MORGANTOWN — The early signing period is here and that means action on the recruiting trail.
West Virginia currently has 20 commitments in the class, including two transfers in former Clemson running back Lyn-J Dixon and Cincinnati defensive lineman Zeiqui Lawton, but more fireworks could be in store.
The Mountaineers class is currently ranked at No. 27 nationally according to Rivals.com, but that has a chance to make even more leaps forward depending on how things break.
That’s because on top of the players currently committed to the Mountaineers, there are still several top targets remaining on the board that are expected to make their college destinations known.
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Dillard receiver Devaughn Mortimer is one, and the Florida State commitment took an official visit to Morgantown on Dec. 3.
Rated as the nation’s No. 227 prospect, Mortimer also took an official visit to Louisville the Dec. 10 weekend and the Mountaineers are fighting for the services of the dynamic pass catcher with tight ends coach Travis Trickett taking the lead recruiting role.
Midlothian (Va.) Manchester running back Ramon Brown has been committed to Virginia Tech since July, but the Mountaineers have turned up the heat down the stretch. The versatile back hosted the WVU coaches for an in-home visit and is expected to announce a final decision by Wednesday.
Three players that recently took official visits to Morgantown still on the board include Miami (Fla.) Gulliver Prep tight end De’Carlo Donaldson, Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill defensive end Asani Redwood and Corsicana (Tx.) Navarro J.C. wide receiver Jeremiah Aaron.
Donaldson, 6-foot-2, 210-pounds, is coming off a strong senior season where he hauled in 81 passes for 1,164 yards and 11 touchdowns moving all around the football field. The Rivals.com three-star prospect received an offer from WVU earlier in the process but at the time was committed to Tulane.
He eventually backed off that pledge and lead recruiter Trickett and the Mountaineers were able to get him on campus during the Dec. 10 weekend.
Donaldson, who goes by CJ, has narrowed his list down to WVU, Florida, Tulane and South Florida with a decision expected at some point at the start of the early signing period.
Redwood is coming off a fantastic season in Georgia by leading his team to a state title and setting a school record with 18 total sacks on the season. He visited the Dec. 3 weekend and is highly considering the Mountaineers although it’s unclear if he will sign now or wait until February.
WVU sent coaches, including head coach Neal Brown, to see Redwood prior to this past weekend.
Aaron, 5-foot-11, 185-pounds, played ten games this season for the Bulldogs and hauled in 49 catches for 911 yards and 8 touchdowns earning him multiple scholarship offers including WVU and Louisville. He took official visits to each school over the last week and is expected to decide between them.
Aaron is a playmaker not only at receiver, but he also excels in the return game. He would be a January enrollee and have three seasons remaining.
There could be even more surprises. It’s time for the WVU coaches to unwrap their presents.
— Story by Keenan Cummings
