West Virginia Lands Duquesne Transfer DB Ayden Garnes
While the transfer portal provides the opportunity for teams to lose key players through outgoing departures, it also has the ability to help a team bring in key players each offseason.
Neal Brown and the West Virginia Mountaineers recently added a new name to their squad ahead of the 2024 season with the commitment of former Duquesne defensive back Ayden Garnes.
Garnes was an important player for the Dukes’ defense in 2023 recording 50 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, two interceptions, and one touchdown during his sophomore season. Garnes spent two years at Duquesne and totaled 78 tackles, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and 12 pass breakups.
Coming out of high school, Garnes was listed as an unranked prospect by most major recruiting services. Garnes saw action in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2022 and started the Dukes’ final seven games of the season. While Garnes’ performance on the field helped earn him the opportunity to join Neal Brown’s staff, his off-the-field performances earned him a nomination for the All-State Good Hands Team which is an award given to outstanding members focused on helping their community.
Garnes became the Mountaineers’ first addition through the transfer portal this offseason, but with the portal already featuring a record number of players, Neal Brown’s squad will likely have some more names to chase in the near future.
