MORGANTOWN — The WVU football team has four scholarships held over from the 2022 recruiting class to address needs on the roster, and some possible targets are expected to be on campus this weekend.
The Mountaineers are still searching for a linebacker and potentially a defensive lineman on that side of the ball, in addition to members of the secondary, and it should come as no surprise that players at those spots will be in Morgantown to check out the program.
The first name is one that is quite familiar to those that follow recruiting in Miami linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave. The New Jersey native was considered a strong lean for quite some time in the 2020 recruiting class before ultimately electing to sign with the Hurricanes.
He spent two years at Miami before entering the transfer portal, and the Mountaineers immediately had his attention when the coaching staff first contacted him.
While he saw limited action at Miami, playing in only 17 games as primarily a reserve, Austin-Cave would be an ideal fit given his athleticism at the linebacker position and 6-foot-1, 225-pound frame. And if things go well it seems there is a good chance of the two parties coming together.
“That’s where I want to be. Just want to come in and make the team better,” he said.
Austin-Cave would have three seasons remaining and would be eligible immediately.
The second name planning to take an official visit this coming weekend is former Georgia Tech defensive lineman Mike Lockhart. The 6-foot-4, 302-pounder would be a fit for the Mountaineers up front and has been in regular contact with coordinator Jordan Lesley and position coach AJ Jackson.
Lockhart would have three seasons of eligibility remaining and believes that the opportunity in Morgantown is one that is interesting on the surface. A native of Alabama, he’s totaled 27 tackles and three tackles for loss during his time with the Yellow Jackets, and is an intriguing option.
“I think the program has potential to be a top contender in the college playoffs,” he said.
WVU has just started work on filling the remaining offseason spots, but could take a significant step toward doing that if this weekend goes as planned.
By KEENAN CUMMINGS
