MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Jordan Jefferson offers evidence that life sometimes has a way of working out just right.
As a high school junior, Troy was among the programs recruiting the Navarre, Fla. defensive tackle. As a senior, he started gaining interest from more prominent schools like Kansas State and Louisville.
On national signing day, Jefferson got the best of both worlds, agreeing to join the coaching staff that recruited him to Troy at West Virginia. Jefferson is the second high school player to sign with the Mountaineers since Neal Brown took over, joining fellow Floridian athlete Rashean Lynn.
“[Jordan’s] an exceptionally strong, exceptionally explosive kid. I feel bad for the offensive linemen he’s playing against,” said West Virginia director of player personnel Brian Bennett, who noted Jefferson is nearly a year younger than his classmates. “His best football is ahead of him.”
West Virginia coach Neal Brown said Jefferson was overlooked in the recruiting process because his game grew considerably as a senior.
“The junior film is really good, but when you watch the senior film you understand why his recruiting exploded,” Brown said. “He’s a guy who has opportunity to be a plus player on the D-Line in this league.”
Jefferson’s addition gives West Virginia four available scholarships to use in this year’s class.
Highlights of Jordan Jefferson… pic.twitter.com/ZCDt8eCvKs
— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) February 6, 2019
West Virginia 2019 signing class
Austin Kendall (ENROLLED)
QB • 6-2, 212 • Waxhaw, N.C. • Rivals four-star
Graduate transfer from Oklahoma… Backed up Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray for the Sooners. Has two years of eligibility remaining … Other high school offers included Auburn, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Dreshun Miller (ENROLLED)
CB • 6-2, 175 • Marietta, Ga. • Rivals four-star
Junior college transfer from Eastern Arizona. Initially committed to LSU before returning players left Tigers without need for another defensive back. … Other offers included Auburn, Houston, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas Tech.
Taijh Alston (ENROLLED)
DE • 6-5, 233 • Cameron, N.C. • Rivals three-star
Attended East Carolina as a freshman before transferring to Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) CC … Other offers included North Texas and Western Kentucky.
Kerry Martin (ENROLLED)
S • 6-2, 188 • Charleston, W.Va. • Rivals three-star
The lone West Virginia prospect in this year’s class, Martin graduated early and enrolled in December … Other offers included Army, Cincinnati and Marshall.
Jordan Jefferson (SIGNED)
DT • 6-4, 300 • Navarre, Fla. • Rivals unrated
Finished his career at Navarre High playing in 27 games and finishing with 115 tackles, including 68 solo, 11 sacks, 35 tackles for loss, 26 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two blocked field goals… Other offers included Louisville, Kansas State, Florida Atlantic and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Rashean Lynn (SIGNED)
WR/S • 6-5, 184 • Cocoa, Fla. • Rivals three-star
Lynn is the most recent player to commit to West Virginia. Recruited by many programs as a receiver, he was drawn by the chance to play defense for the Mountaineers. Has unusual length for a safety, bringing to mind former Seattle Seahawks Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor … Other offers included Florida, Oregon, Kentucky, Louisville, Virginia, Purdue, Indiana and Cincinnati.
Ali Jennings (SIGNED)
WR • 6-2, 186 • Highland Springs, Va. • Rivals three-star
Helped his high school to a 15-0 record and a Virginia state title with 40 receptions for 874 yards and seven touchdowns. WVU was the first Power 5 school to offer Jennings … Other offers included Michigan State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Army, Navy and Air Force.
Tykee Smith (SIGNED)
S • 5-11, 190 • Philadelphia, Pa. • Rivals four-star
First team all-Philadelphia Public League selection who was named the No. 3 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Penn Live … Other offers included Baylor, Boston College, Duke, Indiana and Kansas.
Osita Smith (SIGNED)
S • 6-2, 205 • Columbia, Md. • Rivals three-star
West Virginia was Smith’s only official visit. An attacking downhill safety who led his team in sacks and tackles for loss as a senior … Other offers included Cincinnati, Indiana, Marshall, Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers and Wake Forest.
Winston Wright (SIGNED)
WR • 5-11, 154 • Savannah, Ga. • Rivals three-star
Part of two state championship teams. A versatile option who might also help in the return game, Wright had 1,000 receiving yards and 700 rushing yards as a senior … Other offers included Boston College, Colorado State, Duke, Illinois, Iowa State, North Carolina, Temple, Central Florida, South Florida and Wake Forest.
Parker Moorer (SIGNED)
OT • 6-5, 294 • Charlotte, N.C. • Rivals three-star
Moorer was committed to Maryland until the death of Terrapins offensive lineman Jordan McNair. Rated as the 23rd overall prospect in North Carolina this year by Rivals … Other offers included Maryland, Colorado State, Louisville, Marshall, Rutgers, Syracuse, Central Florida and Virginia.
Donavan Beaver (SIGNED)
OG • 6-7, 295 • Spotsylvania, Va. • Rivals three-star
Proven as a run-blocker in high school, he helped open holes for an offense that rushed for 4,400 yards and 54 touchdowns in 2018 … Other offers included Florida, Louisville, Maryland, NC State, North Carolina, Pitt, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Tony Mathis (SIGNED)
RB • 5-11, 195 • Cedartown, Ga. • Rivals three-star
Played at the same high school as current Browns running back Nick Chubb. Rated as the nation’s No. 53 running back by Rivals … Other offers included Iowa State, Louisville, Purdue and Wake Forest.
Terence Doston (SIGNED)
WR • 5-10, 160 • Tampa, Fla. • Rivals three-star
A two-sport star who will also join the West Virginia baseball program. … Other offers included Cincinnati, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Stanford and Central Florida.
Jalen Thornton (SIGNED)
DE • 6-3, 245 • Cincinnati, Ohio • Rivals three-star
Son of John Thornton, a two-time all-Big East defensive tackle for West Virginia who went on to play in the NFL from 1999-2008… Other offers included Cincinnati, Iowa State and Kentucky.
Nicktroy Fortune (SIGNED)
CB • 5-11, 182 • Lawrenceville, Ga. • Rivals three-star
Fortune famously committed after being awestruck by West Virginia’s mountains. Was named the No. 76 overall prospect in talent-rich Georgia by Rivals … Other offers included Virginia, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Syracuse and Wisconsin.
Brandon Yates (SIGNED)
OT • 6-5, 270 • Las Vegas, Nev. • Rivals three-star
Yates is a Delaware native who moved to Las Vegas in high school. A consensus Top-10 prospect in Nevada, he turned down late interest from USC … Other offers included Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado State, USC, Utah and Washington State.
Jared Bartlett (SIGNED)
LB • 6-2, 210 • Suwanee, Ga. • Rivals three-star
Though he wasn’t recruited by new defensive coordinator Vic Koenning, Bartlett’s game looks like it will fit well in Koenning’s scheme. A solid outside rusher, Bartlett had 15 TFL, 11 QB hurries and 5 sacks as a senior … Other offers included Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse and Wake Forest
Kolton McGhee (SIGNED)
K • 6-0, 170 • Altoona, Pa. • Rivals three-star
A two-time all-state selection in Pennsylvania who also averaged 46.2 yards per punt as a senior … Other offers included Army and Rutgers