MORGANTOWN — West Virginia added a linebacker and a pass rusher, adding another Power Four-level player to its 2026 roster.

Illinois linebacker Malachi Hood is reportedly transferring to the Mountaineers, which was first reported by 247Sports’ Tom Loy. Later Tuesday night, Bowling Green EDGE David Afogho also announced he’d be transferring as well. Hood joined UNLV’s Isaiah Patterson, making it two linebackers for WVU this cycle. Afogho is the first pass rusher added and the second defensive lineman.

Hood was a starter for the Illini last season and helped the squad to a 9-4 season. Hood had 44 tackles, a pass breakup, forced a fumble and had a sack. He had a career-high six tackles against Western Michigan. In 12 games in 2024, Hood had two sacks, two tackles for loss and forced two fumbles. Hood has an eye for the ball.

The Joliet, Illinois, native wasn’t rated in the portal, but he was a 3-star prospect out of high school.

Hood is expected to add depth to a linebacker room that was decimated with graduations. WVU’s top linebackers, Reid Carrico and Chase Wilson, have both run out of eligibility, so WVU needed new faces. Most of the young players on the roster have transferred out; most recently, Ben Bogle announced his transfer.

Linebackers are coming in through the 2026 recruiting class, but Rodriguez needed some experience. Hood has a couple of years at the Power Four level under his belt, and should be a nice addition.

Afogho spent three years at Bowling Green. He redshirted his freshman year and then played 21 games in the final two seasons. In 2025, Afogho had 37 tackles and five tackles for loss. He made his first career start last season and had half a sack in that game. He wasn’t rated as a high school recruit, but was a 3-star transfer prospect, according to 247Sports.

WVU lost a lot of production on the defensive line, and one of the biggest points of emphasis for defensive coordinator Zac Alley was disrupting the backfield. Afogho adds some nice size at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, which should help stuffing gaps.

Hood and Afogho joined the long list of young players Rodriguez has added in the portal. Rodriguez talked about how the Mountaineers planned to build young, and so far, he has done so through his additions. A majority of the transfer additions have more than one year left of eligibility.