MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia is preparing for nine to 11 midyear football enrollees, which would be the largest influx during Dana Holgorsen’s tenure.
The December signing period for junior college transfers and early high school graduates begins Wednesday. Among the Mountaineers commitments who could sign:
Jacquez Adams — Three-star athlete who’s attending prep school after failing to qualify last year.
Elijah Battle — Two-star cornerback from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College committed to WVU Dec. 6 over offers from Arizona, Minnesota and UNLV.
Jacob Buccigrossi — Two-star offensive lineman from North Hills High in Pittsburgh also holds offers from Northwestern, Virginia, Syracuse and Arizona.
Reese Donahue — Three-star defensive end from Cabell Midland was viewed as a WVU lock even before committing last February.
Kennedy McKoy — Three-star running back from Lexington, N.C., committed to the Mountaineers in July and holds offers from North Carolina, N.C. State, Boston College and Louisville.
Jeffery Pooler — Two-star defensive tackle from Dayton, Ohio, preparing to sign with WVU over Maryland, Tennessee, Louisville and UConn.
Marcus Simms — Three-star receiver from Sandy Springs, Md., committed to West Virginia last March and holds offers from the homestate Terps, Pit, Indiana, Rutgers, Arizona and East Carolina.
Cody Saunders — Two-star quarterback from Panama City, Fla., has offers from South Florida, Southern Miss and Georgia Southern.
Logan Thimons — Three-star inside linebacker from Freeport, Pa., committed in August.
Dylan Tonkery — Fresh off a state championship three-peat, the Bridgeport safety/linebacker is a two-star recruit whose brother Wes finished his WVU career as a starter in 2014.
Battle visited Minnesota last weekend but remains intent on signing with WVU, said Rivals writer Keenan Cummings of WVSports.com, who added that Battle is underrated as a two-star recruit.
In addition, West Virginia is mining the junior college ranks in pursuit of defensive players who can make an impact in 2016.
Tyrell Chavis (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) is an interior defensive lineman at Nassau (N.Y.) Community College the same program that produced current WVU cornerback Rasul Douglas. Chavis has offers from Auburn, Penn State, Texas, Miami, Rutgers and Central Florida.
Cornerback Nieko Robinson, a former Penn State signee now attending Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, is thought to be leaning toward West Virginia over offers from Kentucky, Iowa State, UAB and South Alabama.