WVU Mid-Summer Recruiting Update
As we wrote in early June, we felt that Head Coach Neal Brown was building momentum towards a big Class of 2022. Recently, the Mountaineers gained several commitments that move the meter substantially. Here, we provide our WVU mid-Summer recruiting update.
Who’s Who Among the Class of 2022
As usual, we begin our update with a breakdown of each player in the class. We provide their most likely position at the next level. We follow with the state they most recently played high school football in. Some players actually hail from different areas. For example, last season, we listed Akheem Mesidor as a Florida recruit, even though he hailed from Canada. Finally, we provide their star rating, following in parentheses by their site-specific score, for each of the three major recruiting services. For 247Sports, we use that service’s own ranking, not their composite rating.
| Player | Position | State | Rivals | 247Sports | ESPN |
| Jacolby Spells* | CB | FL | 3 (5.6) | 4 (91) | 4 (83) |
| Nicco Marchiol* | QB | AZ | 4 (5.8) | 3 (88) | 4 (81) |
| Justin Williams* | RB | GA | 4 (5.8) | 3 (85) | N/A |
| Corbin Page | TE/OL | WV | 3 (5.7) | 3 (89) | 3 (78) |
| Aric Burton | DE | FL | 3 (5.7) | 3 (86) | N/A |
| Mumu Bin-Wahad | CB/S | GA | 3 (5.6) | 3 (85) | N/A |
| Maurice Hamilton | OL | OH | 3 (5.6) | 3 (86) | 3 (77) |
| Zion Young | DE | GA | 3 (5.5) | 3 (85) | N/A |
| Tyrin Woody | S | MD | 3 (5.5) | 3 (86) | N/A |
| Jarel Williams | WR | AL | 3 (5.7) | 3 (85) | N/A |
| Sullivan Weidman | OL | MA | 3 (5.7) | 3 (85) | 3 (77) |
| Charlie Katarincic | OL | CT | 3 (5.5) | 3 (83) | N/A |
Each player with an asterisk by his name fits into two categories. First, the player has a blue-chip designation by at least one of the major recruiting services. Second, the player has been identified by at least one of those services as a Top 300 recruit.
Weighing the Class Against WVU Recruiting History
We have previously written that it’s not exactly uncommon for West Virginia to add a Top 250 recruit to the fray. In 2021, for example, they added two in Wyatt Milum and Kaden Prather. But it remains rare for the Mountaineers to add multiple top recruits. So far, Brown holds commitments from three such players. We also except a couple more over the Summer. Also, as it stands, the average Rivals rating is 5.6. And the average 247 rating is 86.1. Each of those falls within the top five classes of all time for West Virginia. And the class is only halfway complete.
What Comes Next?
As we said, we fully expect Brown to add several more commitments this Summer (as early as this coming weekend). Indeed, there are still three “silent” commitments from the early June official visit weekends that have yet to announce.
As far as positional breakdown, it can be difficult to predict at this stage. Given the roster composition, however, we think it is most likely that the staff adds two more receivers, another offensive lineman, two linebackers, one to two more defensive linemen, and two more defensive backs. We hear rumors that the staff might also add another running back, though one who is more of a utility infielder than traditional running back.
That would give the Mountaineers a total of 22 signees in this class. Twenty-two is likely approaching the cap for this class, as Brown will no doubt want to save three or more scholarships for transfers. As it stands, Brown still has one scholarship to give for the most recent class, and, if he does not use it on a late-Summer transfer, then he would carry it forward.
Who Comes Next?
As for the most likely additions to the class, we can certainly read tea leaves based on social-media interactions and reviews from official visits. Florida linebacker Travious Lathan seem high on the Mountaineers. A pair of Michigan safeties, Christion Stokes and Jaden Mangham, also spoke highly of the program after their visits. Lathan boasts a four-star rating by ESPN and 247Sports. He falls within the Top 300 recruits on both services. Mangham also carries four-star ratings by 247Sports and Rivals. 247Sports identifies him as another Top 300 recruit. Stokes falls just outside of the four-star cutoff on each service, and he would be as welcome an addition to the class.
Several other players have expressed high interest in the Mountaineers. The above three, however, seem like the most likely to commit within the coming weeks. If rumors and reads prove true, we expect our next update to show just how much recruiting momentum Brown has built this offseason. Indeed, as of our publication of our mid-Summer recruiting update, WVU’s 2022 class is already ranked in the Top 25 per Rivals. We could easily see that ranking improve by several spots by the conclusion of the Early Signing Period.
