West Virginia has taken another step toward shoring up its depleted running back corps, this time with a 2007 high school graduate who sat out last season.

Mark Rodgers, a small and fast California tailback, is headed to West Virginia after signing a letter of intent a year ago with Portland State. He reportedly never enrolled there, though, and has been released from his scholarship.

Because he never enrolled he would be immediately eligible at West Virginia. WVU officials have not confirmed his intent to enroll.

As a senior at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, Calif., in 2006, Rodgers ran for 2,319 yards and 19 touchdowns in 11 games. That season he began with just 107 combined yards in the first two games and then averaged 245.7 yards over the final nine games.

As a junior, he rushed for 2,236 yards and 31 touchdowns. His size - 5-foot-9, 180 pounds - was among the issues that made him lightly recruited.

But while size is an issue, speed apparently is not. Rodgers reportedly ran a 10.57 100-meter dash as a senior in high school, placing fourth in the California state championships. As a point of comparison, former WVU receiver and Olympic sprinter James Jett's best confirmed 100-meter high school time in West Virginia was 10.62.

Rodgers joins junior college transfer Zach Hulce as late additions to West Virginia's recruiting class. With the departure of both Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt to the NFL, the Mountaineers are extremely thin at running back behind sophomore-to-be Noel Devine. His backup on the pre-spring depth chart is lightly regarded Mike Poitier, although slot receiver Jock Sanders is probably the true backup.

West Virginia has taken another step toward shoring up its depleted running back corps, this time with a 2007 high school graduate who sat out last season.

Mark Rodgers, a small and fast California tailback, is headed to West Virginia after signing a letter of intent a year ago with Portland State. He reportedly never enrolled there, though, and has been released from his scholarship.

Because he never enrolled he would be immediately eligible at West Virginia. WVU officials have not confirmed his intent to enroll.

As a senior at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, Calif., in 2006, Rodgers ran for 2,319 yards and 19 touchdowns in 11 games. That season he began with just 107 combined yards in the first two games and then averaged 245.7 yards over the final nine games.

As a junior, he rushed for 2,236 yards and 31 touchdowns. His size - 5-foot-9, 180 pounds - was among the issues that made him lightly recruited.

But while size is an issue, speed apparently is not. Rodgers reportedly ran a 10.57 100-meter dash as a senior in high school, placing fourth in the California state championships. As a point of comparison, former WVU receiver and Olympic sprinter James Jett's best confirmed 100-meter high school time in West Virginia was 10.62.

Rodgers joins junior college transfer Zach Hulce as late additions to West Virginia's recruiting class. With the departure of both Steve Slaton and Owen Schmitt to the NFL, the Mountaineers are extremely thin at running back behind sophomore-to-be Noel Devine. His backup on the pre-spring depth chart is lightly regarded Mike Poitier, although slot receiver Jock Sanders is probably the true backup.