Notable WVU Football RB Commit Suffers Serious Injury

In a continuation of the WVU football staff’s bad luck as far as running backs getting hurt, a top recruit suffered a season-ending injury himself.

West Virginia commit SirPaul Cheeks will miss the remainder of his 2025 high school season with a torn ACL, according to Rivals. The severity of his injury and the need for surgery now creates doubt about his status moving into next year when he was set to become a Mountaineer.

Cheeks, nicknamed “Jesus in Cleats” by some, announced his commitment to West Virginia in July. He’s a Virginia product who plays at Varina High School in Henrico County.

In 2024, he tallied 1,495 all-purpose yards with 18 total touchdowns while playing wide receiver, running back, punt returner and kickoff returner.

He was initially planning to announce his commitment on July 1, but delayed going public with his decision for two weeks.

As a runner, Cheeks racked up 900 yards on 38 carries. He also added 265 receiving yards on 22 catches.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound athlete also played cornerback on defense, where he intercepted six passes and returned three for touchdowns.

Cheeks also saw offers from Appalachian State, Ball State, Connecticut, East Carolina, Kentucky, Liberty, Minnesota, USF, Virginia Tech and several others.

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