MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It’s not unusual for international students to pick West Virginia to continue their education. However, it is a bit eye-opening if any of those students happen to play football — particularly when coming from a place where the game is categorized as “American football.”
One such export announced his commitment to WVU on Tuesday. Jairo Faverus, a cornerback from Filton, England, committed to the Mountaineers after attending the team’s camp on June 14. Faverus is 6-foot and 190 pounds, or as his weight would be measured back home, 13.5-stone.
The Mountaineers left no stone unturned in finding Faverus, who hasn’t been rated by the majority of recruiting services — unsurprising given their lack of access to the British prep football scene.
247 Sports rated Faverus as a three-star recruit in April. He is also as the top-rated recruit in the United Kingdom. Of course, he also happens to be the only rated recruit in the United Kingdom at the moment.
I feel blessed and exited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at West Virginia University!! @NealBrown_WVU @Coach_Addae @Coach_August @PPIRecruits @BCollier56 #TakeMeHome20 #GoMountaineers #Committed pic.twitter.com/BrSWV1ydCP
— Jaïro Faverus (@Jairofaverus) June 18, 2019
Faverus’ school, the Bristol Academy of Sport, has produced two players that have reached NFL rosters. Saints defensive end Alex Jenkins and Browns practice squad cornerback Tigie Sankoh are both alums.
Faverus also had scholarship offers from Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Rutgers and Yale. Secondary coach Jahmile Addae was his primary recruiter for WVU.
Faverus is a the second cornerback to commit in a recruiting class where the position will come at a premium. West Virginia has three seniors playing corner in 2019.
The Mountaineers have eight announced commitments in the Class of 2020. Two additional players who committed over the weekend have yet to announce publicly.
West Virginia’s commitments for 2020:
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
Garrett Greene (Tallahassee, Fla.) 6-0, 175 QB 3 stars
Aaron Lewis (Williamstown, N.J.) 6-4, 240 DE 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 2 stars