West Virginia Football: A Look at the Commits in the 2013 WVU Recruiting Class

The move to the Big 12 conference for the West Virginia Mountaineers has already provided dividends on the recruiting trail. As of today WVU has six commits including three 4-stars and three 3-stars according to ESPN.com.

A year ago, the Mountaineers had a total of two 4-star commits—early enrolled QB Ford Childress and LB Sam Lebbie.

The new coaching staff have gotten off to a good start, and the new league affiliation has paid off thus far.

Head coach Dana Holgorsen and his staff knew it was important to get off to a good start recruiting, particularly in the talent-rich Big 12.

Lets take an early look at the 2013 West Virginia recruiting class.

Chavas Rawlins QB, Monnesen, PA

The Mountaineer coaching staff have said that they wish to recruit a QB in each recruiting cycle, and Rawlins fits the bill.

At 6'2" and 190 pounds, he has solid size for a QB at the next level, but what sets him apart is his ability to use his legs to buy time in the pocket. Watch his film and you will quickly see that this kid is a great athlete, and he is able to take it to the house on any given play.

Rawlins chose the Mountaineers over the likes of Nebraska and Pittsburgh, and he also had interest from Ohio State.

ESPN.com has him rated as the No.25 dual threat QB in the country and a 3-star recruit. With Ford Childress already in the fold, it will be interesting to see if he decides to stick at QB or play WR.

This player is extremely athletic and versatile, so it remains to be seen where he winds up in a WVU uniform, and he could also wind up at safety if he chose to.

Wherever he plays, he has the potential to be a great player down the road for WVU.

Tyler Tezeno OL, Spring, Texas

This is another benefit of the Big 12, as the Mountaineers have plucked another player out of the fertile football state of Texas.

This has become a staple in recent years, as players such as Ford Childress and Dustin Garrison along with Jordan Thompson all hail from Texas.

Tezeno is a strong, physical lineman who will likely play on the interior of the offensive line, ideally at guard. He has a very impressive offer list, and programs like LSU, Boise State, Northwestern, Utah and Arizona State all offered.

The fact that the Mountaineers not only received another commit out of Texas is one thing, but to beat out an elite program like the LSU Tigers out of the SEC is very impressive.

At 6'3" and 290 pounds, he already has fantastic size to play at the next level. He has great strength, and watching him on film, he possesses a mean streak which will come in handy when run blocking.

He will anchor the line in Morgantown for years to come.

DeShawn Coleman RB, Hickory, PA

This is a kid who caught my eye very early on in the recruiting cycle, as I said he would be one of the top targets for WVU in the 2013 class. He attended the spring game and committed shortly after.

As a junior he rushed for just shy of 2,500 yards and 36 TDs.

His film looks like a video game, and Mountaineer fans should be delighted he decided to end his recruitment early and commit to WVU.

He has great speed and solid size at 5'11" and 170 pounds, and when watching him on tape, it is clear to see that not too many players in the country will run this RB down.

Dana Holgorsen will be able to get very creative with this player, much like with Tavon Austin and current freshman Jordan Thompson. He is very elusive and has great cut-back ability.

Coleman is rated as a 3-star prospect by ESPN, but if he has a monster senior season, he will jump in the rankings.

The PA native chose West Virginia over offers from Purdue and Penn State.

Marcell Lazard OT, Bloomfield, New Jersey

Marcell Lazard is a man-child.

He is huge and has the frame to only get stronger over time. At 6'5" and 290 pounds, he already possesses outstanding size to play offensive tackle, and the coaching staff did a great job locking up his verbal commitment.

His offer list is staggering, and he chose WVU over Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, Miami and many others.

Dana Holgorsen must have been smiling when he was informed of Lazard's decision to play in Morgantown, and for good reason.

Marcell Lazard is a 4-star recruit on ESPN.com, he and shows great physicality when blocking, which will allow him to be an excellent pass and run blocker for the Mountaineers.

Lazard will immediately bolster the depth on the offensive line upon his arrival in Morgantown, and he will help anchor what is already a potent offense.

Hodari Christian OLB, McKeesport, PA

Hodari Christian is yet another player who was on my list of top targets in the 2013 class prior to his commitment to the Mountaineers.

He is an outstanding talent at linebacker, and at 6'1" and 210 pounds, he will have to add a bit of weight to play in the new 3-4 defensive scheme.

Christian attended the WVU junior day in February, and it didn't take him long to commit after. He chose to play for West Virginia over offers from Pitt, Illinois and Northwestern, among others.

What makes him stand out his is ability to tackle in space and drop back into coverage.

In a 3-4 scheme, the linebackers are asked to do both of these things well, and Christian is one of the best outside linebackers in the nation.

He is another 4-star recruit for the Mountaineers, and his ceiling is very high. With a year in the weight room to add some bulk, he will be a very solid player for WVU for years to come.

Darrien Howard MLB, Dayton, Ohio

Darrien Howard is the most highly touted prospect in the fold for the Mountaineers early in the process. He is another 4-star commitment and is also ranked as the 226th overall prospect in the ESPN top 300.

This player is a beast at 6'1" and 250 pounds. When watching his film, you will see why he is highly regarded.

He is a sure tackler and will have the opportunity to play early when he arrives in Morgantown.

Despite being 250 pounds, he has a very good motor and shows the speed to run and make plays from sideline to sideline. Howard is also a very smart football player and shows the ability to quickly diagnose and disrupt plays.

He is another player who will see his stock rise after his senior season because he is THAT good.

The coaching staff did a great job stealing this player out of the state of Ohio.