MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Standout safety Daejuan Funderburk watched first-hand last November as West Virginia surrendered 47 points in an overtime loss to Texas. Now the three-star recruit aims to help the shore up the Mountaineers’ defense.
Funderburk became West Virginia’s 20th commitment for the class of 2014 on Saturday, spurning at least 16 other FBS offers including Miami, Florida State, Pitt, Nebraska and Arizona. He told Rivals he was excited about the opportunity to compete for early playing time in the Mountaineers’ secondary.
His lead recruiter was WVU receivers coach Lonnie Galloway, who continues to mine the Washington, D.C., area for talented signees.
Rated by Rivals as the No. 41 safety nationally, the 6-foot-1, 188-pound Funderburk had committed to Temple last summer but reversed course after two months amid a flurry of heightened interest from power conference programs. He headed to WVU on Friday to begin an official visit.
Rivals senior writer Keenan Cummings announced Funderburk’s decision via WVSports.com.
“Funderburk is a bigger safety prospect, and he’s a hitter who will come down in the box and let runners and wide receivers know he’s there,” Cummings said. “He has good speed and a complementing change-of-direction and should be a fit at free safety or potentially nickel back. He needs to stay disciplined in coverage, but has a lot of upside in Morgantown.”
The Mountaineers have two other safeties in this class, including Northeastern Oklahoma A&M junior college transfer Keishawn Richardson, who enrolled earlier this month. Four-star safety Dravon Henry of Aliquippa, Pa., also committed Dec. 9.