MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Rivals three-star prospect Tony Mathis, after becoming West Virginia’s first running backs commitment for 2019, said the Mountaineers “recruited me harder than anyone else.”
The 6-foot, 195-pounder from Cedartown, Ga., also listed Louisville, Wake Forest, Purdue and Iowa State among his top five. He intends to take official visits this fall to WVU and Louisville, so the recruiting tug-of-war may not be over.
Mathis said he bonded with West Virginia assistants Doug Belk — who has made quick inroads on recruiting Georgia — and running backs coach Marquel Blackwell. West Virginia’s class now stands at 15 commitments and ranks 38th nationally, according to Rivals.
Mathis received his first Power Five offer from WVU in February and visited in July.
“There is a similar feel in Morgantown to how it is in Cedartown,” he told Rivals. “It is not too country and not too city there. It is just the perfect fit for me.”
The Mountaineers have offers extended to nine uncommitted running backs but figure to be serious contenders for only a couple, including three-star Deyvon Wright of Dix Hills, N.Y.