MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Along with defeating Kansas on Saturday night, West Virginia also gained a 2015 commitment from Ohio defensive lineman Robert Landers.
The 6-foot-1, 270-pounder from Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, holds no other major-college offers but is viewed as a worthwhile project by Mountaineers coaches, who sorely need to stock up on defensive linemen. Landers was on campus for Saturday’s game and immediately pledged to WVU.
“Landers has flown under the radar with his recruitment, but the West Virginia staff saw enough in person to pull the trigger on the senior,” said Keenan Cummings, who reported the commitment for WVSports.com of the Rivals network. “Given his size, Landers has the ability to play several positions up front and will likely begin his career on the interior of the defensive line.”
West Virginia offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson was in Ohio during the recent bye week and served as the lead recruiter for Landers, who won a state championship in the shot put last July.
Landers became West Virginia’s 21st commitment for 2015 and the third defensive linemen, joining Alec Shriner of Oviedo, Fla., and Larry Jefferson of Itawamba (Miss.) Community College.