BY KEENAN CUMMINGS
MORGANTOWN — Another camp, more in-state offers.
Or at least that seems to be the recipe of late when it comes to the WVU football program. After extending a scholarship to Fairmont Senior 2020 defensive end Zach Frazier, the Mountaineers followed up with a daily-double of offers to Kanawha Valley players.
Capital defensive back Kerry Martin and South Charleston 2021 defensive end Zeiqui Lawton became the latest in a string of in-state prospects to collect offers from WVU.
Martin, 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds, isn’t a new name on the radar considering he camped in Morgantown for several years, but this might have been his most rewarding trip to date.
Working out exclusively as a defensive back during the camp, the Mountain State product caught the attention of the coaches, which led to the decision to pull the trigger.
The senior-to-be was excited over the news.
“They offered me. I’m very grateful for that. It’s just great that your hometown team, your home state team offers you a scholarship,” Martin said. “This is our state school. We don’t have any leagues; we don’t have any NFL teams, so it’s definitely a blessing they gave me an offer.”
Martin already held offers from Rutgers, Cincinnati and around 10 other programs, but he made it clear that while he isn’t ready to name leaders, the Mountaineers hold a special place on his list.
He already is planning a return visit for July and hopes to have a bow put on his recruitment by the time his senior season rolls around in August.
While that recruitment could be coming to a close soon, the cycle for Lawton is only just beginning. After wrapping up his freshman season for the Black Eagles, the defensive end held offers from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall. WVU became his first from the Power 5 level.
At 6-3 and 240, Lawton ran an impressive 40-yard dash and more than held his own in the one-on-one portion, earning the offer from the Mountaineers. He didn’t expect it this early, but it was exciting all the same to add the in-state flagship program to his list.
“I was happy and very excited,” Lawton said.
The offer won’t be the last for Lawton, who projects as an elite talent in his recruiting class.
But as has been the case of late, WVU got its foot in the door early. And that’s a good start.
