Class of 2008
February 06, 2008 07:02 PM | General
February 6, 2008
OFFICIAL RELEASE
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Twenty three prospects comprising 11 different states make up West Virginia University’s 2008 football recruiting class.
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| Bill Stewart discusses his 2008 signing class Wednesday afternoon at the Milan Puskar Center.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
First-year coach Bill Stewart and his staff predominantly targeted defensive players this year, landing eight defensive linemen, five defensive backs and two linebackers. The Mountaineers also signed two offensive linemen, a fullback, a tight end, a quarterback and a wide receiver on offense, and one specialist in Virginia kicker Tyler Bitancurt.
“It was a very, very strong finish,” said Stewart. “Twenty six days ago our first crew of coaches came through. Eight days ago our last coach came on board and our strength coach began work two days ago. It has been a fast-paced, fun-filled month.”
The most recognized name on the signing list is Parkersburg offensive lineman Josh Jenkins, a two-time state player of the year who was picked to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, and was also a member of the prestigious Parade All-American team. Jenkins made the announcement that he was sticking with the Mountaineers Wednesday morning at his high school.
“He is as fine an offensive lineman as we’ll ever recruit,” Stewart said. “This guy aged Coach (Doc) Holliday. Coach Holliday went from reddish, to grayish to no hair in the last 26 days. All the accolades you see about him are quite true. We thought he would be the bell cow of this class as a lineman and he will do a tremendous job for us.
“This young man could have gone anywhere in the country and he kept his word and that means a lot to us here,” Stewart said.
Touted defensive lineman Tevita Finau’s letter came across the fax machine during the mid-afternoon, holding up Stewart’s 3 pm press conference for more than 15 minutes. The wait was well worth it because Finau is one of the top JUCO players in the country, earning second team All-America honors after collecting 90 tackles, nine sacks and 20 tackles for losses. The 6-foot-5-inch, 290-pound defensive lineman runs a 4.7 forty and was rated the No. 9 junior college player in the country by SuperPrep Magazine.
“This guy might be the finest defensive lineman in the country today,” Stewart said. “Jeff Casteel and Bill Kirelawich went out there and just knocked them on their ears and did a great job getting him to come here.
“He is a whale of a football player and one fine young man,” Stewart said of Finau.
Finau will be joined by a pair of Phoenix College teammates in defensive backs Brantwon Bowser and Courtney Stuart. Bowser is already enrolled in school along with Coffeyville Community College defensive end Larry Ford from Georgetown, S.C. Ford was the No. 39-rated junior college player in the country according to SuperPrep Magazine.
“Larry Ford is a big, rangy, fast young man,” Stewart said. “He’s fast, fast, fast and we’re very, very pleased about him.”
West Virginia also dipped into the junior college ranks to nab defensive tackle D.J. Shaw out of Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Bude, Miss. Shaw was a former fullback in high school.
“We had a connection down there with one of the JUCO coaches and it just kind of fell into place,” Stewart said. “He’s just a special guy.”
Maryland presented the Mountaineers with three outstanding prep prospects in John Bassler, younger brother of former WVU offensive lineman Chris Bassler, offensive tackle Jeff Braun and DeMatha High School fullback Ryan Clarke. Braun was the No. 10-rated player in the Mid-Atlantic Regional by SuperPrep; Bassler was rated 38th in the region by SuperPrep.
West Virginia tapped Pennsylvania for two solid players in Philadelphia defensive tackle Chris Palmer and North Huntingdon, Pa., tight end Tyler Urban, who originally pledged with Maryland. Palmer was named to the Harrisburg Patriot News Platinum 33 team and ranked 27th in the Keystone State according to SuperPrep.
“He’s one of our big guys,” Stewart said of Palmer. “This guy is a big, strong youngster.”
In Virginia, West Virginia was able to land linebacker Donovan Miles out of Stafford, defensive back J.J. Dorsey out of Winchester and kicker Tyler Bitancurt out of Springfield.
Miles was rated 29th and Bitancurt ranked 36th in Virginia by SuperPrep. Dorsey played quarterback at Handley High School where he accumulated more than 9,700 yards of offense for his career. He is expected to play defensive back for the Mountaineers.
Two Ohio prospects gave West Virginia signatures in Cleveland Heights defensive lineman Corey Freeman and Chardon High School offensive lineman Joseph Madsen. Freeman earned first team all-state honors after producing 14 ½ sacks and 30 tackles for losses, while Madsen was a first team all-state choice after leading his high school team to a 10-3 record.
“He has a motor that goes non-stop,” Stewart said of Madsen. “Last year at camp I thought those guys were going to hurt each other.”
Coley White, younger brother of WVU star quarterback Patrick White, gave West Virginia a commitment after starring at Daphne High School in Daphne, Ala. White accounted for nearly 2,500 yards of total offense in helping Daphne to a state runner-up finish. He will also play quarterback at West Virginia.
“I don’t know if he’s faster than Patrick or quicker than his older brother, but we signed him because he’s Coley,” Stewart said. “He comes from a remarkable family and this is a quality young man. We just found us a tremendous, young quarterback prospect and he has it all ahead of him.”
Defensive end Bernard Smith earned first team all-state honors at Mays High School in Atlanta after accumulating 125 tackles, 12 sacks and 22 tackles for losses his senior season. Smith was the No. 66-rated player in Georgia by SuperPrep and was selected to play in the Georgia North-South All-Star game.
“(Smith) and Corey Freeman when you put the film on they look like sprinters coming out of the blocks,” Stewart said. “It’s unbelievable what explosion they bring to the table.”
West Virginia also reestablished a presence in Florida by signing five Sunshine State prospects. J.D. Woods of Golden Gate High School in Naples caught 54 passes for 851 yards and seven touchdowns, earning all-state honors. Woods was SuperPrep’s No. 70-rated player in the state.
“I did not know the guy was that good,” said Stewart of Woods. “I saw film of him and you see him in basketball and you say, wow. You look on his wall and he scores his 1,000th point in basketball as a junior. You look on that wall and you see a picture of his cousin who is a pro football player. This guy has a chance to be very, very special and he will stretch the field vertically.”
Six-foot-six-inch safety Robert Sands was a late pickup from Carol City High School in Miami. Sands was a Miami Herald Dade County Top 25 pick who earned second team all-state honors. He was also the No. 91 rated player in Florida by SuperPrep.
“I do not believe what an athlete this young man is at 6-6 and 205 pounds,” Stewart said. “This guy has as bright a future as any young man that has been here in years. This kid can flat play.”
Seabreeze High School standout Jerome Swinton stuck with the Mountaineers after pledging early to the previous coaching staff. Swinton earned first team Class 4A all-state honors and is considered one of the fastest players in West Virginia’s recruiting class with a 4.31 time in the forty.
“The best football player we have and he is not a very big man,” Stewart said of Swinton. “We were generous with the height and weight but don’t worry about that because the speed is real. The guy can run, he’ll hit you and he’s probably the best football player we recruited.”
Pahokee High School product Ja’tavious Miller earned Palm Beach Post first-team small school honors and was a second-team all-state selection after finishing with 109 tackles, eight sacks and 20 tackles for losses.
“Wow can this guy go. You should see this guy on film in front of a huddle,” Stewart said. “He steps in front of a huddle and he commands respect instantly.”
Jorge Wright had 62 tackles and 18 sacks as a senior at Dr. Krop High School in Miami and was selected to play in the Dade North-South All-Star game.
“This guy was offered by some schools down south and he’s just a tremendous young man,” Stewart said. “We turned this guy from a couple of SEC schools and a school up north not too close to us - he didn’t take the visit … you talk about exciting for us? We were rolling down the highway when he committed to us. Doc again worked his magic."
Stewart indicated Wednesday that the Mountaineers are still in the running for additional prospects.
