As the search continues for a new football coach, West Virginia University saw some surprises – good ones for the Mountaineers – on the first day of the early signing period for football recruits.
Not only did WVU secure the 19 prospects who had been strong commitments in the 2025 signing class, but it also saw two key prospects who weren’t already on the list sign with West Virginia.
That’s a pretty good result for a football program that just fired head coach Neal Brown on Sunday.
Despite uncertainty at the top, a pair of defensive backs who weren’t on recruiting sites’ initial list of commitments offered a couple of signing day surprises by picking the Mountaineers. Columbus, Ohio, corner Dawayne Galloway and Bel Air, Maryland, safety Julian Horton were the newest members of WVU’s 2025 signing class on Wednesday. That brought the total number of defensive backs in this class to four out of the Mountaineers’ 21 signees.
That number matters, as pass defense was one of West Virginia’s most glaring weaknesses in 2024. West Virginia found itself near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision in several key categories, including passing yards allowed per game (268.9) and opponents’ passer rating (158.13).
Galloway, the nation’s No. 28 corner and No. 10 overall Ohio prospect according to 247Sports, had verbally committed to Purdue, but pulled out of that commitment in October. WVU was among Galloway’s official visits during his recruiting process. Horton, the No. 56 safety and No. 24 overall prospect in Maryland according to 247Sports, had been verbally committed to North Carolina, but flipped that commitment Wednesday to sign with WVU.
The Tar Heels have been dealing with their own coaching turmoil, recently announcing that Mack Brown would not return as UNC’s head coach.
WVU’s signing day results put the Mountaineers at the nation’s No. 40 recruiting class and the Big 12’s No. 5 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. The website ranked TCU, Colorado, Baylor and Kansas State ahead of WVU in the conference.
The class also is heavy on offensive linemen, with four signees in that category. The offensive line room will need replenished this offseason. Of WVU’s five starters in 2024, four were seniors.
The 2025 class also includes four defensive linemen, two wide receivers, two athletes, a quarterback, a running back, a spur, a linebacker and a tight end. WVU’s highest-rated signee is Upper Marlboro, Maryland, defensive lineman Taylor Brown, the only player among WVU’s signees ranked nationally, sitting at 110th in 247Sports Top 247. He’s also considered the No. 16 defensive line prospect in the country and the No. 4 overall prospect in the state of Maryland.
The Mountaineers also picked up Huntington High athlete Zah Jackson, who 247Sports considers the top West Virginia prospect in the class. Mentor, Ohio, quarterback Scotty Fox, 247Sports’ No. 50 QB prospect in the nation, is the class’ lone quarterback signee.
-Story by Derek Redd
