MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia landed a commitment from one of the nation’s top prospects Sunday in Mike Harley, a receiver from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Rivals lists Harley at No. 222 nationally for the class of 2017 and the 34th-ranked receiver. Long thought to be a Miami lean, the 5-foot-10, 153-pounder from St. Thomas Aquinas chose WVU during a weekend visit. He holds 17 Power Five offers, including South Carolina, Michigan, Mississippi State, Louisville, Wisconsin, Maryland, Purdue and Kentucky.
Mountaineers running backs coach JaJuan Seider served as the lead recruiter for Harley, who told Rivals writer Keenan Cummings that “the visit was great. It was way better than Michigan or any other school I’ve visited.”
Harley said the chance to earn playing time as a freshman was appealing, which would put him in the company of other first-year contributors such as Jovon Durante, Daikiel Shorts, Jordan Thompson and Tavon Austin.
“They showed me more love and talked to me more,” Harley told the Florida Sun-Sentinel. “(As a) true freshman I can come in and work for a starting spot.”
West Virginia’s seventh commitment for 2017, Harley was rated a three-star prospect by 247 Sports and Scout.