line play of West Virginia has been absurd. Easily one of the most important elements.”
There are still two years left on his eligibility.
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The West Virginia Mountaineers have seen a surge in players quitting the program and using the NCAA Transfer Portal in the last few days. There may seem to be no hope and the Mountaineers are just losing players. It should be mentioned that the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, the Mountaineers’ next bowl opponent, will also be missing a number of players. Regrettably, this will affect the North Carolina Tarheels, who lost several important players who led them to an 8-4 season.
Drake May, the quarterback, is the biggest loss. He declared yesterday that he would skip the bowl game in order to concentrate on the NFL Draft, where he is a candidate for the top overall pick in the upcoming 2024 Draft.
Tez Walker, a wide receiver, and linebacker Cedric Gray will join May in NFL Draft preparation. In addition to a career-high five sacks and an interception, Gray led UNC with 121 tackles. For the second consecutive year, he was selected to the All-ACC first team. Walker caught 41 passes for 699 yards and seven touchdowns during his eight games with the Tar Heels. Despite having a shortened season, he was named to the All-ACC Third Team.
Any fan would go crazy at the loss of their starting wide receiver, starting linebacker, and starting quarterback, but the Tarheels will be without more than just those three players. It has been announced that center Corey Gaynor will not participate in the bowl game. Additionally, the show revealed that tight end John Copenhaver (lower body), tight end Bryson Nesbit (lower body), defensive back Will Hardy (upper body), defensive back Alijah Huzzie (lower body), and offensive lineman Zach Rice (lower body) are all injured and will not participate in the bowl game.
