MORGANTOWN - Today is the day recruiting junkies wake up early and keep their fingers crossed throughout the morning and early afternoon.
MORGANTOWN - Today is the day recruiting junkies wake up early and keep their fingers crossed throughout the morning and early afternoon.
And who knows, perhaps Dana Holgorsen follows the same routine.
After all, today is the first day of the NCAA's official football signing period. It runs for several weeks, but for the most part everyone signs right away.
And because coaches are not permitted to contact their prospective recruits, pretty much all they can do is wait.
West Virginia's Holgorsen would like to sign a full class of 25, if not more. And that doesn't include the five who have already enrolled and count against last year's class. The NCAA limits each class to 25, but with the prospect of some not qualifying academically or delaying their enrollment the number can go higher.
It appears that Holgorsen has 19 players committed, at least according to the two primary recruiting sources, Rivals and Scout. The uncertainty, though, is how many, if any, might change their minds, as well as the handful of uncommitted or wavering players who might jump on board at the last minute.
There appear to be at least seven players who have either not committed or are wavering on earlier commitments who could sign a binding letter of intent with WVU today. They are:
Deaysean Rippy, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound four-star outside linebacker from Sto-Rox High in McKees Rocks, Pa. Rippy is said to have narrowed his choices to WVU and Pitt, although Arizona could still be in the mix.
Joel Caleb, a 6-2, 205-pound four-star wide receiver from Clover Hills High in Midlothian, Va. Caleb began his season as the top prospect in Virginia, is ranked as a Top 100 recruit and has been one of Virginia Tech's top targets. He played quarterback in high school but is projected as a receiver in college. He has narrowed his list to WVU, Virginia Tech and Ohio State.
Adam Pankey, a 6-5, 300-pound three-star offensive lineman from Hamilton High near Cincinnati. Pankey committed to Pitt in October, but then visited West Virginia in mid-January and is now considering both.
Travares Copeland, a 6-foot, 180-pound three-star wide receiver from Treasure Coast High in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Like Caleb, Copeland was a quarterback in high school. He's expected to choose between WVU and Florida International.
Daniel Gray, a 5-11, 175-pound three-star cornerback from Boyd H. Anderson High in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. Fast even by Florida standards, Gray is committed to Tennessee, but could switch.
Teko Powell, a 6-2, 290-pound two-star defensive tackle from Miami Norland High. Powell said last week he is firmly committed to Illinois, but he visited West Virginia over the weekend anyway.
And Schyler Miles, a 6-2, 220-pound three-star linebacker from Berkeley Prep in Tampa, is the nation's No. 27 inside linebacker according to Rivals. He's expected to choose from between WVU, Kansas and Florida.
As for the commitments gained by West Virginia since summer, those tend to always be in flux. At least seven players who committed to WVU at one time or another are now committed elsewhere, including two this week. Running back J.T. Washington of Satellite Beach, Fla., said he was now pledged to Arizona. His recruiter at WVU was David Lockwood, who is now on Rich Rodriguez's staff there. And Nate Smith, a defensive back from Pennsylvania who had been recruited by Jeff Casteel, switched his pledge to Temple.
As for the rest of the 24 commits (including the five already enrolled), 10 are from Florida, 10 are from the Northeast, four are from Texas and one is from Minnesota.
The class also seems heavily tilted toward skill-position players, including as many as six defensive backs and five wide receivers. There are also four defensive linemen, three offensive linemen, two running backs, two linebackers, a quarterback and a tight end.
According to the recruiting rankings, the vast majority of the committed players carry three stars. The most notable exception is wide receiver Deontay McManus of Baltimore's Dunbar High School, the same school that produced current WVU receiver Tavon Austin. McManus rates four stars from both Rivals and Scout.
Two others rate four stars from Scout, but not Rivals - linebacker Sam Lebbie of DeMatha High School in suburban Washington and 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive lineman Tyler Orlosky of St. Edward near Cleveland.
The lone quarterback in the class is Ford Childress of Houston, one of the five early enrollees who will be eligible to practice in the spring. Childress, the son of five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Ray Childress, completed 184-of-292 passes for 3,171 yards, 41 touchdowns and only seven interceptions as a senior.
The other four early enrollees are defensive tackle Imarjaye Albury, a 6-1, 280-pounder from Miami's Northwestern High; safety Karl Joseph, a 5-11, 190-pounder from Orlando's Edgewater High; Jordan Thompson, a 5-9, 163-pound wide receiver from Katy, Texas; and safety Sean Walters, a 6-2, 195-pounder from Hallandale Beach, Fla.
The rest of WVU's verbal commitments to date include defensive backs Kimlon Dillon (Apopka, Fla.), Jarrod Harper (Frostburg, Md.), Nana Kyeremeh (Worthington, Ohio) and Brandon Napoleon (Jersey City, N.J.); receivers Darreal Joyner (Miami), Devonte Mathis (Miramar, Fla.) and Devonte Robinson (Delray Beach, Fla.); running backs Roshard Burney (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Torry Clayton (Homestead, Fla.); defensive linemen Christian Brown (Bridgeton, N.J.), Korey Harris (Fruit Cove, Fla.) and Noble Nwachukwa (Wylie, Texas); offensive linemen Mark Glowinski (Scranton, Pa.) and Tony Matteo (Akron, Ohio); linebacker Garrett Hop (The Woodlands, Texas); and tight end Will Johnson (Osseo, Minn.).
All but Glowinski, a junior college player, are high school seniors.
Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
Players expected to sign binding letters of intent with WVU today:
MORGANTOWN - Today is the day recruiting junkies wake up early and keep their fingers crossed throughout the morning and early afternoon.
And who knows, perhaps Dana Holgorsen follows the same routine.
After all, today is the first day of the NCAA's official football signing period. It runs for several weeks, but for the most part everyone signs right away.
And because coaches are not permitted to contact their prospective recruits, pretty much all they can do is wait.
West Virginia's Holgorsen would like to sign a full class of 25, if not more. And that doesn't include the five who have already enrolled and count against last year's class. The NCAA limits each class to 25, but with the prospect of some not qualifying academically or delaying their enrollment the number can go higher.
It appears that Holgorsen has 19 players committed, at least according to the two primary recruiting sources, Rivals and Scout. The uncertainty, though, is how many, if any, might change their minds, as well as the handful of uncommitted or wavering players who might jump on board at the last minute.
There appear to be at least seven players who have either not committed or are wavering on earlier commitments who could sign a binding letter of intent with WVU today. They are:
Deaysean Rippy, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound four-star outside linebacker from Sto-Rox High in McKees Rocks, Pa. Rippy is said to have narrowed his choices to WVU and Pitt, although Arizona could still be in the mix.Joel Caleb, a 6-2, 205-pound four-star wide receiver from Clover Hills High in Midlothian, Va. Caleb began his season as the top prospect in Virginia, is ranked as a Top 100 recruit and has been one of Virginia Tech's top targets. He played quarterback in high school but is projected as a receiver in college. He has narrowed his list to WVU, Virginia Tech and Ohio State.Adam Pankey, a 6-5, 300-pound three-star offensive lineman from Hamilton High near Cincinnati. Pankey committed to Pitt in October, but then visited West Virginia in mid-January and is now considering both.Travares Copeland, a 6-foot, 180-pound three-star wide receiver from Treasure Coast High in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Like Caleb, Copeland was a quarterback in high school. He's expected to choose between WVU and Florida International.Daniel Gray, a 5-11, 175-pound three-star cornerback from Boyd H. Anderson High in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. Fast even by Florida standards, Gray is committed to Tennessee, but could switch.Teko Powell, a 6-2, 290-pound two-star defensive tackle from Miami Norland High. Powell said last week he is firmly committed to Illinois, but he visited West Virginia over the weekend anyway.And Schyler Miles, a 6-2, 220-pound three-star linebacker from Berkeley Prep in Tampa, is the nation's No. 27 inside linebacker according to Rivals. He's expected to choose from between WVU, Kansas and Florida.As for the commitments gained by West Virginia since summer, those tend to always be in flux. At least seven players who committed to WVU at one time or another are now committed elsewhere, including two this week. Running back J.T. Washington of Satellite Beach, Fla., said he was now pledged to Arizona. His recruiter at WVU was David Lockwood, who is now on Rich Rodriguez's staff there. And Nate Smith, a defensive back from Pennsylvania who had been recruited by Jeff Casteel, switched his pledge to Temple.
As for the rest of the 24 commits (including the five already enrolled), 10 are from Florida, 10 are from the Northeast, four are from Texas and one is from Minnesota.
The class also seems heavily tilted toward skill-position players, including as many as six defensive backs and five wide receivers. There are also four defensive linemen, three offensive linemen, two running backs, two linebackers, a quarterback and a tight end.
According to the recruiting rankings, the vast majority of the committed players carry three stars. The most notable exception is wide receiver Deontay McManus of Baltimore's Dunbar High School, the same school that produced current WVU receiver Tavon Austin. McManus rates four stars from both Rivals and Scout.
Two others rate four stars from Scout, but not Rivals - linebacker Sam Lebbie of DeMatha High School in suburban Washington and 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive lineman Tyler Orlosky of St. Edward near Cleveland.
The lone quarterback in the class is Ford Childress of Houston, one of the five early enrollees who will be eligible to practice in the spring. Childress, the son of five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Ray Childress, completed 184-of-292 passes for 3,171 yards, 41 touchdowns and only seven interceptions as a senior.
The other four early enrollees are defensive tackle Imarjaye Albury, a 6-1, 280-pounder from Miami's Northwestern High; safety Karl Joseph, a 5-11, 190-pounder from Orlando's Edgewater High; Jordan Thompson, a 5-9, 163-pound wide receiver from Katy, Texas; and safety Sean Walters, a 6-2, 195-pounder from Hallandale Beach, Fla.
The rest of WVU's verbal commitments to date include defensive backs Kimlon Dillon (Apopka, Fla.), Jarrod Harper (Frostburg, Md.), Nana Kyeremeh (Worthington, Ohio) and Brandon Napoleon (Jersey City, N.J.); receivers Darreal Joyner (Miami), Devonte Mathis (Miramar, Fla.) and Devonte Robinson (Delray Beach, Fla.); running backs Roshard Burney (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Torry Clayton (Homestead, Fla.); defensive linemen Christian Brown (Bridgeton, N.J.), Korey Harris (Fruit Cove, Fla.) and Noble Nwachukwa (Wylie, Texas); offensive linemen Mark Glowinski (Scranton, Pa.) and Tony Matteo (Akron, Ohio); linebacker Garrett Hop (The Woodlands, Texas); and tight end Will Johnson (Osseo, Minn.).
All but Glowinski, a junior college player, are high school seniors.
Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
Players expected to sign binding letters of intent with WVU today:
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (School)
*Imarjaye Albury DT 6-1 280 Miami (Northwestern)
Christian Brown DT 6-2 280 Bridgeton, N.J.
Roshard Burney RB 5-10 205 Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
*Ford Childress QB 6-4 210 Houston (Kinkaid)
Torry Clayton RB 5-10 190 Homestead, Fla. (South Dade)
Kimlon Dillon DB 6-2 180 Apopka, Fla.
Mark Glowinski OL 6-5 290 Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Lackawanna C.C.)
Jarrod Harper DB 6-1 200 Frostburg, Md. (Mountain Ridge)
Korey Harris DE 6-4 230 Fruit Cove, Fla. (Bartram Trail)
Garrett Hope LB 6-3 230 The Woodlands, Texas
Will Johnson TE 6-7 245 Osseo, Minn.
*Karl Joseph DB 5-11 190 Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater)
Darreal Joyner WR 5-11 180 Miami (Central)
Nana Kyeremeh DB 5-11 170 Worthington, Ohio (Th. Worthington)
Sam Lebbie LB 6-2 240 Hyattsville, Md. (DeMatha)
Devonte Mathis WR 6-2 205 Miramar, Fla.
Tony Matteo OL 6-5 280 Akron, Ohio (Manchester)
Deontay McManus WR 6-2 215 Baltimore (Dunbar)
Brandon Napoleon DB 6-0 175 Jersey City, N.J. (St. Peter's Prep)
Noble Nwachukwu DE 6-2 240 Wylie, Texas
Tyler Orlosky OL 6-4 290 Lakewood, Ohio (St. Edward)
Devonte Robinson WR 6-2 175 Delray Bch., Fla. (Village Academy)
*Jordan Thompson WR 5-9 163 Katy, Texas
*Sean Walters DB 6-2 195 Hallandale Beach, Fla. (Hallandale)
* Enrolled in school in January
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