2026 WPIAL Edge Star Talks Overall Recruitment Following WVU Football Offer

As to be expected, the WVU football staff is trying to pull top recruits from the nearby WPIAL within Western Pennsylvania. And to that end, the Mountaineers sent an offer to 2026 edge rusher Reston Lehman on Wednesday.

Lehman (6-foot-3, 225 pounds), a star member of the Peters Township defense, revealed that he’s been talking with WVU outside linebackers coach Victor Cabral recently while announcing his offer on social media.

Lehman’s West Virginia offer also comes just a few days after he received one from Pitt. After picking up an offer from Eastern Michigan, Reston Lehman earned his first Power Four offer from Boston College the following day on Sept. 19.

#AGTG After a great conversation with @Coach_Cab I’m greatful to receive an offer from @WVUfootball !!! @CoachJaxDL @CoachBlaineStew @NealBrown_WVU pic.twitter.com/q9tE6XcLsP

— Reston Lehman (@Reston_Lehman) October 3, 2024

“It meant everything,” Lehman told Nathan Breisinger with WV Sports Now’s partner Pittsburgh Sports Now about his Boston College offer. “I’ve been waiting for a P4 school to take a chance on me and it finally happened. It also came out of nowhere. I was not expecting them to offer.”

Boston College general manager Spencer Dickow extended the offer with the Eagles recruiting him on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker/defensive end.

“They loved my physicality, speed, and my movement,” Lehman said.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound prospect now has offers from Boston College, Eastern Michigan, Akron, Buffalo, Miami (OH) and Central Michigan.

Lehman said that he was told WVU made him an offer after watching his film.

Lehman is also receiving interest from Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Liberty.

With Lehman’s recruitment starting to pick up steam, he is taking it all in stride.

“My recruiting process is just getting started and it’s getting exciting, but I need to stay focused on my season at the same time. I try to not let anything get to my head and stay humble,” he said.

Peters Township head coach TJ Plack has aided Lehman in the process, along with offensive line coach William Dugan, who helped establish the connection with Eastern Michigan.

“The offer from EMU was a process. “My offensive line coach’s brother coaches there so that was a great connection,” Lehman said.

Days after the Eastern Michigan offer, Lehman will be in Ypsilanti, Mich. for a game day visit to watch the Eagles take on St. Francis (Pa.). He also plans on scheduling visits to Boston College, Penn State, Maryland and Liberty.

Lehman lines up as an edge rusher on a Peters Township defense that is coming off its first WPIAL title and once again holding teams under double-digit points per game. The Indians are limiting opponents to 7.5 points, which near the top throughout the entire WPIAL.

“Our defense at Peters Township is pure domination. Our defensive coordinator Troy Grunseth doesn’t get enough credit. He puts us in a position to succeed, along with all of the other positions coaches do an absolutely amazing job,” Lehman said.

Watch the Reston Lehman mid-season Hudl highlights here.

Our partner site Pittsburgh Sports Now helped with the reporting in this story.

Find more coverage of WVU football recruiting at WV Sports Now.