The West Virginia recruiting class is currently ranked No. 27 nationally by Rivals.com.
But with several weeks until the start of the early signing period that means that official visits are moving into the forefront of the recruiting process. It’s a mad dash to the finish line for college coaches all across the landscape as they look to add to what they already have in the fold.
That’s no different at West Virginia as the coaching staff is looking to build onto the 19-member class with several standout players over the final few available visit weekends.
The group for this weekend is a relatively light one in terms of numbers with two players in total, one of which is already committed to the program, but it doesn’t make it any less important.
The Mountaineers will host Fairfield (Ohio) cornerback Jordan Jackson, who has been solidly committed to the program since June after earning a scholarship offer at a one-day recruiting camp, and Douglasville (Ga.) Douglas County defensive end Zachariah Keith.
Keith, 6-foot-5, 243-pounds, has been on the WVU radar for quite some time and has actually been committed to Georgia Tech not once but twice at different points of the process. But after the latest coaching change, Keith elected to open things up for good and the Mountaineers look to strike.
The Rivals.com three-star prospect had built a strong connection with inside linebackers coach Jeff Koonz and defensive line coach AJ Jackson and the pair have sold him on his fit in the defense. The Mountaineers are targeting him as a defensive end with the ability to slide around to multiple spots up front in order to take advantage of his overall versatility.
“I’ve been talking to them a lot. They’ve been telling me that I fit the defense perfectly,” Keith said. “And I think I do as well.”
Keith has caught the eye of the coaching staff due to his motor and how hard he plays every snap. That is evident on film when he is able to routinely snuff out screen plays from the defensive line. He is coming off a season where he recorded 76 tackles, 4 sacks and 7 tackles for loss.
This is the first set official visit for Keith, who is admittedly excited to get to spend time with the coaches in person and see the campus for himself. There are other visits he is considering to places such as Memphis and Buffalo, but that remains unclear at this stage.
West Virginia is looking to add several pieces down the stretch and this weekend could be a major step toward making the first with plenty of more excitement to come.
By Keenan Cummings
