MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia added a commitment from linebacker/safety prospect Josh Chandler on Sunday after he enjoyed a strong camp showing this week.
The rising senior at McKinley High in Canton, Ohio, he measures anywhere from 5-10 to 6-foot on recruiting profiles and holds offers from Air Force, Western Kentucky, Marshall, Akron and other MAC programs.
“He reminds me a lot of David Long. Athletic and hits hard,” said Rivals writer Keenan Cummings.
Chandler also played running back last season when McKinley finished 6-5. He sat out three games with injuries.
Chandler is a two-star player according to 247Sports and has yet to be rated by Rivals, though Cummings expects that to change after the latest round of evaluations.
“Eyeballing Chandler in person at the West Virginia camp, he isn’t a towering linebacker prospect but he does have a solid frame and is always willing to compete,” Cummings said.
“His speed also stood out because although he is put together at his size. He can run and is able to close on ball carriers while showing solid pass-coverage skills.”
Chandler becomes the Mountaineers’ seventh commitment for 2018, and the first at linebacker.
After next season West Virginia loses three seniors on the two-deep at linebacker: Al-Rasheed Benton, Xavier Preston and Hodari Christian.
West Virginia’s commitments for 2018:
| Leddie Brown (Smyrna, Del.) | 6-1, 190 | RB | 4 stars |
| James Gmiter (Bethel Park, Pa.) | 6-4, 300 | DT | 3 stars |
| Mike O’Laughlin (Oak Park, Ill.) | 6-5, 215 | TE | 3 stars |
| Tyrese Allen (Paintsville, Ky.) | 6-3, 290 | DT | 3 stars |
| Josh Chandler (Canton, Ohio) | 6-0, 220 | LB | 2 stars |
| TJ Ivy (Chicago) | 6-5, 217 | TE | 3 stars |
| Alex Williams (Pickerington, Ohio) | 6-7, 240 | OL | 3 stars |