West Virginia Wins Battle for Alabama Pass Rusher Eddie Watkins

While West Virginia was not overly busy signing recruits today, that does not mean the recruits they did sign came easily. Defensive end Eddie Watkins was the second recruit signed by WVU today and his recruitment battle may have been one of the toughest for the Mountaineers in the entire class.

Welcome bandit Eddie Watkins from Evergreen, Alabama and Hillcrest High!

➡️ https://t.co/XUe0rZsWnz#HailWV | #TrustTheClimb | #TakeMeHome20 pic.twitter.com/ufg7tpkDH5

— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) February 5, 2020

Watkins (6-foot-3, 240 lbs.) had originally been committed to go to Georgia Tech but re-opened his commitment in early September. He chose West Virginia over offers from Arizona, Missouri, Purdue, Central Florida and Kentucky.

Watkins is rated a three-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports and rivals. 247 had him as the 57th ranked defensive end prospect in the nation. In Alabama, rivals had him as the 39 best recruit, 247 42nd and ESPN 45th.

West Virginia announced Watkins as a bandit linebacker, meaning he will play on the defensive line and be coached by outside linebackers coach Al Pogue. After the announcement of Watkins’s signing Pogue tweeted that the recruiting combination of him and defensive line coach Jordan Lesley, named ‘Salt and Pepper’, was able to get Watkins.

The Dynamic Duo strikes again😁
Good work @CoachLesley_WVU#SaltAndPepperHere#PushItRealGood#PutSomeSeasoningOnIt#PassRushSensation#TheBestPassCoverageIsApassRush pic.twitter.com/rWHSTYQMiJ

— Al Pogue (@coachalpogue) February 5, 2020