Receiver Steven Smothers and reserve lineman Dontae Angus are no longer with the West Virginia University football team. Smothers, a 247Sports 4-star receiver out of Baltimore, quickly drew comparisons to former jitterbug Tavon Austin. Steven held offers from multiple Power 5 blue bloods like Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan. Smothers would not play in 2016 and used his redshirt option. Smothers was ultimately held out of spring practice with “academic issues” according to head coach Dana Holgorsen.

Smothers was the second highest rated prospect in the vaunted 2015 class. Behind only linebacker Brendan Ferns, Smothers was expected to carry the torch left behind by do-it-all player Tavon Austin. With the ability to line up in both the slot and in the backfield, Mountaineer fans could easily see Smothers being the next great West Virginia player to run around the Oklahoma Sooners.

Dontae Angus makes at least the 12th player from the 2014 recruiting class to leave the program early.