MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia fans are getting their first official glimpse at the Mountaineers’ 2019 recruiting class.
The early signing period opened on Wednesday with WVU gaining signatures from 16 committed future players. There are 23 available scholarships due to two transfers who are already on the roster and count towards this year’s class – linebacker VanDarius Cowan (Alabama) and wide receiver Isaiah Esdale (Eastern Arizona Community College).
Wednesday was headlined by Ali Jennings, a 3-star wide receiver from Highland Springs, Va. The previously uncommitted Jennings became the 16th member of West Virginia’s signing class. He is the third receiver in this year’s class after choosing WVU over Georgia Tech, Illinois, Michigan State and North Carolina.
“It’s a great atmosphere,” Jennings told a Richmond, Va. television station. “The community loves the football program. They have the children’s hospital, which I’m pretty sure everybody knows I went to on my unofficial visit. It’s just a great opportunity for me and I couldn’t pass on it.”
Rivals ranked Jennings as the No. 19 overall player from Virginia and the No. 2 wide receiver in that state in this year’s class. Jennings had 40 receptions for 874 yards and seven touchdowns in his senior season, helping Highland Springs to a Class 5A state title.
All 15 of WVU’s previously committed recruits ended up signing as anticipated. Offensive lineman Brandon Yates, a Delaware native who has lived in Las Vegas the past two years, stuck with the Mountaineers after paying an official visit to Southern California.
This is the second year that signing day has been split into two parts. The Mountaineers will look to fill out their class on the traditional Feb. 6 signing day.
WVU football Class of 2019 signees
Brandon Yates, OL (Las Vegas via Middletown, Del.) — 3 PM
Nicktroy Fortune, CB (Roswell, Ga.) — 12:11 PM
Winston Wright, WR (Pooler, Ga.) — 12:07 PM
Dreshun Miller, DB (Kennesaw, Ga./Eastern Arizona CC) — 11:38 AM
Parker Moorer, OL (Charlotte, N.C.) — 10:40 AM
Ali Jennings, WR (Highland Springs, Va.) – 10:35 AM
Terence Doston, WR (Tampa, Fla.) — 10:33 AM
Tony Mathis, RB (Cedartown, Ga.) – 10:15 AM
Jared Bartlett, LB (Suwanee, Ga.) – 9:27 AM
Kerry Martin Jr., CB (Charleston, W.Va.) – 9:22 AM
Taijh Alston, DL (Vass, N.C./Copiah-Lincoln CC) – 9:20 AM
Tykee Smith, S (Philadelphia, Pa.) – 8:33 AM
Osita Smith, S (Bowie, Md.) – 8:28 AM
Kolton McGhee, K/P (Altoona, Pa.) – 7:56 AM
Jalen Thornton, DE (Cincinnati, Ohio) – 7:49 AM
Donovan Beaver, OL (Spotsylvania, Va.) – 7:46 AM