Ex-Penn State football player, recruits crack first official West Virginia depth chart of 2024

In seven weeks, Penn State football opens the 2024 season on the road at West Virginia. Although it’s the first time since 1992 that the Nittany Lions will travel to Morgantown to face the Mountaineers, many familiar faces will be across the field come August 31.

Coinciding with the start of Big 12 media days, Neal Brown and the West Virginia football program released the Mountaineers’ first official depth chart of the 2024 season on Tuesday.

The preseason depth chart provides James Franklin and the Nittany Lions a first look at the potential matchups awaiting them at the end of August. Beyond that, the Mountaineers’ starting rotation heading into fall camp features several players with connections to the Penn State football program.

Penn State football transfer projected as defensive starter

Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

On defense, former Penn State defensive lineman Fatorma Mulbah is listed as West Virginia’s starting nose tackle, albeit with Hammond Russell listed with an “OR” designation behind the ex-Nittany Lion. In Happy Valley from 2020 to 2022, Mulbah recorded four tackles over 19 games.

Mulbah transferred to West Virginia following Penn State’s 2022 Rose Bowl-winning season. He played 237 snaps in all 13 games last year for the Mountaineers, making his first college start in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. He finished the 2023 season with 25 tackles and three tackles for loss.

A Susquehanna Township graduate, Fatorma Mulbah was a top 10 player in Pennsylvania in the 2020 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports.

The Mountaineers’ roster also used to feature another former Nittany Lion defender, linebacker Lance Dixon. A five-star recruit out of high school, Dixon transferred to West Virginia in 2021.

However, Dixon has since moved on again, transferring to Toledo in January.

One-time Nittany Lion targets crack West Virginia depth chart

While Fatorma Mulbah is the only ex-Penn State player listed at the top of West Virginia’s preseason depth chart, several former Nittany Lion recruits were also able to crack the starting rotation.

Sticking on the defensive side of the ball, St. Joseph’s Prep graduate Josiah Trotter is listed as the Mountaineers’ starting will linebacker, again with Ben Cutter listed with an “OR” designation. The son of ex-Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Josiah Trotter made three visits to Penn State during his recruitment.

The No. 6 recruit in Pennsylvania during the 2023 cycle per On3’s Industry Rankings, Trotter suffered a season-ending leg injury during spring practice of his redshirt freshman season.

On the opposite side of the line of scrimmage, West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene will turn to former Laurel Highlands wide receiver Rodney Gallagher to help spark the Mountaineer offense. One of the top receivers in Pennsylvania in the 2023 cycle, Gallagher visited with the Nittany Lions six times as a prospect.

Listed as the Mountaineers’ starting H receiver, Gallagher had ten receptions for 74 yards and 15 rushes for 87 yards as a true freshman in 2023.

Penn State football is currently a 10.5-point favorite over West Virginia, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The 2024 season opener will be nationally televised on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff.

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