When it comes to college football, you’re only guaranteed two years with a true freshman athlete. If he’s a JUCO transfer, you may only get a season with him. The truth is, you’re only as good as your recruiting class. According to Jon Martin, who covers WVU recruiting for sites like Blue and Gold News and Scout.com, WVU and their fans have a reason to be optimistic for the future in terms of recruiting.
This past signing day WVU was able to ink Shelton Gibson, a top receiver out of Ohio. This news had WVU fans buzzing, especially after the great success of the wide receivers last season. Martin says that Gibson can make the biggest immediate impact for the Mountaineers in 2013.
“The Ohio native was rated a four-star recruit by Scout.com and chose the Mountaineers over Ohio State on national signing day,” Martin said. “Gibson possess exceptional speed and is also considered a pure route runner. At 6-foot-0, 185 pounds, he has the capability to play both inside and out. With a combination of a depleted receiving core, and Dana Holgorsen’s spread offense, Gibson is expected to flourish next season.”
While Gibson can come in and provide excitement from the get go, Martin thinks there are also four-year type of guys who can make a lasting contribution for the long haul with WVU.
“Bloomfield (NJ) offensive tackle Marcell Lazard would be my selection for biggest impact recruit, longterm. A three-star lineman, Lazard was rated the No. 40 offensive tackle in the country,” Martin stated.
Martin thinks that Lazard can one day be the anchor of the offensive line and may benefit from a redshirt freshman season.
Martin also believes that the Mountaineers’ recent move to the Big 12 will ultimately be a great move in terms of recruiting.
“The Mountaineers obviously have stiff competition on the recruiting circuit. Not only did the competition on the field increase, it did as well off the field as well. The positives for West Virginia is their not always going head-to-head with schools like Texas or Oklahoma in recruiting for individual prospects, as much as they are selling playing against those schools,” Martin said.
Of the move, Martin stated that, “West Virginia did what they felt was best at the time.”
Martin also pointed out that WVU had the 28th best recruiting class last season. The move to the Big 12 has already seemed to pay some dividends, but we won’t know for sure until these young guys step onto the field. Either way, WVU fans should be excited for the future of the Mountaineers.
“WVU now finds themselves in a conference with stability across the board. Over time, I expect the University to be firm in the decision they made.”
