West Virginia Mountaineers
· 2026-07-13
The West Virginia Mountaineers picked up a commitment from 2027 three-star offensive tackle Tristan Hardin-Roberts on July 12, adding more size to an offensive line class that’s already getting big. Rich Rodriguez and line coach Rick Trickett are clearly making the trenches a priority. Hardin-Roberts, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound junior out of Alabama, chose WVU over Oklahoma State and Tulane. The Mountaineers open the season against Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on September 5, 2026.
Hardin-Roberts goes by “Big Ticket” for a reason. He’s ranked as the 99th offensive tackle in the 2027 class and the 48th-best player in Alabama, per 247Sports. He took an official visit to Morgantown on May 29, then visited Oklahoma State on June 11. The Mountaineers won out.
He had offers from a bunch of Power Four programs. But he picked West Virginia over the Cowboys and Tulane. That’s a win for Rodriguez and his staff, especially in a state like Alabama where SEC schools usually dominate.
Hardin-Roberts is the fourth offensive lineman in the class. He’s the third-highest-rated of the bunch, behind Ethan Lawson and Ryan Moore. The shortest guy in the group is Jajuan Graham at 6-foot-3. Almost all four are pushing 300 pounds already.
Rodriguez and Trickett want tall linemen who can fill out. They’re not messing around with small frames. The 2027 class now has 24 commits, and WVU sits 36th in the composite rankings — one spot behind rival Pitt. In the Big 12, the Mountaineers are fourth-best, recently passed by Colorado.
West Virginia’s offensive line struggled last season. They just didn’t have enough size up front. So Rodriguez hit the transfer portal hard for big, productive linemen to help win now. That approach is trickling into high school recruiting.
Hardin-Roberts is another piece of that puzzle. He’s a tackle with room to grow. The staff sees him as a guy who can develop into a starter in a year or two.
WVU still has months until the season opener. The Coastal Carolina game on September 5 will be the first test. Rodriguez has rebuilt the roster through both the portal and high school recruiting. The 2027 class is taking shape, and the offensive line is getting the attention it needed.
Hardin-Roberts is the latest example. He’s big, he’s talented, and he picked West Virginia. That’s a good sign for the future.