By Keenan Cummings
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia has gone international once again to fill a need a need on the roster with the commitment of Edward Vesterinen.
The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder selected the Mountaineers over offers from Baylor, Massachusetts and Coastal Carolina, and things moved quickly between the two parties.
A product of Finland, WVU only first reached out a few weeks ago, but things came together quickly leading to an offer and subsequent commitment from the European prospect.
Vesterinen is the third member of the European group PPI Recruits to select the Mountaineers, following in the footsteps of 2020 signee cornerback Jairo Faverus, from Amsterdam, and 2021 tight end Victor Wikstrom, from Sweden. That comfort level with those two, as well as the coaches, undoubtedly played a part in his decision, according to PPI Founder Brandon Collier.
“I’m thankful that coach (Neal) Brown is open-minded. He has to be a little unique in his recruitment and they trust my judgment on the kids and I’m thankful we have that strong bond,” Collier said.
Vesterinen is what Collier believes is the most college-ready that his group has produced in recent years, and with prospects at various schools across the country, that is saying something. Last season, the group, which helps European born college football players in getting recruited to play in the United States, produced over 20 signees with Division-I programs, including the Mountaineers.
The defensive end possesses good hands and is quick, and has the versatility to slide between a strong side defensive end or a three technique inside on passing downs as he continues to develop his body.
“I thought he was the most college-ready now kid out of anybody I’ve worked with. He can come in and competed right away,” Collier said.
Collier expects Vesterinen, who was originally a 2021 prospect, to enroll at WVU in August to start his college career, although that has yet to be set in stone.
WVU continues to show it isn’t afraid to go outside the box, or country for that matter, to build a competitive roster and Vesterinen is just the latest example of that.
