WVU Football Recruiting: Grading the Mountaineers' Recruiting Class
With the disappointing 2010 season behind the team now, the Mountaineers will look to make greater strides in the upcoming year within the Big East in addition to entering the crowded National title scene.
After the loss of some key players from 2010 like offensive weapons Noel Devine and Jock Sanders, the Mountaineer offense will be in a transition year as new offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson takes over for departed Jeff Mullen in 2011.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jeff Casteel will have to work around the loss of Anthony Leonard and Robert Sands from their top ranked defense of 2010 with a class of new stars to replace the gears that made the WVU machine go for the last few seasons.
With that being said, let’s see how the new recruits can make an impact for the Mountaineers will yet again have high expectations.
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Andrew Buie
1 of 11
Position: RB
Height/Weight: 5-9, 188 Lbs
From: Jacksonville, FL
Where He Fits Best: Running Back, Punt Returner, Wide Receiver
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. With the loss of Noel Devine, Buie brings a similar style of running back style the Mountaineer Maniacs are used to on Saturday afternoons in addition to being a good changeup to the smash mouth style of running of Shawn Alston and Ryan Clarke in Morgantown.
Grade: Four Stars
Terrell Chestnut
2 of 11
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 5-10, 175 Lbs
From: Pottsgrove H.S. (PA)
Where He Fits Best: Safety
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. With the Free Safety position being vacant after Robert Sands jumped to the NFL, Chestnut can split time with senior Eain Smith this fall where he can learn the defensive schemes until 2012 when he can maybe take the starting job.
Grade: Four Stars
Vance Roberts
3 of 11
Position: DB
Height/Weight: 5-10, 166 Lbs
From: Washington, DC
Where He Fits Best: Cornerback
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. With the impending graduation of Keith Tandy after 2011, Roberts can be the apprentice this season under the talented cornerback and seamlessly take over one of the positions in 2012 in the Mountaineers’ playmaking defense.
Grade: Four Stars
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Josh Francis
4 of 11
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6-2, 215 Lbs
From: Scranton, PA
Where He Fits Best: Outside Linebacker
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. With the line backing corps in flux this season after losses, Francis can be the leader of a youthful group of linebackers that can keep the WVU defense in the top ten year in, year out.
Grade: Four Stars
Marquis Lucas
5 of 11
Position: OL
Height/Weight: 6-4, 310 Lbs
From: Miami, FL
Where He Fits Best: Offensive Guard
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. Lucas will be a key component to the Mountaineer’s offensive line after the graduation of Josh Jenkins next season so Lucas can learn the blocking schemes in 2011 and potentially take over in 2012.
Grade: Four Stars
Kenneth Myers
6 of 11
Position: WR
Height/Weight:6-2, 186 Lbs
From: Jacksonville, FL
Where He Fits Best: Wide Receiver, Punt Returner, Kickoff Returner
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. After the loss of playmaker Jock Sanders, Myers will join a Mountaineer receiving corps that already has big play ability with Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey making the passing game more of an option for the normally run based offense in years past.
Grade: Three Stars
Vernard Roberts
7 of 11
Position: RB
Height/Weight: 5-11, 174 Lbs
From: Washington, DC
Where He Fits Best: Running Back, Wide Receiver, Punt Returner, Kickoff Returner
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. Roberts will be a situational back for the Mountaineers after the loss of Noel Devine along with the return of junior Shawn Alston compose a WVU running game that can be dangerous again with speed and power in 2011
Grade: Three Stars
Jared Barber
8 of 11
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6-2, 218 Lbs
From: Mocksville, NC
Where He Fits Best: Inside Linebacker
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. With the loss of Anthony Leonard and Pat Lazear, Barber will be a candidate to start for the Mountaineers as a freshman with other recruits in this class helping to sure up the lone weak spot on the Mountaineer defense.
Grade: Three Stars
Ben Bradley
9 of 11
Position: DT
Height/Weight: 6-2, 270 Lbs
From: Norcross, GA
Where He Fits Best: Defensive Tackle, Defensive Line
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. The addition of Bradley to the Mountaineers defense will help the defensive line after the losses of Chris Neild and Scooter Berry to graduation after stellar careers in gold and blue. With some experience already on the team, Bradley might be a second stringer in his first season for WVU unless injuries hurt the defensive line in 2011
Grade: Four Stars
Isaiah Bruce
10 of 11
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205 Lbs
From: Jacksonville, FL
Where He Fits Best: Linebacker
Does It Fill A Void?
Yes. With the linebacker position being up in the area for 2011, it can be believed that Bruce and the other linebackers in this recruiting class can form a strong young core for years to come for the Mountaineers.
Grade: Three Stars
Recruiting Class Overview
11 of 11
Total 2011 Class: 22
Offensive Recruits: 12
Defensive Recruits: 10
Special Teams Recruits: None
Strength of Class: Defense
Needs Meet for 2011:
Yes. As one would look at the depth chart as of now, the Mountaineers seemed to sure up there weak spots this offseason after losing key players that had made impacts in seasons past.
The key position that needed help this recruiting season would have been linebackers after losing three playmakers to graduation but with four new recruits, the WVU defense will look to not miss a step after several seasons of outstanding defense.
The offense received some good talent as well with the heir apparent to Noel Devine in Andrew Buie, an excellent running back from Jacksonville, Florida that can be an all purpose back for Bill Stewart and Dana Holgerson in 2011 and years to come for WVU.
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