West Virginia had been searching for cornerbacks in the current recruiting class and have added a valuable piece there with the commitment of Valdosta (Ga.) athlete Jayce Rogers.
Rogers, 5-foot-8, 160-pounds, emerged as one of the top targets for the Mountaineers over the course of the process beginning with a scholarship offer in early March.
From there, West Virginia emerged as one of the clear cut front runners for the Georgia cornerback he just hadn’t made it to campus.
That changed when Rogers made it to Morgantown for the Showtime Event in order to get a complete picture of the football program. That was enough to secure his pledge.
Cornerbacks coach Doug Belk served as the lead recruiter for Rogers, with the two instantly bonding over the fact they both are from the Valdosta area. That persistence played a major role in his decision to end his recruitment and choose the Mountaineers.
The assistant was in regular contact with Rogers and made the trip to see him twice during the evaluation period. The message was clear, the Mountaineers felt Rogers could make an early impact on campus with his speed and physicality at the cornerback spot.
“We have a good connection and he is a coach I feel could make me better,” Rogers said.
The Rivals.com three-star prospect also held offers from Iowa, Cincinnati, South Florida, Colorado State and a number of other college programs, while others were expressing strong interest.
Overall, Rogers becomes the first commitment for West Virginia at the cornerback position and the 12th pledge overall for the football program. He becomes the second overall pledge from the state of Georgia, which has developed into a priority area for the program.
WVSports.com will have more with Rogers in the near future.
