WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Liberty enters the 2026 season with one of the Mountain East Conference's most accomplished running backs back in the fold and a deep group of tailbacks ready to share the workload.
Senior Hunter Patterson returns to lead the Hilltoppers after a record-setting 2025 campaign that earned him MEC Offensive Player of the Year honors, First-Team All-MEC recognition and a place among the top running backs in Division II.

Patterson has also been named to the 2026 D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List, earning a spot among the site's offensive "Squad" selections. The Elite 100 Watch List is selected by the D2Football.com staff with input from sitting head coaches and professional football scout Josh Buchanan. The list includes first- and second-team selections on offense, defense and special teams, along with 25 "Squad" players on both offense and defense. Squad selections are considered the equivalent of honorable mention recognition.

Patterson was also a 2025 D2Football.com Elite 100 Team Squad Offense honoree following his breakout junior season. The Chester, W.Va., native rushed for 1,219 yards and 17 touchdowns on 174 carries last season, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt and 121.9 yards per game. He also caught 33 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns, finishing with 1,637 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns.

Patterson's 120 points led the MEC, while his 17 rushing touchdowns and 20 total touchdowns also led the conference. He capped the season with a spectacular performance in West Liberty's victory over Wheeling, tying program single-game records with five rushing touchdowns and six total touchdowns.

Now, after a standout junior season, Patterson returns as both a proven playmaker and a leader in Chad Salisbury's first season as West Liberty's head coach. "Probably along with our O-Line the strength of our team, you return Hunter Patterson, who's Player of the Year," Salisbury said.

Salisbury said Patterson's impact goes well beyond what happens when the ball is in his hands. "He's such a quiet kid and just goes to work," Salisbury said. "Sure it changes things because when he has the ball in his hand, he looks completely different, but he's also a good teammate. He's a guy that encourages his teammates to be good. He's encouraging his other tailbacks to be good. He's a total package type of kid."
While Patterson gives the Hilltoppers an established star at the position, West Liberty has no shortage of options behind him.

Senior Khalon Simmons arrives from Clarion after rushing for 612 yards and 13 touchdowns on 125 carries in 2025. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and added 25 receptions for 260 yards and a touchdown.
Simmons brings significant collegiate production to the Hilltop and gives Salisbury another experienced option in the backfield. "He was an all-league kid at Clarion last year," Salisbury said. "He's a really good football player."

Sophomore Anthony May also enters the season with momentum after what Salisbury described as a standout spring, while senior Jay'Den Birch, a transfer from Gannon, has impressed the coaching staff throughout the summer. "Anthony May had a phenomenal spring, and then Jay'Den Birch is a transfer from Gannon who has been just outstanding this summer," Salisbury said. "So I like that group. I think there's four players there that can help us."

That depth could become especially important in Salisbury's offense, where the running backs will be asked to do considerably more than simply carry the football. Salisbury wants his tailbacks to contribute as runners, receivers and pass protectors. "If you get knocked out of bounds at the one-yard line, you've got to be able to run the ball," Salisbury said. "You've got to be able to pass protect. You've got to be able to catch the ball, and you've got to be able to finish."

That all-around responsibility is particularly important in the passing game. Salisbury doesn't want his backs spending every passing down lined up in protection. When possible, he wants them using their athletic ability against opposing linebackers. "I want them out there putting their skills on the line and trying to beat linebackers with routes," he said. The combination of Patterson, Simmons, May and Birch gives the Hilltoppers several players capable of contributing in different ways, and Salisbury believes their willingness to embrace those responsibilities could make the group especially valuable. "They're not selfish kids," Salisbury said. "They want to protect. They want to pass protect, and they also block for each other really well."

That unselfishness is something Salisbury believes offensive coordinator Phil Hamilton will appreciate when it comes to managing the backfield. "There's four players there that can help us," Salisbury said. "They all are not selfish kids."

And while the Hilltoppers have plenty of depth, Salisbury knows that depth at running back is never something a coaching staff can take for granted. The position is inherently physical, with backs absorbing contact whether they're carrying the ball, catching a pass or stepping into pass protection. "You can never have enough good ones at running back because they're in a car crash every play," Salisbury said. "Whether you're handing it to them or they're blocking for somebody, it's a huge car crash."

That physical nature makes having multiple capable backs even more important as the season progresses. Salisbury isn't committed to a predetermined distribution of carries. If one back gets hot, he could receive the bulk of the workload. But if multiple backs are producing, he's perfectly comfortable spreading the carries around. "Is there a guy that gets hot and gets 20 carries? Sure," Salisbury said. "If two of them end up with 15 and we're over 200 yards rushing, I'm cool."

The approach gives West Liberty plenty of flexibility entering the 2026 season.

Patterson provides the proven production and explosive ability. Simmons brings collegiate experience and a track record of finding the end zone. May enters the season after a strong spring, while Birch has emerged as another intriguing option during the summer. Together, they give the Hilltoppers a backfield built not only around talent, but around versatility, toughness and an unselfish approach that Salisbury believes can become a major strength of the new West Liberty offense.
 




West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.