--Just a small update here on recruiting. Things have been relatively quiet of late, largely due to fall camp raging on and the dead period that has been in effect since late June outside a week during July. Things should start picking up with some decisions possibly coming in the later part of the month and then official visits opening back up once the season gets under way. I am not sure how many West Virginia will use during the season because it hasn't been something this staff has been particularly high on and they've had a lot of success with the later visits, but gameday trips are certainly in the cards. I'm not ruling out surprise decisions or anything of the like, but overall the summer was significant with getting a lot of key targets in this group to campus and in the fold.
--Manassas (Va.) Unity Reed 2023 linebacker Amare Campbell is expected to make his decision Aug. 24 between North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland. He took official visits to all three of those schools and while the Mountaineers certainly impressed it's going to be interesting to see what happens here. North Carolina has been the school longest linked to him, but I can say that while he keeps things close to the vest he was very impressed with his trip to Morgantown.
--Georgetown (Ky.) Great Crossing High School 2023 defensive end Oryend Fisher is one of the last remaining official visitors that has yet to make a decision from the summer but he recently released on social media that a choice could be coming soon. Fisher is another that was really impressed with West Virginia, but his recruitment has been largely under the radar as he has kept things to himself. He took a visit to Vanderbilt in July once the dead period opened and the choices seem to be coming down to West Virginia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Louisville if he does hold to that decision timeline.
--All things quiet on the Riverside (W.Va.) 2023 defensive end Braydin Ward front. He is a prospect that West Virginia hosted in camp and earned an offer this summer and there is definitely strong mutual interest there. I don't have any sort of timeline here, but he's definitely a name to keep in mind moving forward.
--Tallahassee (Fla.) North Florida Christian 2023 wide receiver Traylon Ray took an unofficial visit to West Virginia once the dead period opened in July and left very impressed. He has emerged as the top remaining target at the position for the Mountaineers and the plan is for him to return for an official visit this fall. That will be critical in this process, but the Mountaineers and particularly wide receivers coach Tony Washington have been working very hard. If they can get him in the fold with what we've already got it would be quite the haul at the position in this cycle.
--Nothing new to report at quarterback for now. I've written about this, but I fully expect West Virginia to take their time when it comes to sorting out the position and weighing their options with both what's available and the roster makeup. There are certainly high school options they could explore, or potential transfers, but some of it could largely be determined by what's out there and what the roster is going to look like when those decisions are made.
--At defensive back, that's largely been a reset of sorts as the coaching staff likes what is in the fold but have missed on some key targets and have passed on some others. That position could be one of the last that is filled because there is going to need to be some additional uncovering and identifying of key players. I expect senior seasons will play a role here as well when it comes to this process.
--A player I fully expect to continue to receive attention is Norcross (Ga.) Meadowcreek 2023 running back Jordan Louie. He was a very under the radar pull given the fact he came over from Alabama and his stock should only continue to gain steam. West Virginia did an excellent job here early and it's hard not to feel good about the two backs in the fold.
--I don't do the rankings, and typically do not comment on them. I can say regardless where Uniontown (Pa.) Laurel Highlands 2023 athlete Rodney Gallagher is slotted I've seen him in person a bunch and all I've ever seen him do is make plays. I mentioned in another thread that he attended a camp while I was on vacation in Pittsburgh and a neutral observer noted to me that he was a stud. He was the best player at the West Virginia 7-on-7 this summer and while there have been some concerns about his long speed, he is a dynamic and skilled athlete in space. I feel no differently there today as I did the day he committed and I know that's the case where it matters, too.
--West Virginia has 17 commitments right now and when it comes to class number that is largely going to depend on quality out there. Remember, under this new climate there are no hard caps on recruiting so you can take multiple transfers and other spots depending on needs that occur. Right now, this is a very solid group but it obviously needs to fill out in other spots to round out the class. The bulk of this group seems solid and is a very nice base.
--Manassas (Va.) Unity Reed 2023 linebacker Amare Campbell is expected to make his decision Aug. 24 between North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland. He took official visits to all three of those schools and while the Mountaineers certainly impressed it's going to be interesting to see what happens here. North Carolina has been the school longest linked to him, but I can say that while he keeps things close to the vest he was very impressed with his trip to Morgantown.
--Georgetown (Ky.) Great Crossing High School 2023 defensive end Oryend Fisher is one of the last remaining official visitors that has yet to make a decision from the summer but he recently released on social media that a choice could be coming soon. Fisher is another that was really impressed with West Virginia, but his recruitment has been largely under the radar as he has kept things to himself. He took a visit to Vanderbilt in July once the dead period opened and the choices seem to be coming down to West Virginia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Louisville if he does hold to that decision timeline.
--All things quiet on the Riverside (W.Va.) 2023 defensive end Braydin Ward front. He is a prospect that West Virginia hosted in camp and earned an offer this summer and there is definitely strong mutual interest there. I don't have any sort of timeline here, but he's definitely a name to keep in mind moving forward.
--Tallahassee (Fla.) North Florida Christian 2023 wide receiver Traylon Ray took an unofficial visit to West Virginia once the dead period opened in July and left very impressed. He has emerged as the top remaining target at the position for the Mountaineers and the plan is for him to return for an official visit this fall. That will be critical in this process, but the Mountaineers and particularly wide receivers coach Tony Washington have been working very hard. If they can get him in the fold with what we've already got it would be quite the haul at the position in this cycle.
--Nothing new to report at quarterback for now. I've written about this, but I fully expect West Virginia to take their time when it comes to sorting out the position and weighing their options with both what's available and the roster makeup. There are certainly high school options they could explore, or potential transfers, but some of it could largely be determined by what's out there and what the roster is going to look like when those decisions are made.
--At defensive back, that's largely been a reset of sorts as the coaching staff likes what is in the fold but have missed on some key targets and have passed on some others. That position could be one of the last that is filled because there is going to need to be some additional uncovering and identifying of key players. I expect senior seasons will play a role here as well when it comes to this process.
--A player I fully expect to continue to receive attention is Norcross (Ga.) Meadowcreek 2023 running back Jordan Louie. He was a very under the radar pull given the fact he came over from Alabama and his stock should only continue to gain steam. West Virginia did an excellent job here early and it's hard not to feel good about the two backs in the fold.
--I don't do the rankings, and typically do not comment on them. I can say regardless where Uniontown (Pa.) Laurel Highlands 2023 athlete Rodney Gallagher is slotted I've seen him in person a bunch and all I've ever seen him do is make plays. I mentioned in another thread that he attended a camp while I was on vacation in Pittsburgh and a neutral observer noted to me that he was a stud. He was the best player at the West Virginia 7-on-7 this summer and while there have been some concerns about his long speed, he is a dynamic and skilled athlete in space. I feel no differently there today as I did the day he committed and I know that's the case where it matters, too.
--West Virginia has 17 commitments right now and when it comes to class number that is largely going to depend on quality out there. Remember, under this new climate there are no hard caps on recruiting so you can take multiple transfers and other spots depending on needs that occur. Right now, this is a very solid group but it obviously needs to fill out in other spots to round out the class. The bulk of this group seems solid and is a very nice base.
