By Kennan Cummings
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia has kept the state’s top rated player home with the commitment of Bluefield (W.Va.) defensive end Sean Martin to the football program.
And that’s a big deal.
Martin, 6-foot-5, 255-pounds, collected a long list of scholarship offers including Penn State, Kentucky, North Carolina, Purdue, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Michigan State and others.
The Rivals.com three-star prospect took official visits to West Virginia, North Carolina, Penn State and Purdue but ultimately the efforts of the WVU coaches were the difference. The Mountaineers prioritized Martin upon taking the job and were relentless in his recruitment, even with an early pledge to UNC.
Running backs coach Chad Scott, along with defensive line coach Jordan Lesley, prioritized the athletic pass rusher and those efforts eventually paid off his pledge. The commitment is not big for sending a message that the coaching staff is going to keep the state’s best at home, but also is at a position of need considering that defensive line was the biggest area of emphasis in the class.
The Mountaineers were the first offer for Martin under the old coaching regime, but things actually increased after the change with the program putting him into full focus.
Martin gives the program a versatile pass rusher that has the frame to add more weight and potentially even slide inside as he continues to develop. He also is athletic enough to drop into coverage and defend in space at his size, showcasing his abilities.
The in-state defensive end made multiple visits to Morgantown including an official stop for the Texas Tech game and that comfort level helped play a role in his eventual choice.
West Virginia now is up to 15 commitments in the class and Martin joins Fairmont Senior offensive center Zach Frazier as in-state prospects in the current class. This is the first time that the program has been able to keep the best player in-state since Dante Stills in the 2020 cycle.
The Mountaineers will now turn their attention to putting the finishing touches on this class and is set to host an official visit weekend Dec. 6 with a number of uncommitted prospects expected.
