Does West Virginia boost it's pass defense with the addition of JaCorey Thomas?

The Mountaineers have added a former SEC starter on defense: what does he add for the team? By Joseph Smith Sep 7, 2026, 2:54 PM EDT Add us as a preferred source Dec 6, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Jacorey Thomas (20) celebrates a sack during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2025 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The West Virginia Mountaineers opened their season with a win this past weekend over Coastal Carolina. And while there were some positives and some negatives in the victory, the biggest weak spot was clearly the team's pass defense, which allowed freshman quarterback Deuce Bailey to shred the Mountaineers to the tune of 377 yards and three touchdowns. Not good, right? But how do you fix it when you're stuck, for lack of a better term, with the talent you have? Well, one way might be taking advantage of the early eligibility chaos to make a late addition to the roster. The news came out on Friday night that former Georgia starting safety JaCorey Thomas was looking to return for another year after earning a temporary restraining order in court, and now, he has committed to the Mountaineers on Monday. BREAKING: Georgia transfer Safety JaCorey Thomas has Committed to West Virginia, a source tells @On3He totaled 63 tackles, 2 PD, and 1 sack in his time with the Bulldogs Thomas was granted a TRO last week for a 5th year of eligibility https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/RGLW1ZXKug — Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 7, 2026 JaCorey Thomas commits to West Virginia football The big question here for most fans is simple: what exactly does Thomas add for the Mountaineers, and can help the lackluster pass defense on display this past weekend for West Virginia. The answer? Well, probably – but don't get too excited yet. Thomas was a starter for a 12-2 Georgia team last year before earning an NFL mini-camp invite, so he's certainly a high-level talent. You don't tend to start for an elite blue blood and get the chance to earn an NFL opportunity unless that's the case. But a glance at his stats and PFF grades don't neccessarily reveal an immediate impact player. On the season, he posted a 66.8 PFF defensive grade, which is slightly above average, and a 63.3 PFF coverage grade, which is a bit below average. He was targeted 22 times and allowed 15 receptions and one touchdown on 293 snaps where he was in coverage. He had 45 tackles, no interceptions, and no pass deflections in 14 games. So he's not likely to be some major defensive star. But when you look at some of the PFF grades and number of receptions allowed on Saturday by some of WVU's safeties and cornerbacks, he could still be a moderate improvement on what West Virginia currently has on the field. It's not clear whether West Virginia will move him to cornerback, where the Mountaineers have less depth, or keep him at safety. One area where West Virginia struggled last season where he could make a significant addition is with his tackling. That figure of 45 tackles in 14 games might undersell his ability a bit, as he had just four missed tackles and a 7.8% missed tackle percentage on the year, and he posted an 83.7 PFF tackling grade on the season. He will still have to condition, acclimate, and learn Zac Alley's defenseive system, so regardless of what he adds and where he lines up on the field, don't expect to see him in action for a few weeks. Add us as a preferred source on Google