Kevin Brown Isn’t the Only WVU Freshman Offensive Lineman Turning Heads

Rich Rod and Rick Trickett love the potential of this group of freshmen in the trenches.

WVU Athletics Communications

What a difference a year makes.

The West Virginia starting offensive line went from having a former walk-on at a Group of Five school, a player who didn't sniff the field at LSU and switched to defense starting at tackle, two first-time starters in Nick Krahe and Landen Livingston, and a quasi starter in Ty'Kieast Crawford to one of the most experienced groups in all of college football.

Transforming the offensive line goes well beyond the transfer portal work. It really starts with the guys you get out of high school and develop them into contributors and eventually starters. Obviously, the Mountaineers have a stud in that group of freshmen offensive linemen, but head coach Rich Rodriguez really likes the group as a whole, mentioning a handful of guys who could see the field early in their careers.

"Our young guys, Kevin (Brown) and Aidan (Woods) and big Jonas (Muya), Camden (Goforth), I really like our freshmen class. I think some of those guys got a chance to play early. Kevin’s got a chance to start. He’s physically ready, but more than anything, he’s got a certain level of maturity, football maturity, that you don’t see typically in a true freshman. I kind of knew that when we signed him, and then he’s been what we thought he would be, and he’ll keep getting better too.”

Offensive line coach Rick Trickett also dropped a line or so on a couple of those youngsters, in addition to Kevin Brown, who believes can be a "really good player" this year.

“I like this freshman kid, Aidan Woods. I like him. He’s got some things about him,” Trickett said. “I got a young kid named Lamarcus Dillard that down the road he has a chance to be a really, really good kind of player.”

Brown, Muya, and Woods all project to be tackles, while Goforth is repping at guard, and Dillard will rep at guard and center.

Goforth became a fan favorite throughout the recruiting process, making his love for WVU very clear, constantly recruiting guys on social media and posting workout videos to show the fans he is ready to put the work in.

Muya was a late addition to the recruiting class, picking the Mountaineers on the eve of signing day over offers from Cincinnati, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Purdue, Tennessee, and a handful of others. He has tremendous length at 6'7" and weighs roughly 290 lbs. Packing on a few extra pounds of muscle will do him some good. He has a very bright future and could work his way into a starting role by year three.