MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia picked up some help in one of its greatest areas of need with a Sunday night commitment from junior college cornerback Jackie Matthews.
The Mountaineers will need to find a pair of new starting corners next year with Keith Washington and Hakeem Bailey both exhausting their eligibility.
The addition of Matthews would bring a full-fledged competition to the position next year as he would join Nicktroy Fortune, Tae Mayo and Dreshun Miller in vying for starting spots. Miller, last year’s juco signee at the position, has missed all of this season with an injury.
Matthews, a 6-foot, 180-pound corner from Gulf Coast (Miss.) Community College, is a three-star prospect who picked West Virginia over Central Florida. The Mountaineers were the only Power Five program to offer Matthews, though it’s not unusual for junior college players to get bigger offers later on in the recruiting process.
WVU already has a scout on the roster when it comes to assessing Matthews. Originially from Pinson, Ala., he is lifelong family friends with wide receiver T.J. Simmons.
Matthews was recruited by cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae with an assist from defensive line coach Jordan Lesley, who has deep ties in the Mississippi junior college ranks.
Matthews is expected to enroll at WVU in January, and will therefore be able to participate in spring practice.
West Virginia’s commitments for 2020:
Lamy Constant (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0, 190 RB 4 stars
Chris Mayo (Richland, N.J.) 6-5, 305 OL 4 stars
Garrett Greene (Tallahassee, Fla.) 6-0, 175 QB 4 stars
Jackie Matthews (Gulf Coast CC/Pinson, Ala.) 6-0, 180 CB 3 stars
Quay Mays (NW Mississippi CC/Bradenton, Fla.) 6-2, 290 DT 3 stars
Taurus Simmons (Savannah, Ga.) 6-3, 210 OLB 3 stars
Zach Frazier (Fairmont, W.Va.) 6-2, 277 OL 3 stars
Jairo Faverus (Filton, England) 6-0, 190 CB 3 stars
David Okoli (Gaithersburg, Md.) 5-11, 176 CB 3 stars
Lanell Carr (St. Louis, Mo.) 6-3, 230 OLB 3 stars
Jacob Gamble (Iowa Western CC) 6-7, 325 OL 3 stars
Reese Smith (Danville, Ky.) 5-11, 175 WR 3 stars
Devell Washington (Bay City, Mich.) 6-4, 215 WR 3 stars
S.L. McCall (Iowa Western CC/Lake City, Fla.) 6-3, 200 OLB 3 stars
Charles Finley (Wayne, N.J.) 6-4, 215 TE 2 stars