West Virginia won’t have one of its starting corners next season.

The Mountaineers’ cornerback Jordan Scruggs announced on social media that he plans on declaring for the NFL Draft. Scruggs hoped he’d get an extra year of eligibility to return to Morgantown, but it seemed like he wasn’t awarded another season.

Scruggs played in all 12 games for WVU after transferring from South Alabama last year. He recorded 33 tackles and had two pass breakups. Scruggs’ biggest highlight from the 2025 season was his pick-6 against Houston, providing a lot of momentum in the upset.

At South Alabama, he was the fourth-leading tackler with 69 tackles, including 33 unassisted stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and had an interception taken back 96 yards against Appalachian State.

“I want to thank the coaching staff at West Virginia University for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to compete at this level,” Scruggs said on social media. “Your trust, coaching, and commitment to my development have shaped me both on and off the field.”

Scruggs wasn’t the only WVU player to announce they were headed to the pros. A little bit before Scruggs, wide receiver Justin Smith-Brown announced he’d be headed to the NFL. Smith-Brown didn’t play much in his one season at WVU. He was a bit deeper on the depth chart and recorded just seven catches for 117 yards. His biggest game was arguably against Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, where he had a long 56-yard reception.

Prior to the Mountaineers, Smith-Brown spent three seasons at South Carolina State. In 2024, he had 54 grabs for 749 yards and four touchdowns, making him a promising receiver in the transfer portal. But, Smith-Brown couldn’t really get it going in Morgantown.

“Im grateful for the memories and championships in Orangeburg, and to West Virginia for welcoming me into an incredible program for my final season,” Smith-Brown wrote on social media. “With that being said, I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.”

Scruggs and Smith-Brown are just the first Mountaineers to declare for the draft, with many more expected. WVU had a ton of seniors recognized on Senior Day, but there could be a few who’ll get an extra year and return.

Luckily, Rich Rodriguez added a big freshman class (49), and still has the transfer portal to patch up the losses.