MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia secured a primary 2019 target with Thursday’s commitment of Philadelphia four-star safety Tykee Smith.
Even though the early signing period is four months away, it doesn’t appear the Mountaineers will have to do much babysitting on this pledge. Smith told Rivals.com he already has a roommate selected for next year — fellow four-star commitment Isaiah Hazel.
Smith is the No. 4-rated recruit in Pennsylvania and the nation’s 23rd-ranked safety overall. His other finalists were Michigan State, Baylor, North Carolina, Maryland and Syracuse, among a list that exceeds 20 FBS offers.
At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Smith isn’t coveted for his size but rather for the physical punch he packs on crossing routes and run support, said Rivals writer Keenan Cummings.
West Virginia offered Smith as a sophomore, becoming only the second school to do so. Defensive assistant Mark Scott served as the lead recruiter.
Smith led Imhotep Charter to the Pennsylvania independent school Class 4A state final last season, starring as a two-player. He ran and caught a combined 15 touchdowns while intercepting three passes and emerging as a defensive stopper.
“He’s so versatile. He can play anywhere,” Imhotep coach Nick Lincoln told PennLive.com. “He just has a knack for the football. He’s smart. He watches film, and he gets it. He can look at a formation, and pick up on the plays a team runs out of it right away.”
Smith’s commitment, along with that of running back Tony Mathis later in the day, boosted WVU’s class ranking to 38th in the nation, up 10 spots.
West Virginia’s 2019 class features two safety commitments — Capital High’s Kerry Martin and LaDarius Henry of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. — and still on the hook is for another back-end prospect, three-star Osita Smith of Columbia, Md.