Virginia
How does West Virginia fill out the 2025 class needs with recruiting?
West Virginia has 22 current high school or junior college commitments in the 2025 recruiting class so how will the coaching staff go about filling the rest of the remaining slots?
The Mountaineers still have needs left to fill. Which ones take priority with the remaining slots?
The Mountaineers have filled a need at quarterback with a commitment from Mentor (Oh.) 2025 quarterback Scotty Fox.
As for the rest of the positions, the program has two Drexel Hill (Pa.) Monsignor Bonner 2025 wide receiver Jalil Hall and Hurricane (W.Va.) 2025 wide receiver Tyshawn Dues, one tight end in De Forest (Wi.) 2025 tight end Jackson Accuard,i and four offensive linemen in Olney (Md.) Good Counsel 2025 offensive lineman Gavin Crawford, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel 2025 offensive lineman Eidan Buchanan, Parma (Oh.) Padua Franciscan 2025 offensive lineman Brandon Homady and Cincinnati (Oh.) La Salle 2025 offensive tackle Jahmir Davis.
On the defensive side, the Mountaineers have five defensive line commitments in Nashville (Tn.) Lipscomb Academy defensive lineman Amir Leonard-Jean Charles, Miami (Fla.) Northwestern 2025 defensive end Wilnerson Telemaque, Cleveland Heights (Oh.) 2025 defensive lineman Brandon Caesar, Upper Marlboro (Md.) Wise 2025 defensive lineman Taylor Brown and Huntingtown (Md.) 2025 defensive lineman Evan Powell, one linebacker in Douglasville (Ga.) 2025 linebacker Michael Hastie, two pass-rushing linebackers in Coconut Creek (Fla.) Monarch 2025 defensive end Romando Johnson and Glendora (Ca.) Citrus College 2025 edge Keenan Eck and six defensive backs in Columbus (Oh.) Marion Franklin 2025 cornerback Dawayne Galloway, Bel Air (Md.) 2025 safety Julien Horton, Lakeland (Fla.) 2025 defensive back Sammy Etienne, Huntington (W.Va.) 2025 safety Zah Jackson, Columbus (Oh.) Beechcroft 2025 athlete Tyrell Russell and Wyndmoor (Pa.) La Salle College High School 2025 spear Chris Fileppo.
The Mountaineers also have transfer additions from: two quarterbacks in Jayden Henderson (Texas A&M) and Max Brown (Charlotte); two running backs in Tye Edwards (Northern Iowa) and LJ Turner (Catawba College); five wide receivers in Cam Vaughn (Jacksonville State), Oran Singleton (Eastern Michigan), Cyrus Traugh (Youngstown State), Jarod Bowie (Jacksonville State), Jeff Weimer (Idaho State); two tight ends in Johnny Pascuzzi (Iowa) and Jacob Barrick (Jacksonville State); six offensive lineman Will Reed (Princeton), Walter Young Bear (Tulsa), Kimo Makane’ole (LSU), Robby Martin (N.C. State), Ty’kieast Crawford (Arkansas) and Wyatt Minor (Youngstown State); one defensive lineman in Braden Siders (Wyoming); two linebackers in Chase Wilson (Colorado State) and Ashton Woods (North Carolina); one pass rushing linebacker in Jimmori Robinson (Texas San Antonio); four safeties in Fred Perry (Jacksonville State), Jordan Walker (UT Chattanooga), Justin Harrington (Washington) and William Davis (Virginia Union); and finally five cornerbacks with Michael Coats (Nevada), Jordan Scruggs (South Alabama), Devonte Golden-Nelson (Akron), Jason Chambers (Appalachian State) and Derek Carter (Jacksonville State).
So what positions are left to fill?
The Mountaineers should not take another quarterback with Fox, Henderson, and Brown filling the need in the 2025 cycle although they could look at a younger option with multiple years of eligibility. The Mountaineers should be done at running back with the two experienced transfers in the mix.
Tight end remains a position that could potentially have another addition depending on the options that are there in the transfer portal.
West Virginia could still add at least one more at wide receiver to round out that position group although that would only be for the right addition likely a slot type that can create after the catch.
On the offensive line, the Mountaineers have three commitments in place from high school and six more from the portal but this is the biggest priority. There will need to be several more additions.
That means overall, the offensive side of the ball could still take anywhere from 4-5 more players at the various spots.
On the defensive line West Virginia has five commitments and a transfer addition, but the program could look at adding at least one more depending on the options.
Inside linebacker won’t be as heavily hit this cycle but the Mountaineers could still add one more outside Hastie and the transfers while outside linebacker is likely set with Robinson, Eck, and Johnson.
The defensive backfield has been hit heavily in this class but could still add some pieces likely through the junior college ranks or transfer portal.
That means that on defense the Mountaineers still need to add as many as 4-5.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia has plenty of state symbols, be it the black bear as the state animal, the cardinal as the state bird or the rhododendron as the state flower, but did you know that the Mountain State also has its own official gun?
The Hall Flintlock Model 1819 was first manufactured in Harpers Ferry by John H. Hall in 1811 and was adopted by the United States Army in 1819, making it the first breech-loading rifle ever adopted by a country’s military.
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Model 1819 Hall Breechloading Rifle presented by Congress to Gustavous A. Bird for his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh 9/11/1814 by John C. Bird via the Smithsonian Institution -
Model 1819 Hall Breechloading Rifle presented by Congress to Gustavous A. Bird for his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh 9/11/1814 by John C. Bird via the Smithsonian Institution
All of this information is listed in Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, which was introduced and passed during the 2013 West Virginia Legislative session, and officially recognizes the Model 1819 as the official firearm of the State of West Virginia.
On top of being created in West Virginia, the resolution also points out that the rifle saw use during the Civil War, an event that directly led to West Virginia’s statehood.
While having an officially recognized state firearm may seem far-fetched, West Virginia is not the only state that has one. As a matter of fact, a fifth of the states in the country have officially designated a state firearm, including West Virginia’s neighbors in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
SEE ALSO: Botetourt County residents adjust daily routines as voluntary water restriction continues
John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
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