MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Two weeks after South Charleston’s Derrek Pitts decommitted from Penn State, the four-star safety made the turn many projected by pledging to West Virginia.
“Through this whole recruiting process I’ve always had a place my heart for West Virginia,” he told the MetroNews “Sportsline” crew on Monday night. “It was a process for me and my family. We just went with our hearts, and our heart brought us back to that Blue and Gold.”
The state’s top-rated 2017 prospect stunned family and friends in late July by committing to Penn State during a ceremony in Charleston. By Oct. 3 he changed course and re-opened his recruitment. still being pursued by WVU defensive coordinator Tony Gibson and schools such as Tennessee, Louisville, Maryland, Florida, Clemson and Virginia Tech.
Monday’s announcement raised West Virginia’s class to No. 38 in the Rivals rankings. He became the 17th overall commitment and 11th on the defensive side.
West Virginia graduates starting safeties Jarrod Harper and Jeremy Tyler after this season, while Spur safety Kyzir White will be a senior in 2017. Injured free safety Dravon Askew-Henry, currently rehabbing a torn ACL, could test the NFL draft after returning next season.
“I’m locked in. I’m all in WVU,” said Pitts, who has been a standout at receiver and returner for his high school team.
“Whatever the coaches allow me to do, I’m willing to do. I’m willing to come in and hopefully make an impact —kick return, punt return, defense, it don’t even matter to me. I just want to get on the field as soon as possible.”