WVU football using past weekend success, Oklahoma State to draw recruits
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. kneeled the ball down to take the clock to zero to complete the 38-27 win over No. 25 Virginia. There were celebrations from the players, Rich Rodriguez was going to enjoy the win, and the Mountaineers fans certainly did their part on the streets of Charlotte. Former WVU kicker and now ESPN personality Pat McAfee showed highlights and his excitement on "The Pat McAfee Show."
Most importantly, the shockwaves were felt in the recruiting space. Three-star linebacker Broncs Baker posted on his social media about the win, writing "Victory." Baker also said he received a FaceTime from defensive coordinator Zac Alley after the game, which came just hours after.
The win is big for this season and moving to 3-0, but it was just as important for the future of the program.
Rodriguez is building this program on high school players and JUCO recruits. WVU had almost 50 high school recruits and JUCO players prior to this season. The Mountaineers have money, but they don't have Texas Tech, Ohio State or Oregon money to spend in the transfer portal. Rodriguez would rather spend money on the cheaper high school players, and coach them up to be the caliber of elite transfers. That's already shown through three games. Offensive lineman Kevin Brown, safety and returner Matt Sieg and running back Amari Latimer all have roles as true freshmen.
A type of win like over Virginia, who is a ranked team and was in the ACC championship a season ago, is a draw for recruits.
"This past weekend, some of the new guys, you could tell how much fun they were having," Rodriguez said. "When you recruit them, you sell them on that. Sometimes you lie a little bit in recruiting, just a little bit. Maybe expand the truth. When I tell them you're going to love playing in the environment that we play in, that was all the truth. It's good that they can see that on the road, and obviously they see it at home, too."
Rodriguez has a big recruiting class for next season. WVU has 24 commits, and the class ranks No. 38, according to 247Sports.
This weekend, the Mountaineers host Oklahoma State for the first Big 12 game of the year. With new head coach Eric Morris and a talented transfer class, the Cowboys were a flashy pick to be a competitor in the Big 12 this season. So far, Oklahoma State is 2-1 and has a big win over then-No. 6 Oregon. The Cowboys are on the outside of the top 25. Based on the betting sites, it should be a very close game.
A win over Oklahoma State could thrust WVU into the top 25, drawing a lot of attention to the game. Add in the fact it’s the first night game, and only one scheduled so far, in Milan Puskar Stadium with kickoff set for 7 p.m., the atmosphere this weekend should be a big draw for recruits. Rodriguez said he plans to have around 35-40 high school recruits at the game. Most of them will be for the 2028-29 classes.
"You want them to feel the Mountaineer experience, not just game day and the game environment, what happens in the game, but everything surrounding that," Rodriguez said. "The tailgating, the fans, how loud it is."
Rodriguez's coached on and for a lot of teams. He's been out west to Arizona, on the sidelines of Ole Miss and Clemson, and been in the Big House at Michigan. Rodriguez's seen a lot of different atmospheres around all conferences of college football.
It might be coach speak since Rodriguez is the head coach, but nothing compares to him than a night game in Morgantown.
"I've always believed, and I've said it here as a player and as a coach the first time, this is one of the greatest places to play in college football in America," Rodriguez said. "It really is. It's the environment, it's the importance to the state, it's the fan engagement. It's everything about it."
Rodriguez is hoping the large number of recruits not only see a win, but what it's like to be a Mountaineer.
"All coaches say that to the recruits over the phone, but when they come to get to see and experience it in person, it does make an impact," Rodriguez said. "I think that’ll hopefully be the case Saturday night."