The road map to the West Virginia 2018 recruiting class
Want to relive the big moments of the West Virginia 2018 recruiting class? That's what we're here for so WVSports.com takes a look at the highs, the lows and everything in between for the Mountaineers in assembling this class.
January 30, 2017 – Over a year ago, Bethel Park (Pa.) defensive lineman James Gmiter becomes the first commitment to West Virginia and never wavered in that pledge.
April 18, 2017 – The Mountaineers land their second commitment in Paintsville (Ky.) defensive lineman Tyrese Allen.
April 22, 2017 – While West Virginia had to wait almost four months between the first and the second commitment of the class, the Mountaineers would land a surprise in Oak Park (Ill.) tight end Mike O’Laughlin who was an early offer for the program and was fresh off an unofficial visit. West Virginia proved to be ahead of the game here as O’Laughlin would pick up offers from Ohio State and several other schools but would remain solid throughout.
April 30, 2017 – In Delaware at the time of his commitment, West Virginia landed a prospect that they offered in eighth grade in running back Leddie Brown. The clear top cut option at the position, the Mountaineers would have to fight both Florida and North Carolina through the rest of his recruitment but was able to sign the versatile athlete in December. One of the major pickups.
May 9, 2017 – Momentum continued on the defensive line when the Mountaineers were able to pluck Pickerington (Oh.) defensive end Alex Williams. A one-time Iowa State pledge, Williams had blossomed over the spring and transformed his body. He was the third defensive line commitment already.
June 23, 2017 – West Virginia dipped back into Illinois for yet another tight end when Chicago pass catcher TJ Ivy committed to the Mountaineers after making an under the radar unofficial visit to campus during the middle of the summer camp season.
June 25, 2017 – The momentum continued a few days later, but this time the hard way when Canton (Oh.) linebacker Josh Chandler earned a scholarship offer from West Virginia earlier in the week and then pulled the trigger in favor of the Mountaineers after an impressive camp performance.
June 28, 2017 – Holly Springs (N.C.) wide receiver Bryce Wheaton was a third-generation West Virginia legacy and while he camped at several places including Florida State and Louisville, elected to end his recruitment by committing to the Mountaineers after an unofficial visit.
June 29, 2017 – The next day West Virginia would pluck another commitment from a wide receiver with ties to the program in Houston (Tx.) athlete Ralph Davis, the cousin of the late Chris Henry. He had visited the week prior for the Mountaineers one-day camp session but elected not to work out leaving his status in doubt. However, the program elected to ultimately take his pledge.
July 7, 2017 – The run of wide receivers would continue with another prospect that impressed at the Mountaineers summer camp sessions in Georgia speedster Sam James. A state- track champion, James already held an offer prior to working out at the West Virginia camp but did so anyways and stole the show. He would commit a few weeks later at an announcement at his school.
July 11, 2017 – It took longer than usual, but West Virginia landed its signal caller when Bolivar (Tn.) quarterback Trey Lowe announced his decision in a video. Lowe had visited West Virginia a few weeks prior and while others were involved ultimately his bond with the coaches proved too much.
July 22, 2017 – Valdosta (Ga.) cornerback Jayce Rogers was considered a strong West Virginia lean from the moment the Mountaineers offered and once he finally was able to make it to campus for the Showtime Event pulled the trigger while he was still on campus.
July 30, 2017 – It was a daily double on the Sunday following the Showtime Event as the Mountaineers landed Alpharetta (Ga.) tackle Junior Uzebu and Bolivar (Tn.) center Briason Mays. Uzebu originally committed to Minnesota in April but quickly backed off that pledge and West Virginia surged to the forefront. The visit for the Showtime Event sealed the deal. Mays, a high school teammate of the Mountaineers quarterback commitment Trey Lowe, listed the program high on his list after they offered with the main competition being Illinois. And much like Uzebu the visit to campus ended things.
August 6, 2017 – Typically in what is known as a slow period in recruiting, West Virginia received news that Baltimore (Md.) wide receiver Randy Fields was going to commit to the program. Not much was known about Fields before, but he saw enough to pledge to the Mountaineers.
August 24, 2017 – While Brown was one of the unquestioned top targets that West Virginia had to get in this class, another and perhaps the biggest of all was Fairmont (W.Va.) defensive end Dante Stills. The son of pass rushing great Gary and brother of current defensive lineman Darius, Stills grew up 20-minutes down the road in Fairmont and the Mountaineers were his first offer. He explored options like Florida and Oklahoma but ultimately the Mountaineers won the fight in a huge victory.
September 15, 2017 – While not a classic commitment West Virginia lands a transfer in former Western Kentucky kicker Skyler Simcox.
October 1, 2017 – After the Stills news West Virginia had to wait a while for the next traditional commitment in the class and that came in the form of El Dorado (Kan.) linebacker Charlie Benton. A former safety that bulked up during a redshirt year, the Mountaineers were the first power five offer and that stuck out.
October 12, 2017 – There was both good and bad on this day as the Mountaineers landed a former Ohio State defensive back in junior college safety Josh Norwood. He had known cornerbacks coach Doug Belk and that helped establish the connection and his eventual commitment. But the Mountaineers also elected to part ways with Ralph Davis and look at other options.
October 18, 2017 – Although West Virginia already had a pair of tight end commitments, the Mountaineers landed their highest rated of the class when North Versailles prospect T.J. Banks announced his decision on social media. Long considered a Pittsburgh lean, the Mountaineers surged to the front over the summer and was able to close the deal after some productive visits.
October 19, 2017 – They say three is a crowd and that was certainly the case at the tight end spot as TJ Ivy elected to decommit in what would come to be known as a mutual parting of ways between the two. But again, these things tend to balance out and West Virginia added a new commitment in the form of Portsmouth (Oh.) offensive lineman Blaine Scott. While he was committed to Mississippi, he elected to open the process and West Virginia became the front runner from almost the start. He would take multiple visits to campus before making things official.
October 30, 2017 – The final member of the Mount Rushmore in this class was Aliquippa (Pa.) safety Kwantel Raines and West Virginia secured his commitment at a ceremony in his hometown at the end of October. There were twists and turns throughout this process, but the Mountaineers were the first school to offer and the last school standing in a major victory over rival Pittsburgh on the trail.
November 15, 2017 – Martinsburg (W.Va.) defensive lineman Tavis Lee pulled the trigger in favor of the Mountaineers after receiving an offer earlier in the month. Lee had been on the radar since the start of the process and once he received the offer it seemed to be only a matter of time.
November 22, 2017 – Dana Holgorsen joked about Australian punters throughout most of the 2017 season so it was only natural that he decided to go and get his own and he did that with the commitment of Angus Davies.
November 27, 2017 – West Virginia added the final piece to its wide receiver group at the end of November when Lorton (Va.) athlete Dillon Spalding committed to the Mountaineers over Michigan.
December 12, 2017 – West Virginia added the final piece prior to the early signing day in junior college defensive back Keith Washington who first enrolled at Michigan out of high school. Again Belk was the connection here and the Mountaineers made Washington a priority.
December 20, 2017 – Alex Williams ends a week of speculation by flipping his commitment from West Virginia to Ohio State. The Buckeyes also recognized the potential of Williams and were able to flip the in-state native late in the process. West Virginia signs 20 of its commitments with only Lee, Rogers and Davies left unsigned on the list of prospects that had selected the program.
January 8, 2017 – West Virginia has eight players enroll including Lowe, Norwood, Benton, Washington, Scott, Mays, Chandler and Simcox.
January 30, 2017 – After almost a two-month layoff, West Virginia ended its drought by adding a pair of offensive linemen in brothers Mike and Joe Brown. Mike had committed to Kansas the week before but the Mountaineers were able to convince him to visit along with his brother and that was enough to seal the deal on their commitments.
February 7, 2017 - Joe and Mike Brown both sign their letters of intent with West Virginia bringing that number to a class of 22 signed prospects.
