MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Wednesday’s commencement of the midyear signing period saw West Virginia add seven junior-college players, including a surprise addition in the secondary.
Hakeem Bailey, a Rivals three-star cornerback from Iowa Western Community College, committed and signed with the Mountaineers within days of receiving an offer.
The 6-foot-1 Atlanta native may be familiar to Marshall fans, considering he signed with the Herd in the class of 2015 before failing to qualify. One redshirt year and one breakout freshman season later, Bailey elevated himself into a Power 5 prospect, choosing West Virginia over Cincinnati, UAB, New Mexico and New Mexico State.
Bailey made five interceptions, nine pass breakups and 40 tackles this fall at Iowa Western and continues the Mountaineers’ trend of restocking its secondary with transfers (that’s 10 in the last four classes). Baily has three years of eligibility left.
Four of West Virginia’s top five cornerbacks this season are seniors, creating wide-open competition for jobs next spring.
Other signees
Quick glimpses at the other six junior college players who signed their letters of intent Wednesday:
• David Sills (6-4, 210), after giving quarterback a final try at El Camino (Calif.) College this season, is returning to West Virginia as a receiver.
• Three-star receiver Dominique Maiden (6-5, 210) caught 71 passes during two seasons at Riverside (Calif.) City College. He committed and signed Wednesday over offers from UAB and UMass.
• Weakside defensive end Ezekiel Rose (6-3, 230) made 35 tackles, eight for loss with 6.5 sacks in 10 games as a sophomore at East Mississippi Community College. He committed Dec. 10 over offers from Memphis, Southern Miss, Marshall and Louisiana-Lafayette. Has three years left to play two.
• Three-star nose guard Jalen Harvey (6-3, 335) of Northwest Mississippi Community College. Originally a Syracuse signee out of high school. He committed Sept. 24 over offers from Georgia Southern, Middle Tennessee State and UT-Chattanooga. Harvey has three years left to play two.
• Outside linebacker Quondarius Qualls (6-2, 230) made 19.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss over 24 career games at Northwest Mississippi Community College. He committed Oct. 3 over offers from Southern Miss and New Mexico State. Has three years left to play two.
• Offensive lineman Kelby Wickline (6-5, 280) of Jones County (Miss.) Junior College. The only juco signee who was pursued by other Power 5 schools, the son of WVU offensive coordinator Joe Wickline flipped his commitment from North Carolina on Tuesday. He also held offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Missouri, Arizona State, TCU, Cal and Iowa State. Has three years left to play three.
More expected
Three high school commitments are anticipated to sign with WVU and enroll for spring semester: South Charleston four-star safety Derrek Pitts, New Orleans three-star athlete Tevin Bush and Morgantown three-star linebacker Maverick Wolfley.
