Transfer Receiver is Turning Heads in WVU Spring Practice

When wide receiver Cam Vaughn announced that he would be leaving West Virginia and entering the transfer portal, the initial reaction was that the Mountaineers would have a massive piece to replace. While that is true to some degree, he wasn't irreplaceable by any means. There was a lot of inconsistency in his game and some questionable effort at times.

Over the winter months, the Mountaineers did a near-total revamp of its wide receiver room, completely changing the outlook of the group heading into the 2026 season.

One of the newcomers who will be a big piece of this offense, Prince Strachan, could end up being an upgrade over Vaughn, believe it or not. I know, it's early, and there's a lot of work to be done, but I'm hearing a lot of really encouraging things about the former USC Trojan, who is consistently making big plays in spring practice. He has become a deep ball favorite for the top two quarterbacks — Mike Hawkins Jr. and Scotty Fox Jr.

His big, 6-foot-6, 211-pound frame has a lot to do with it, but he's not just a possession receiver. Strachan is a threat to make things happen after the catch, too. But keep in mind, he is making plays over pretty long corners. West Virginia's coaching staff made it a point to recruit corners and safeties with size, so it's not like he's out here Moss-ing 5'10" corners.

If you're wondering why Strachan didn't see much action last season with USC, making just one catch for 25 yards in one game, it's because he suffered an ankle injury early in the year, which ultimately cost him the entire year. Even if he were fully healthy, he would have been buried on the depth chart in what was a pretty loaded receiver room, headlined by Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane.

In the two previous seasons at Boise State, he combined for 37 receptions for 578 yards and three touchdowns. That was more than enough for USC to think there was something there, so essentially, West Virginia is taking the same roll of the dice, but with the added factor of him coming off an injury-filled season. He is fully healthy now, however.

Going back to his final game at Boise, he hauled in four receptions for 40 yards against Penn State in the College Football Playoffs. All the tools are there for him to have a breakout year in his first year in Morgantown.