By Keenan Cummings
MORGANTOWN — The Fourth of July is often associated with fireworks and the West Virginia coaching staff was able to set off some of its own on the recruiting trail.
The coaches secured a verbal commitment from Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage cornerback Jacolby Spells. Spells, a top priority since offering over the winter, made the switch from wide receiver to defensive back during his junior season and saw his recruitment take off significantly.
Spells, at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, collected scholarships from WVU, Miami, Indiana, Florida, Penn State, Texas A&M, Auburn, Michigan State, Arkansas, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Virginia, among others.
But the first three schools on that list became the favorites in his recruitment.
The Rivals.com 3-star prospect took official visits to WVU, Miami and Indiana over the course of three weekends in June and the Mountaineers won the battle.
Spells became a significant target for all three schools in large part because of his length and coverage ability at the cornerback position and track speed.
The pledge also gets the Mountaineers back into the talent rich region of South Florida with a major commitment the program went toe-to-toe with Miami and beat them on the recruiting trail.
Tight ends coach Travis Trickett served as the lead recruiter for Spells and developed a close connection with him. Co-defensive coordinator ShaDon Brown also played a key role and was the coach that Spells spent the most time with during his official visit to campus in early June.
“He told me straight up I’d fit perfect in their defense because they don’t have too many defensive backs right now who can play press or man like I can,” Spells said.
Spells becomes the 11th commitment in the 2022 recruiting class to commit to the Mountaineers and the third at the cornerback position behind Loganville (Ga.) Grayson cornerback Mumu Bin-Wahad and Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances cornerback Tyrin Woodby.
That should put a bow on recruiting the position in this cycle, but what a way to go out with a bang.
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