Kyzir White becomes highest-rated brother to commit to WVU

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Four-star junior college safety Kyzir White committed to West Virginia late Tuesday, an outcome coaches at some other major programs considered inevitable.

After all, he becomes the third White brother to follow the path from Lackawanna to WVU.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound White has offers from Pitt, Arizona State, Louisville and Illinois. He expects to enroll at West Virginia in December by which time safeties Karl Joseph and KJ Dillon should be wrapping up their senior seasons.

“For some of these schools that were recruiting him, it was love at first sight,” said Lackawanna defensive coordinator Bill Reiss. “But other recruiters said, ‘He has that West Virginia offer, so why even offer?”

White told Rivals last month he was open to considering other schools even though “everybody expects me to go to West Virginia.” Penn State reportedly was making a hard push, but White’s relationship with West Virginia assistant Lonnie Galloway proved too strong.

During the spring, when oldest brother Kevin White was preparing to become a first-round draft pick and middle brother Ka’Raun had signed with WVU, Lackawanna head coach Mark Duda projected Kyzir would be “a big-time prospect” regardless of family ties. He’s actually the highest-rated of the three, according to Rivals.

As a freshman at Lackawanna last season, Kyzir made 34 tackles and one interception, compiling some strong defensive film after his brothers built their reps at receiver.

“He’s a very athletic kid—more athletic than most of the guys he plays against—and very aggressive to the ball,” Reiss said. “You could line up those White brothers anywhere and they’d be good players, but he just has that love for defense, you know?’

“Primarily he’s a downhill run safety, who’s also good in pass coverage, too. He’s one of the most complete players we’ve had on our defense.”

Four-star defensive recruits have been a rarity at WVU. Only 10 have signed with the Mountaineers since 2002, and thus far only five have appeared in a game.