--Special day here for any prospect that is signing. You think about all that goes into playing at this level and they’re very appreciative of the families. Before the day is out they’ll be in that 20-22 range and they are still waiting on a couple. Dr Gordon Gee and Shane Lyons take time to meet every kid that comes on an official visit. The brunt of the work is behind the scenes with on-campus staff and recruiting coordinators that are part of the initial evaluation process as well as the creative team and support staff.
--A group they’re really excited about and spent a lot of time on over the last two years.
--They’ll have 32 scholarships that they will use in the spring. They felt confident that the NCAA would make a ruling to help with the scholarship losses. They want to be in that of 25 range of high school student athletes and then add some transfers. Some transfers will be added post-spring. That’s the thought process moving forward is evaluating the roster. They wanted to address everything. They got a high school quarterback which is what they needed and felt they needed an older running back. They like the receiver group they’ve added and they have one more they’ll add later today. Offensive line group they did a good job adding quality bodies. Corbin Page at tight end and he has a variety of skills. On defense, linebacker was a point of need and they added an older guy who could compete right away and some young developmental guys. They will continue to add numbers in the defensive lineman and will look at add at least two more high school guys there if they can.
--Contact period started the Sunday after the Kansas game and they hosted three official visitors that first weekend and came back and hosted six more this past weekend. They’ve been all over during the last couple weeks.
--The guys they signed are high level players. They made some mistakes in their first recruiting class because he didn’t have as good of a feel of what the fit was for Morgantown and the structure for their program. They feel confident this is the correct fit here.
--Nicco Marchiol’s mom is from North Carolina and he has some it factor. He has charisma, strong leadership capabilities. When you watch him play, dual threat guy that is left-handed and the ball comes out really smooth. He can run and is a great teammate. He’s the first to congratulate his teammates when they score. These are the things that make him special. He handles adversity. Brown said there are a lot of freshmen that play so he’ll be able to give a lot better answer.
--Needed to add a running back and they were able to get Lyn-J Dixon. He came and visited Troy and they had a pre-existing relationship. The people at Clemson there were really positive. He graduated. Zeiqui Lawton it’s important to bring back home-grown talent. He has changed his body with what they want to do. End of spring ball, they want to try to add some secondary help and see how it plays out.
--The transfer portal is free agency. The professional leagues have designated windows for that. The entire calendar needs to be revisited and he is a proponent for that. He doesn’t believe the early coaching changes have anything to do with the early signing date. For the portal, they need to look at certain points when they can enter and when they can sign guys.
-- Asani Redwood was born and raised in Jamaica and weighed 165-pounds two-years ago. Played football for two years and broke the single season sack record with 19.5 sacks. He is an extremely humble individual and is just now scratching the surface of what he could become. He reminds him of Akheem Mesidor in a lot of different ways.
--Aric Burton is long, really lean and it’s going to be a year or two-year development for him but he’s long and has excellent ball get off. They have to get their hands on more passes up front and affect them. He will be here in January.
--Spring Valley has been a really good place for them. They do a great job getting guys ready. They felt like Corbin Page was the top prospect in the state and he’s spent a lot of time changing his body losing 30-40 pounds. He plays wideout the whole time and has great body control. He came here in the 7-on7- tournament and has great body control. He plays in the backfield, with his hand down and adding a receiving element.
--Jeremiah Aaron can play inside or outside. Hershey McLaurin they anticipate him coming in and competing. He is big and looks the part.
--Ollie Straw is from the Pro-Kick Australia organization they do a good job training guys. He is unique he can kick both feet, roll to his right or left, kick spirals or end over end. What Straw can do is change field positions. They can kick away from returners and can be a game-changing type of player. Josh Growden was pumped. They’ve been effective with changing field position and making people not want to rush you. They can kick away, great with placement and can alternate protection with the ability to go right and left. Straw came on his official visit last weekend.
--West Virginia would like to add another offensive tackle to this class.
--They don’t use a fax machine anymore.
--You always have to hold some open spots. He was on the phone earlier in the week. You want to be at five quarterbacks, 15 offensive linemen, but there is no way now you can do that it’s just what they’d like in a perfect world and it’s hard to do it. Brown thinks they’ll be close to 85. He used to take transfers really personal.
--There are a few different elements to transfers. They see it on social media and think its an option for them. It’s easier for him to stomach if the kid is graduating. He appreciates the ones that handle it the right way and explain where they’re at and most of them want an increased role. They’re either not playing or want to be in the two-deep. Some advice they are taking is questionable. Some of them are disciplinary issues. There are some that you can beat yourself up about but it is different. You still want to hold onto the ones you want to keep but the reality isn’t going to be that way.
--A group they’re really excited about and spent a lot of time on over the last two years.
--They’ll have 32 scholarships that they will use in the spring. They felt confident that the NCAA would make a ruling to help with the scholarship losses. They want to be in that of 25 range of high school student athletes and then add some transfers. Some transfers will be added post-spring. That’s the thought process moving forward is evaluating the roster. They wanted to address everything. They got a high school quarterback which is what they needed and felt they needed an older running back. They like the receiver group they’ve added and they have one more they’ll add later today. Offensive line group they did a good job adding quality bodies. Corbin Page at tight end and he has a variety of skills. On defense, linebacker was a point of need and they added an older guy who could compete right away and some young developmental guys. They will continue to add numbers in the defensive lineman and will look at add at least two more high school guys there if they can.
--Contact period started the Sunday after the Kansas game and they hosted three official visitors that first weekend and came back and hosted six more this past weekend. They’ve been all over during the last couple weeks.
--The guys they signed are high level players. They made some mistakes in their first recruiting class because he didn’t have as good of a feel of what the fit was for Morgantown and the structure for their program. They feel confident this is the correct fit here.
--Nicco Marchiol’s mom is from North Carolina and he has some it factor. He has charisma, strong leadership capabilities. When you watch him play, dual threat guy that is left-handed and the ball comes out really smooth. He can run and is a great teammate. He’s the first to congratulate his teammates when they score. These are the things that make him special. He handles adversity. Brown said there are a lot of freshmen that play so he’ll be able to give a lot better answer.
--Needed to add a running back and they were able to get Lyn-J Dixon. He came and visited Troy and they had a pre-existing relationship. The people at Clemson there were really positive. He graduated. Zeiqui Lawton it’s important to bring back home-grown talent. He has changed his body with what they want to do. End of spring ball, they want to try to add some secondary help and see how it plays out.
--The transfer portal is free agency. The professional leagues have designated windows for that. The entire calendar needs to be revisited and he is a proponent for that. He doesn’t believe the early coaching changes have anything to do with the early signing date. For the portal, they need to look at certain points when they can enter and when they can sign guys.
-- Asani Redwood was born and raised in Jamaica and weighed 165-pounds two-years ago. Played football for two years and broke the single season sack record with 19.5 sacks. He is an extremely humble individual and is just now scratching the surface of what he could become. He reminds him of Akheem Mesidor in a lot of different ways.
--Aric Burton is long, really lean and it’s going to be a year or two-year development for him but he’s long and has excellent ball get off. They have to get their hands on more passes up front and affect them. He will be here in January.
--Spring Valley has been a really good place for them. They do a great job getting guys ready. They felt like Corbin Page was the top prospect in the state and he’s spent a lot of time changing his body losing 30-40 pounds. He plays wideout the whole time and has great body control. He came here in the 7-on7- tournament and has great body control. He plays in the backfield, with his hand down and adding a receiving element.
--Jeremiah Aaron can play inside or outside. Hershey McLaurin they anticipate him coming in and competing. He is big and looks the part.
--Ollie Straw is from the Pro-Kick Australia organization they do a good job training guys. He is unique he can kick both feet, roll to his right or left, kick spirals or end over end. What Straw can do is change field positions. They can kick away from returners and can be a game-changing type of player. Josh Growden was pumped. They’ve been effective with changing field position and making people not want to rush you. They can kick away, great with placement and can alternate protection with the ability to go right and left. Straw came on his official visit last weekend.
--West Virginia would like to add another offensive tackle to this class.
--They don’t use a fax machine anymore.
--You always have to hold some open spots. He was on the phone earlier in the week. You want to be at five quarterbacks, 15 offensive linemen, but there is no way now you can do that it’s just what they’d like in a perfect world and it’s hard to do it. Brown thinks they’ll be close to 85. He used to take transfers really personal.
--There are a few different elements to transfers. They see it on social media and think its an option for them. It’s easier for him to stomach if the kid is graduating. He appreciates the ones that handle it the right way and explain where they’re at and most of them want an increased role. They’re either not playing or want to be in the two-deep. Some advice they are taking is questionable. Some of them are disciplinary issues. There are some that you can beat yourself up about but it is different. You still want to hold onto the ones you want to keep but the reality isn’t going to be that way.
