MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia picked up its first commitment from a true defensive lineman in the 2020 recruiting class as junior college defensive tackle Quay Mays announced that he will attend WVU. Mays has two years of eligibility remaining and will enroll in January.
Mays is a 6-foot-2, 290-pound lineman from Northwest Mississippi Community College. That turf is home-field advantage for West Virginia defensive line coach Jordan Lesley, who coached at the school in 2010 and 2012.
An under-the-radar prospect, Mays has yet to be rated by Rivals. He’s been noticed by coaches, though, picking up offers from Iowa State, Houston, Central Florida and South Florida. Mays made official visits to West Virginia and Iowa State before choosing the Mountaineers.
After weighing out my options I decided that West Virginia is going to my NEW HOWE‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/KzzzRdC90d
— Quay Mays (@mays_quay) July 9, 2019
Mays projects to play the nose in defensive coordinator Vic Koenning’s three-man front. Another member of the class, 230-pound outside linebacker Lanell Carr, could potentially move to defensive end at the college level. Fairmont native Zach Frazier is listed as a defensive lineman in his recruiting profiles, but will play the offensive line at WVU.
Mays graduated from Manatee High School in Bradenton, Fla., a football program perhaps best known for producing legendary Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier. Mays was lightly recruited out of high school, playing only during his senior year.
Football is in his blood, though. Mays’ uncle, Alvoid Mays, played for the Redskins from 1989-95 after playing two years at West Virginia. His cousin, Peter Warrick, was a star at Florida State before becoming a first-round Bengals draft pick.
Mays is the 12th player committed to West Virginia’s 25-man class.
West Virginia’s commitments for 2020:
Quay Mays (NW Mississippi CC/Bradenton, Fla.) 6-2, 290 DT N/A
Taurus Simmons (Savannah, Ga.) 6-3, 210 OLB 3 stars
Chris Mayo (Richland, N.J. ) 6-5, 305 OL 4 stars
Garrett Greene (Tallahassee, Fla.) 6-0, 175 QB 4 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