Good morning on this, the first day of the 2013 signing period. This is also known as national signing day. WVU went to sleep with 24 committed players last night and probably only a little drama to live today. It didn’t look as though there would be too many surprises, if any, though that sort of static seems unlikely given the nature of this day and the whims of teenagers and the ways those whims can so easily be influenced.

Anyway, the Mountaineers had already announced 10 signings by 8 a.m. and seven of those were the players already enrolled. The other three were prep players and two were committed sign. That is to say, one jolt already.

I’ll keep this running throughout the day, up to and including Dana Holgorsen’s 3 p.m. press conference, from which we’ll post some videos and interviews afterward.

Hodari (Ha-DAR-ee) Christian
LB, 6-1, 195, McKeesport, Pa./McKeesportv HS – enrolled

Coached by Jim Ward at McKeesport High … 2012 Pennsylvania Sportswriters Class 4A All-State linebacker … 2012 Coaches/Pennsylvania Football News Class 4A All-State Second Team linebacker … two year two-way starter at linebacker and running back … recorded 57 tackles, including 43 solo tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries in nine games as a senior … also rushed for 546 yards, averaging 5.87 yards per carry with three touchdowns … All-Class 4AFoothills Conference linebacker in 2012 … No. 19 on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Top 25 Pennsylvania football players … named to the 2012 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 … member of the 2012 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 … on the McKeesport Daily News Dynamic 33 team … played in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … four-star recruit according to ESPN … three-star recruit according to rivals, Scout and 247sports … rivals No. 25 Pennsylvania Postseason Top 30 … 247sports No. 20 dual-threat quarterback … 247sports No. 25 Pennsylvania recruit … also offered by Illinois, Northwestern, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers and Temple.

Malik Greaves (Greeves)
S, 6-3, 200, Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood HS – enrolled

Three-year starter for coach Adam Geis at Sandalwood High … named to the 2012 Florida Times-Union Super 24 … earned All-Gateway Conference honors … collected eight interceptions for his career and returned two of them for touchdowns … ranked No. 9 on the Orlando Sentinel’s North Florida Super60 … four-star recruit according to ESPN … three-star recruit according to rivals, Scout and 247sports … rivals No. 43 safety … runs a 4.48 40-yard dash … lettered in basketball and track … also offered by Auburn, Duke, North Carolina, Ole Miss, USF, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Daikiel (Da-KEEL) Shorts
WR, 6-1, 200, Clayton, N.J./Eastern Christian Academy – enrolled

Coached by Dwayne Thomas at Eastern Christian Academy … helped team to a 3-0 record in 2012 … played in three games in 2012, recording 16 catches for 342 yards, an average of 21.4 yards per reception, and four touchdowns … caught seven passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns in 39-35 win over Strom Thurmond … hauled in seven receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns in a 62-3 victory over Niagara Academy … had two catches for 35 yards against Archbishop Spalding … previously lettered for three seasons at Red Lion Christian Academy … finished with 45 catches for 530 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior … also had 40 tackles and one interception while playing cornerback and safety … three-star recruit according to ESPN, rivals, Scout and 247sports … 247sports No. 31 Maryland recruit … Tom Lemming Top Combo Passer Quarterback … also offered by Boise State, Boston College, Hawaii, Maryland, NC State, Temple and UCLA.

Wendell (WEN-dell) Smallwood
RB, 5-11, 194, Wilmington, Del./Eastern Christian Academy – enrolled

Coached by Dwayne Thomas at Eastern Christian Academy … helped team to a 3-0 record in 2012 … played in three games in 2012, rushing for more than 450 yards and scoring four touchdowns … averaged more than eight yards per carry … carried the ball 21 times for 154 yards in win over Strom Thurmond … rushed for 90 yards on nine carries in victory over Niagara Academy … had 220 yards, three touchdown runs and a 50-yard receiving touchdown against Archbishop Spalding … previously lettered for three seasons at Red Lion Christian Academy … as a junior, he finished with 1,200 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns … team co-offensive most valuable player as a sophomore and junior … special teams most valuable player as a freshman, finishing with six touchdowns on returns … runs a 4.43 40-yard dash … three-star recruit according to ESPN, rivals, Scout and 247sports … rivals No. 37 running back … rivals No. 15 Maryland Postseason Top 25 … 247sports No. 30 Maryland recruit … Tom Lemming Top Running Back … also offered by Auburn, Boston College, Connecticut, Hawaii, Rutgers, Temple and Tennessee.

Chavas Rawlins
QB, 6-3, 190, Monessen, Pa./Monessen HS – enrolled

Coached by Andy Pacak at Monessen High … 2012 Pennsylvania Sportswriters Class A All-State quarterback … 2012 Coaches/PFN Class A All-State Second Team athlete … four-year letterwinner, leading the team to a combined 15-6 record in two seasons as quarterback … completed 71-of-165 passes for 1,382 yards and 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions in 11 games as a senior … also rushed for 613 yards and 12 touchdowns … finished 2011 season with 991 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for 725 yards and seven touchdowns … runs a 4.43 40-yard dash … No. 20 on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Top 25 Pennsylvania football players … named the 2012 Greensburg Tribune-Review Player of the Year and to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 … member of the 2012 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 … a two-time selection to the All-Tri-County South Conference team … three-star recruit according to ESPN, rivals, Scout and 247sports … rivals No. 19 dual-threat quarterback … rivals No. 14 Pennsylvania Postseason Top 30 … 247sports No. 20 dual-threat quarterback … 247sports No. 16 Pennsylvania recruit … Tom Lemming Top Combo Passer Quarterback … also offered by Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northwestern, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, USF, Tennessee and Virginia.

Dreamius Smith
RB, 5-10, 215, Wichita, Kan./Butler CC – enrolled

Played two seasons for coach Troy Morrell at Butler Community College, helping the team to a combined 22-2 record … won the 2011 NJCAA National Championship, while falling in the championship game in 2012 … finished the season with 984 yards on 120 carries and 17 touchdowns … averaged 89.5 rushing yards per game and 8.2 yards per carry … added 16 receptions for 179 receiving yards and two touchdowns … registered four games with more than 100 rushing yards and five multi-touchdown games … scored four touchdowns with 157 rushing yards in an 84-7 win over Independence … went for 148 rushing yards with two touchdowns in a 61-0 victory over Highland … had a season-high 193 yards on 13 carries with three touchdowns in an 84-13 win over Garden City … served as a backup in 2011, rushing for 690 yards on 100 carries with nine touchdowns … 2012 All-KJCCC First Team offense … helped team to a state championship as a senior at Wichita Heights High … named to the Wichita Eagle’s Top 11 football team … named to the Kansas 6A All-State First Team by the Wichita Eagle … rushed 143 times for 1,837 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior … career numbers included 320 rushes for 3,288 yards and 54 scores … ran for 286 yards against Olathe North in the 2010 state championship game … four-star prospect on ESPN … three-star prospect according to rivals and 247sports … No. 2 junior college running back and No. 8 Kansas junior college recruit on 247sports … also offered by Boise State, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma State.

Kevin White
WR, 6-4, 210, Macungie, Pa./Lackawanna College – enrolled

Played two seasons for coach Mark Duda at Lackawanna College … made 36 receptions, totaling 535 yards and six touchdowns in 2012 … averaged 14.9 yards per reception … recorded two touchdowns in 67-6 win over Widener … caught nine passes for 113 yards with one touchdown in a 43-25 loss against Georgia Military College … attended Emmaus High, where he was All-Lehigh Valley Athletic Conference as a receiver and defensive back in 2009 … three-star prospect and No. 2 Pennsylvania junior college wide receiver on 247sports … three-star prospect by rivals and No. 56 on its postseason Top 100 … three-star prospect by Scout and ESPN … also offered by Texas Tech.

Al-Rasheed Benton
LB, 6-2, 220, Newark, N.J./Shabazz HS

Three-year letterwinner for coach Darnell Grant at Shabazz High … two-time New Jersey All-State Third Team Defense … helped team to a combined 19-13 record and an appearance in the 2012 New Jersey Central Group 2 Championship semifinals … finished 2012 with 110 tackles, 73 tackles for loss and two interceptions … rushed for 710 yards with 14 touchdowns on offense … recorded 105 tackles with seven sacks in 2011 … played in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl … 2012 All-Group 2 First Team Defense … 2011 New Jersey All-Group 1 First Team Defense … two-time All-Essex County First Team Defense … earned All-Essex County Second Team Defense in 2010 …two-time Super Essex Conference Defensive Player of the Year … No. 15 on The Ledger Top 50 … four-star recruit according to ESPN and 247sports … three-star recruit according to rivals and Scout … 2013 ESPN No. 16 inside linebacker … 2013 ESPN No. 12 New Jersey recruit … 2013 rivals No. 45 inside linebacker … 2013 rivals No. 23 New Jersey Postseason Top 30 … 2013 247sports No. 17 inside linebacker … 2013 247sports No. 11 New Jersey recruit … also offered by Arizona State, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Maryland, Penn State, Pitt and Temple.

Elijah Wellman
RB, 6-2, 235, Huntington, W.Va./Spring Valley

Played for coach Brad Dingess at Spring Valley … won the Sam Huff Award as the top defensive player of the year by the state’s sportswriters’ association … two-time 3A all-state first team selection by the West Virginia Sportswriters’ Association, including being named defensive captain as a senior … three-time Mountain State Athletic Conference … finished with 1,676 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns … also had 124 tackles, including two sacks, 11 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception he returned for a touchdown … helped Spring Valley finish 7-4 and advance to the first round of the state playoffs … finished with 224 yards on 21 carries and four touchdowns and collected 10 tackles against Hurricane … compiled 133 yards on 27 carries against Cabell-Midland in the state playoffs and three touchdowns … helped lead Highlanders to an 8-4 record, advance to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state playoffs and finish with a final No. 10 state ranking … finished with 151 tackles, including 24 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four interceptions and six forced fumbles as a junior … helped Spring Valley advance to the first round of the state playoffs … had 139 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles as a sophomore … played for the South team in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl, featuring senior standouts from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia …2012 Class 3A All-State First Team in baseball … also offered by Bowling Green and Ohio.

Jeremy Tyler
S, 6-0, 195, Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King HS

Two-year starter for coaches Michael Carson and Rober Freeman at Martin Luther King High … Class 5-A all-state and all-region selection, as well as all-area and all-region as a senior … helped team to an 11-1 overall record, a 9-0 mark in the region and the second round of the state playoffs … played on a defensive unit that allowed 7.7 points a game during the regular season … collected 33 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries … collected five interceptions as a junior … three-star rating from ESPN, rivals, MaxPreps and Scout … ESPN ranks him No. 53 nationally at his position and No. 103 overall in Georgia … rivals ranks him No. 42 nationally at his position and the No. 50-best prospect in Georgia … Georgia postseason Top 80 … has played quarterback, linebacker and every position in the secondary, while at Martin Luther King … played in the Georgia All-Star game and finished with three tackles and an interception … also offered by Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Vanderbilt.

Tyler is the first surprise of the day. He hadn’t committed and was down to WVU and Vanderbilt. Pretty good athlete who played all over the secondary and quarterback in high school. And he was busy late in the game, visiting WVU, Vanderbilt and Texas Tech, in order, the past three weekends. Must have been something Robert Gillespie said.

Grant Lingafelter
OL, 6-5, 265, Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls HS

Played three seasons for coach Mark Iammarino at Chagrin Falls High … member of the Associated Press All-Ohio Division III Third Team in 2012 … helped team to a combined 37-5 record during those seasons, including three Chagrin Valley League championships, one appearance in the state championship, one appearance in the state semifinals and one appearance in the state regional finals … led an offensive line that paved the way for an average of 189.7 rushing yards per game, 5.3 yards per carry and also finished with 36 rushing touchdowns in 2012 … helped the 2011 squad to an average of 197.2 rushing yards per game, 5.1 yard per carry and 33 rushing touchdowns … two-time Northeast Lake All-District honoree … 2012 Cleveland Plain Dealer Offensive All-Star … three-star recruit according to ESPN, rivals, and 247sports … two-star recruit according to Scout … also offered by Cincinnati and Illinois.

Lingafelter is a brute. I wrote about him in today’s paper. Nice kid. Mean, mean streak.

“I got picked on a lot this year by the referees because of my size and because they knew who I was,” Lingafelter said. “They threw some flags on me that I don’t think were flags.”

Marcell Lazard
OL, 6-6, 293, Bloomfield N.J./Bloomfield HS
Three-year starter and four-year letterwinner for coach Mike Carter at Bloomfield High  … 2012 New Jersey All-State Second Team Offense … 2012 All-Group 5 First Team Offense …  helped Bloomfield to a 9-3 overall record and an appearance in the New Jersey state championship game … 2011 All-Group 4 Second Team Offense … two-time All-Essex County First Team Offense … 2010 All-Essex County Third Team Offense … three-star rating by rivals and Scout … position ranking of No. 33 nationally by rivals and No. 42 by Scout … ranked as the No. 3 best offensive lineman in New Jersey and No. 13 best recruit in the state by rivals … ESPN ranks him No. 33 nationally at his position and the No. 15-best prospect in his state … Tom Lemming Top 25 among offensive tackles … New Jersey postseason Top 30 … member of the East’s Top 100 … played in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl, featuring senior standouts from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia … also offered by Boston College, Florida, Maryland, Miami, Ohio State, South Carolina, Michigan and Virginia.

Lazard is one of four and maybe eventually five linemen in the class and he’s been on the line since April with a pretty strong list of suitors.

Mario Alford
WR, 5-9, 175, Greenville, Ga./Georgia Military College
Played two seasons for coach Bert Williams at Georgia Military College … led the team in rushing with 541 yards on 52 carries with six touchdowns, averaging 10.4 yards per carry in 2012 … added eight receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns … recorded 33 carries for 226 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 2011 … caught 10 passes for 122 yards and one touchdown … ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries against Iowa Western … had 10 carries for 136 yards, four catches for 129 yards and scored four touchdowns in a win over Snow College … named all-state honorable mention quarterback at Greenville High (Ga.) … also a star on the track team, winning the 100-meter state championship in 10.77 … four-star recruit according to ESPN and 247sports … three-star recruit according to rivals and Scout … rivals No. 82 Junior College Postseason Top 100 … 247sports No. 1 Georgia junior college recruit … 247sports No. 1 junior college wide receiver … 247sports No. 11 junior college recruit … also offered by Arizona, Cincinnati, Kansas, Ole Miss and Texas Tech.

And another surprise for WVU, though I think WVU knew this one might be coming. He was hitched to Arizona, but he visited WVU upon Tony Gibson’s hiring and made up his mind last week, though he managed to keep it quiet, perhaps at WVU’s request. So, there. Gibby already paying dividends. The Mountaineers will be pleased with this one. Fast kid, good with the ball in his hands and ready to play. He’s also friends with GMC linebacker Brandon Golson, so keep an eye on that as a possible surprise, too. 

Daryl Worley
S, 6-2, 190, Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter HS 

Played safety and receiver for coach Jeff Humble at William Penn Charter … All-Southeastern Pennsylvania First Team defensive back … two-time Penn Inter-Ac League First Team … earned first-team honors as a  receiver and defensive back as a senior and first team receiver accolades as a junior … rushed for 184 yards on 53 carries in 2012 … team’s leading receiver with 26 catches for 495 yards (he was the only player with more than seven receptions on the team) … scored six touchdowns and was second on the team in scoring with 36 points … also led the team in interceptions with three … participated in the Chesapeake Bowl’s North Team, pitting the best players of the Mid-Atlantic region … as a junior in 2011, he caught 10 passes for 171 yards and also added 247 yards rushing on 34 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per carry and 17.1 yards per reception while scoring four total touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving) … defensively, he tied for the team lead in interceptions, with three … as a sophomore, he had 653 receiving yards on 45 catches with six touchdowns … had one interception as a sophomore as well … saw varsity action at William Penn as a freshman as well, catching three passes for 54 yards …also ran track in spring of 2012 with personal-best times of 11.14 in the 200, 22.01 in the 200 and 49.19 in the 400 and 7.3 in the 60-yard dash … PennLive’s No. 22 on Pennsylvania’s Top 50 recruits … rated as Southeastern Pennsylvania’s top cornerback by the Philadelphia Inquirer … three-star recruit by rivals, ESPN and Scout … Scout No. 33 safety nationally … rivals No. 51 safety nationally … rivals No. 19 on postseason Top 30 in Pennsylvania … also offered by Boston College, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse and Tennessee.

In case you were interested, this was a Jake Spavital guy. As I understand things, when Jake left for Texas A&M, he called his recruits who were committed to WVU and had them reaffirm their commitment. If they were on the fence, he tried to push them onto WVU’s side. Good dude.

Darrien Howard
LB, 6-2, 250, Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne HS

Three-year starter for coach Marcus Colvin at Dayton’s Chaminade-Julienne High  … earned Division IV All-Ohio first-team honors in 2012 … amassed 75 tackles and scored five touchdowns on offense as a senior … rushed for 131 yards and totaled 77 yards receiving, helping team to a 6-4 record … four-star rating by ESPN, rivals and Scout … No. 241 on ESPN’s Top 300 team … rated as the No. 10 best inside linebacker by rivals and the No. 12 best by Scout … No. 17 on the rivals postseason Top 75 … ranked as the No. 9 best inside linebacker by ESPN … 2010 National Underclassmen (NUC) Columbus linebacker MVP … NUC Ultimate 100 linebacker MVP … collected 154 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions and four fumble recoveries as a junior …  named Division IV All-Ohio first team selection and District Player of
the Year as a junior … on offense as a fullback and tight end, he scored 15 touchdowns and rushed for 270 yards … helped lead Chaminade-Julienne to a 10-4 record and the third-round of the state playoffs … named first team all-league, all-district, all-area and special mention all-state as
a sophomore … also offered by Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, NC State and Pitt.

Tyler Tezeno
OL, 6-3, 280, Houston, Texas/Klein Collins HS

Played for coach Drew Svoboda at Klein Collins … named to the Associated Press 5A All-State Second Team in 2012 … helped lead the Tigers to a 16-6 two-year record and an appearance in the first round of the Texas state football playoffs both years … Klein Collins averaged 430 yards of total offense and 270 rushing yards per game … Tigers were only held below 190 rushing yards once all season … team averaged 40.0 points per game in 2012, and it was held below 31 points just once … finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club Player of the Year award (only offensive lineman selected as a finalist for this award) … named All-District 13-5A First Team honoree as a senior and honorable mention as a junior … has an 80.5-inch wingspan … three-star recruit by ESPN, rivals, Scout and 247sports … also offered by Arizona State, Boise State, LSU, Northwestern, Utah.

WINGSPAN!

Dontrill Hyman
DE, 6-4, 265, Warsaw, N.C./Hinds CC

Played two seasons for coach Gene Murphy at Hinds Community College … helped team to a combined 10-8 record … led 2012 squad in sacks (7.5) and forced fumbles (3) … also recorded 51 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss … named to the 2011 NJCAA All-American Second Team in after registering 62 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and two forced fumbles … member of the 2011 MACJC All-Region and MACJC All-State First Team … named to the 2012 MACJC All-State Second Team … played both ways as a senior at Warsaw High, spending time on offense as a running back … selected to the NCPreps 1A All-State Team and Wilmington Star News All-Area squad as a senior … tallied 151 total tackles (11.6 tackles per game), including 105 solo stops, during final campaign … also lettered in basketball … four-star recruit according to 247sports … three-star recruit according ESPN … 247sports No. 28 junior college recruit … 247sports No. 1 junior college strong-side defensive end … 247sports No. 10 Mississippi junior college recruit … also offered by LSU and Mississippi State.

Quietly, some people believe this is the most exciting recruit in the  class.

Isaac McDonald
S, 6-5, 205, Hialeah, Fla./Champagnat Catholic HS

Two-year starter for coach Mike Tunsil at Champagnat Catholic High … two-time Miami Herald All-Dade County second-team linebacker … as a senior, he finished with  68 tackles, including 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks … also had 331 yards receiving and five touchdowns … helped lead Champagnat to the first round of the state playoffs … as a junior, he finished with 75 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions … No. 151 on Florida Top 200 … No. 21 on Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade County Top 25 football recruits … three-star recruit by ESPN, rivals and scout and 247sports … played for Team USA U-19 … also offered by Clemson, Louisville, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina and Stanford.

Stone Underwood
OL, 6-4, 285, Brookhaven, Miss./Copiah-Lincoln CC

Started all 12 games for Glenn Davis at Copiah-Lincoln CC in 2012 …  All-NJCAA Region 23 First Team …  All-Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges First Team … helped team to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Mississippi Bowl … anchored an offensive line that averaged 102.4 rushing yards per game … spent 2011 at Southeastern Louisiana … previously attended Brookhaven High … named one of the top 125 seniors in Mississippi by the Jackson Clarion Ledger … listed as one of the top 16 prospects by the Brookhaven Daily Leader … selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game … named a first-team member on the MAC Class 5A and Region 3-5A MVP team … a member of the Daily Leader All-Lincoln County team … named Clarion Ledger All-State Second Team and Scout … two-star recruit according to 247sports … also offered by Massachusetts and Memphis.

This is quite likely your starting center next fall. 

d’Vante Henry
LB, 6-5, 205, Moore, Okla./Arizona Western College 

Played two seasons for coach Tom Minnick at Arizona Western College … helped team to a combined 19-3 record, including a win in the El Toro Bowl in 2012 … led 2012 team in tackles (55), solo tackles (23) and assisted tackles (32) … also registered 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and three pass breakups … 2012 All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference First Team Defense … 2012 All-Western States Football League First Team Defense … made 26 tackles with eight tackles for loss and four sacks in 2011 … previously attended Southmoore High, registering 65 tackles as a senior, including five sacks … led Southmoore to a 10-3 mark as a junior … All-VYPE Oklahoma Second Team … The Oklahoman’s All-Big City Roster Honorable Mention … Tulsa World 6A Honorable Mention … also lined up as a receiver and running back on offense … finished third at 2010 Oklahoma 6A Championships with a time of 49.34 in the 400 meters and was the anchor in the state champion 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams … three-star recruit according to rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247sports … rivals No. 23 Junior College Postseason Top 100 … 247sports No. 3 junior college outside linebacker … 247sports No. 5 Arizona junior college recruit … also offered by Iowa State, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Utah.

Arguably the best athlete in the class. Guy does standing backflips. One day in practice at Arizona Western a football went over the fence and onto the baseball field. Henry went to get it by hurdling the fence and nobody thought much of it until they realized it was the OUTFIELD FENCE. He can be a factor off the edge … because, as he shows in the anchor leg below, he’s fast.

Brandon Golson
LB, 6-3, 220, Fork Union, Va./Georgia Military College

Played two seasons for coach Bert Williams at Georgia Military College … played in only four games in 2012 due to injury, registering six tackles, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries … recorded 24 tackles with five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 2011 … named the Orangeburg Times & Democrat Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and was a first team all-area selection at Calhoun County High … played just two seasons of football for coachWalt Wilson … logged 113 tackles and 30 sacks with four forced fumbles, earning all-state honors as selected by The State … helped Calhoun County to the state 1-A semifinals as a senior … selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl … logged 78 tackles and 18 sacks in just six games as a junior … three-star recruit according to rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247sports … rivals No. 35 Junior College Postseason Top 100 … 247sports No. 3 Georgia junior college recruit … 247sports No. 4 junior college linebacker … 247sports No. 48 junior college recruit … also offered by Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, South Carolina and Texas A&M.

And there’s another surprise and a pretty good indication you’re going over 25 today. Golson and Tyler weren’t necessarily a package deal, but there were thoughts they’d go somewhere together. I’m guessing this guy is ready to go. Grew up in Orangeburg and spent a year at Fork Union and two years at GMC. That’s the persons of the guys Dana and his staff were looking for — mature, competitive, not entitled. Gibby’s doing flips like Henry. Heyo!

Marvin Gross
DE, 6-4, 225, Baltimore, Md./Dunbar HS

Played for coach Ben Eaton at Dunbar High … first-team consensus all-state and small school all-state in Maryland … two-year sack total of 52 … three-time Baltimore Sun All-Met First Team … collected 21 sacks, 75 total tackles, 42 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles as a senior … helped Dunbar to a 13-1 record in 2012, a 9-0 league mark and a state championship … member of three straight state championship teams at Dunbar … finished junior campaign with 70 tackles, 31 sacks … invited to play in the 2013 Max Emfinger All-American Bowl Game Classic … rated
as the No. 24-best lineman in the state by rivals and No. 14 by Max Preps … 2012 Max Emfinger Northeast Super Sixth … three-star ranking from rivals, Scout and Yahoo … rivals postseason Top 25 … member of the East’s Top 100 … Baltimore All-Nike camp team … played in the Chesapeake Bowl, featuring senior standouts from Pennsylvania, New Jersey,Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, D.C.  and West Virginia … also offered by Colorado, Purdue, Rutgers, Wake Forest and Washington.

Just another consensus all-state player from Dunbar. Hohum.

Nick O’Toole
P, 6-5, 220, Corona, Calif./Fullerton College

Played one season for coach Tim Byrnes at Fullerton College, helping the team to a 7-4 record … ranked third in the California Community College Athletic Association with an average of 41.8 yards per punt … punted 49 times for 2,050 yards with 15 punts downed inside the 20 yard line … registered a long of 62 yards … named to the 2012 Southern California Football Association All-Conference First Team … two-year starter for national powerhouse Mater Dei High … recorded 37 punts for 1,427 yards with a long of 64 as a senior, including 19 inside the 20-yard line … knocked 42 punts for 1,377 yards in 2010 … 2011 All-Trinity League First Team Defense … ranked No. 7 punter in the nation by Chris Sailer Kicking.

How serious is WVU JUCO recruiting? A JUCO punter! And how serious was the JUCO punter about getting recruited? A JUCO punter highlight tape!

Ronald Carswell
WR, 6-0, 180, Macon, Ga./Itawamba Community College 

Former University of Alabama player who played one season for coach Joe Williams at Itawamba Community College, leading the team to a 6-3 record … finished the season with 44 receptions for 429 yards and one touchdown … brought down five receptions for 98 yards against Mississippi Delta … previously played for Westside High, where he was ranked as the No. 35 player in the state of Georgia by the Atlanta Journal Constitution … 2009 4A All-State selection by the Atlanta Journal Constitution … caught 41 passes for 715 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior … hauled in 34 receptions for 627 yards and three scores in 2008, while compiling 33 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns in 2006 … three-star prospect according to 247sports; No. 25 junior college wide receiver … also offered by Kentucky.

Not sure if this is a relief or what, but I believe Carswell was supposed to be a January enrollee. He didn’t make it, despite just one semester at Itawamba. Sometimes those January enrollees who don’t enroll in January end up elsewhere. Here he is, though, and Carswell has three years of eligibility left, too.

So we’re in a holding patter now. Gibson has signed with WVU and will send. It appears Jacky Marcellus and Florida cornerback Marquion Lane, a surprise or sort, have also signed and will soon send. That would bring the count to 27 with running back DeShawn Coleman sort of floating around out there. 

Figure he signs. That’s 28 and you’re worried, right? Well, those seven early signees count toward the 2012 class and by my count, WVU had 18 players in the 2012 class — five enrolled early and six more didn’t make it to campus. So the seven in school fill the 2012 class — Thought: Does that explain whatever happened to Carswell? — and, technically, WVU has 20 or 21, depending on Coleman, for 2013. That could leave room for four of five January enrollees — and figure not everyone from the 2013 class is going to make it.

Still, if Gibson, Marcellus, Lane and Coleman sign, that’s 28 in the signing period and WVU is done, per bylaw 13.9.2.3.

2:57 pm: And we’re back. WVU’s official release has 25 names — Alford, Benton, Carswell, Christian, Gibson, Golson, Greaves, Gross, Hendy, Howard, Hyman, Lazard, Lingafelter, McDonald, O’Toole, Rawlins, Shorts, Smallwood, Smith, Tezeno, Tyler Underwood, Wellman, White and Worley.

No sign yet of Coleman, Lane and Marcellus.

I’ll effort an official declaration for d’Vante/D’Vante Henry. It’s used both ways on the release.

The Shelton Gibson bio follows:

Shelton Gibson
WR, 6-1, 175, Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights HS

Played three seasons for coach Jeff Rotsky at Cleveland Heights High … played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl … finished with more than 700 receiving yards as a senior and scored 11 total touchdowns … scored touchdowns as a receiver, rusher, kickoff returner, punt returner and
passed for a touchdown … helped lead Cleveland Heights to a 17-3 two-year record, including advancing to the first round of the playoffs in both years, the first time in school history to advance to the playoffs … grabbed 27 passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns in 2011 … recorded 45 receptions for 532 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore … No. 6 on the 2012 Cleveland Plain Dealer Top 50 Northeast Ohio football players … named to the 2012 Cleveland Plain Dealer Special Mention team … earned Northeast Lakes All-District Third Team Offense in 2011 … four-star recruit according to ESPN, rivals, Scout and 247sports … ESPN No. 11 Ohio recruit … ESPN No. 26 wide receiver … rivals No. 129 Rivals250 … rivals No. 12 wide receiver … rivals No. 4 Ohio Postseason Top 75 … Scout No. 19 wide receiver … 247sports No. 27 wide receiver … 247sports No. 8 Ohio recruit … Sporting News Top 125 … lettered in track, participating in sprints and relays … member of one of the fastest 4x200m relay teams nationally … also offered by Arkansas, Auburn, Cal, Duke, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, NC State, Ohio State, Pitt, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.