MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With the early signing period in December, National Signing Day in February isn’t the spectacle it once was. However, West Virginia is expected to add a few key members to the team Wednesday.
Eddie Watkins, BAN, 6-4, 240, Evergreen, Ala./Hillcrest-Evergreen HS
Played outside linebacker and defensive end for coach Clinton Smith at Hillcrest High … 2019 4A Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State First Team … finished with 66 tackles and 10 sacks in helping Hillcrest to a 7-5 record and the second round of the Alabama 4A state playoffs in his senior season … rated a three-star prospect by ESPN, rivals and 247Sports … rated the No. 57-top defensive end nationally by 247Sports and No. 112 nationally by ESPN … ranked No. 39 in the state by rivals, No. 42 by 247Sports and No. 45 by ESPN … also offered by Arizona, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Missouri, Purdue and UCF.
A’varius Sparrow, RB, 5-10, 190, Orlando, Fla./Jones HS
Played running back for coach Elijah Williams at Jones High … earned 5A All-State Honorable Mention … selected No. 21 on Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida Top 60 recruits … played just two years of football after previously concentrating on wrestling … used at linebacker for part of his junior season, but then exploded as a running back during his senior year … finished with more than 3,200 yards during his junior and senior seasons … helped lead Jones to a 13-2 record, the Florida 5A state championship game and a No. 11 finish in the state … finished with 2,135 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior … rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the state title contest … had 200 or more rushing yards in four games and 100 or more yards in 11 games … scored multiple touchdowns in 12 games … season-high 276 yards and two touchdowns against Johns Creek … had 240 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs against Wakulla … three-star rating by ESPN, rivals and 247Sports … No. 73 running back nationally by 247Sports … rated No. 144-top prospect in Florida and No. 244 by ESPN … also offered by Florida Atlantic, Rutgers, UCF and USF.
