Mountaineers Finalize Their 2020 Recruiting Class
After a short post-season break, we begin our coverage of the 2020 Mountaineers with a recap of West Virginia’s recruiting class. Of course, West Virginia might still add a player or two during the spring or summer, but, outside of a transfer or two, the Mountaineers finalize their 2020 recruiting class. Now, they move their efforts to the 2021 and 2022 classes. Head Coach Neal Brown and his staff finished the class strong. We last provided an update just after the conclusion of the Early Signing Period. Since then, the staff added three recruits.
The Breakdown
The chart below shows all players who have signed or committed through today. Only two players remain unsigned. First, Jacob Gamble represents an unknown entity for 2020. He still has not signed, and we are unsure whether or when he will qualify. Second, the latest addition to the class, James Thomas, has not yet signed. Because he has not taken an official visit, he represents a “blueshirt” candidate who could ultimately count toward the 2021 class. Players in italics are players added since our Early Signing Period Update. No players defected from the class since our last breakdown.
| Player | Position | State | Rivals | Score | 247Sports* | Score | ESPN | Score |
| Zach Frazier | C | WV | 3 | 5.7 | 3 | 89 | 3 | 74 |
| Jairo Faverus | CB | UK | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 84 | 3 | 76 |
| David Vincent-Okoli | CB | MD | 4 | 5.8 | 4 | 93 | 3 | 79 |
| Lanell Carr | DE/LB | MO | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 87 | 3 | 77 |
| Devell Washington | WR | MI | 3 | 5.7 | 3 | 87 | 3 | 77 |
| Garrett Greene | QB | FL | 3 | 5.7 | 3 | 86 | 3 | 79 |
| Reese Smith | WR | KY | 3 | 5.7 | 3 | 85 | 3 | 74 |
| Chris Mayo | OL | NJ | 4 | 5.8 | 3 | 86 | 4 | 80 |
| Jacob Gamble | OL | JuCo | 3 | 5.7 | 3 | 84 | 3 | 78 |
| Charles Finley | TE | NJ | 3 | 5.5 | 3 | 85 | 3 | 74 |
| Quay Mays | DT | JuCo | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 84 | 3 | 79 |
| Taurus Simmons | DE/LB | GA | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 87 | 3 | 76 |
| Sean Martin | DE | WV | 3 | 5.7 | 3 | 89 | 3 | 76 |
| Jackie Matthews | S | JuCo | 3 | 5.5 | 3 | 85 | 3 | 74 |
| Akheem Mesidor | DE | Canada | 3 | 5.7 | 3 | 84 | 4 | 80 |
| Daryl Porter, Jr. | DB | FL | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 85 | 3 | 72 |
| Jordan White | OL | MD | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 86 | 3 | 76 |
| Tairiq Stewart | OL | JuCo | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 86 | 3 | 78 |
| Sam Brown | WR | GA | 3 | 5.7 | 4 | 90 | 3 | 77 |
| Avarius Sparrow | RB | FL | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 86 | 3 | 73 |
| Eddie Watkins | DE/OLB | AL | 3 | 5.6 | 3 | 84 | 3 | 75 |
| James Thomas | LB/ATH | GA | 3 | 5.7 | 3 | 85 | 3 | 75 |
*The 247Sports ranking and score represent the service’s specific ranking and score (not composite figures).
Importantly, the Mountaineers finished the Early Signing Period with the 28th best class in the Rivals team rankings. And the finished 36th in the 247Sports team rankings. They finished 3rd in the Big 12 per Rivals, and 4th per 247Sports. And the class composite average is the second-highest such average since rankings were diligently prepared in 2002. It finished second, by the way, by a razor-thin margin (.8644 to .8646) to the Class of 2010. As we noted in our earlier recap, the staff pulled together an extremely impressive class given the five-win season and late start Brown and company had.
What’s Next
Given some off-season additions to the roster, West Virginia retained only 22 spots for its 2020 class. By the numbers, then, it appears that the class is full. West Virginia, however, has two wild cards. Gamble’s eligibility remains uncertain. Thomas could qualify for blue-shirt treatment. As a result, Brown could still add one or two players from the transfer market. Considering the Mountaineers lost or are losing at least ten players to the transfer portal this season, West Virginia could certainly use a body or two at several positions. The Mountaineers remain thin in the secondary, at linebacker, at offensive line, and at running back. With the recent transfer or Trey Lowe, West Virginia could be thin at quarterback, too. Brown cannot address all of these needs immediately, but fans should expect him to add one or two to the mix after Spring practice concludes.
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