In a year when the state of West Virginia is loaded with power five talent, the Mountaineers secured a commitment from the top rated prospect in the state in South Charleston safety Derrek Pitts.
Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Analyst Adam Friedman has seen Pitts in various settings since his sophomore season at both Rivals Camp Series events in Columbus and Charlotte as well as various 7-on-7 events.
Friedman recalls the first time he watched tape on Pitts and he immediately stood out making plays all over the field but relying more on his athleticism than technique.
Raw but untapped talent. However, he continued to work on his craft and becoming a better safety. Mission accomplished because one thing that is clear is that the Rivals.com four-star prospect has matured and developed into the complete package at the safety position.
“This camp season you got a really good idea of how much he’s progressed in coverage. He got better at tacking the ball while it’s in the air and understanding the proper techniques for a safety when it comes to staying overtop,” Friedman said. “As a free safety he has a lot of potential.”
Pitts now stands 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, and has the frame to add even more bulk in case he will be used closer to the line of scrimmage at the college level. While his coverage abilities have improved in recent years, the in-state prospect has always been a physical hitter that excels in run support.
“When he came onto the scene as a sophomore he’s out there taking guys heads off, flying around and making plays,” Friedman said.
The standout prospect is a natural fit for the West Virginia defense and Friedman envisions that he has the potential to play at any of the three safety spots in the Mountaineers scheme. Physically he is already in a situation where he could contribute but it will depend on how he picks things up mentally when he arrives on campus in Morgantown.
“I think he can play in the deep middle I have no doubt about that. However West Virginia wants to use him he has the body to mold. He has the frame and he’s really lean so they can add some weight to him because he’s a physical guy and knows how to hit,” Friedman said.
Pitts is the third in-state prospect to commit to West Virginia behind Morgantown linebacker Maverick Wolfley and Fairmont Senior defensive lineman Darius Stills and this one is a big one.In an unprecedented year that has seen a total of seven prospects receive at least one power five offer, Pitts is a very important piece because he is the highest rated prospect in the Mountain State.
Pitts initially committed to Penn State but changed his mind choosing West Virginia over offers from Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Auburn, Clemson, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Maryland and a number of others. It also keeps talent at home and sends a message to other prospects in the state both in this class and future ones.
That’s especially true considering prospects such as Spring Valley offensive lineman Riley Locklear (Tennessee), Capital linebacker Dorian Etheridge (Louisville), Point Pleasant offensive lineman Seth Stewart (LSU) and Huntington offensive lineman Billy Ross (North Carolina) have all committed elsewhere and elected to choose options out of state.
“You can’t let all of these guys get out of state. He could also be a ring leader for some of these guys especially skill position and defensive players. It’s imperative for West Virginia to have kept him in-state,” Friedman said.
