MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The on-again off-again recruitment of three-star defensive end Larry Jefferson cycled back in West Virginia’s favor Tuesday when the Itawamba (Miss.) Community College prospect committed to the Mountaineers for the second time.
His announcement, first reported by Keenan Cummings of WVSports.com, was appropriately timed for the week of West Virginia’s game at Iowa State. After all, Jefferson switched his original commitment from WVU to the Cyclones in mid-October.
After the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder decommitted from Iowa State on Nov. 1, he visited Morgantown last weekend and, according to Cummings, “saw all he needed to see.”
Jefferson is rated by Rivals as the No. 28 junior college prospect nationally. He holds offers from 13 FBS schools, headlined by Missouri, Kansas State, Kentucky, Cal and Maryland.
In 2012 he was a Louisville commitment before academics forced him to go the junior college.
“This is a big pickup because Jefferson is a true pass rusher,” Cummings said. “Making this pledge even more important is the fact that he’s a December graduate.
“He played in a three-man front last season and understands what will be asked out of him with the framework of the 3-3-5 defense. He has three years to play two but should be able to contribute in some capacity next season.”
The Mountaineers are scrambling to replace three seniors at defensive end, with Shaq Riddick, Dontrill Hyman and converted linebacker Brandon Golson about to exhaust their eligibility.
Jefferson’s junior college teammate Xavier Pegues, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound strong side defensive end, committed to West Virginia on Oct. 31. The Mountaineers also have a commitment from three-star defensive end Adam Shuler of Longwood, Fla.