West Virginia’s 2023 Class Off to Strong Start; Just How Good?

If Neal Brown has proven one thing so far at West Virginia, it’s that he’s able to connect with recruits. In 2021 alone, Brown and WVU were able to land four-star quarterback Nicco Marchiol, four-star defensive back Jacolby Spells and four-star linebacker Travious Lathan.

The results haven’t always been there for WVU during Brown’s tenure at the helm — or, at all, really — but WVU has continued to recruit well during that same span.

Through July 1, West Virginia has landed 18 commitments. That’s among the most in college football. And it hasn’t just been a bunch of mid-level three-star commits.

247Sports rates WVU’s 2023 class as the 18th in the country, holding a solid 87.22 average rating. Rivals is even higher on WVU’s class with a 14th-ranked class, 3.0 average star ranking. On3 isn’t as high on WVU, holding just the 27th-ranked class in the country.

Rodney Gallagher is the crown jewel of WVU’s recruiting class and will continue to serve as such the rest of the way. The Uniontown native is only half an hour from Morgantown, but his status as not just the top-ranked recruit in Pennsylvania but a legitimate “hometown kid” will go a long way.

The 6-foot, 170-pound athlete has played as a quarterback for Laurel Highlands High School in Unionville, but he’s destined as a wideout at the next level. The elite athlete, who led Laurel Highlands to a WPIAL title in basketball as a junior, is exactly the kind of playmaker Brown needs at WVU.

247Sports rates Gallagher as the 98th-ranked recruit in the class (15th-ranked wide receiver and the second-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania) while Rivals rates him as the 169th-ranked recruit in the class (29th-ranked wide receiver and the second-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania). On3 is also high on Gallagher, rating him as the 109th-ranked recruit in the class (18th-ranked wide receiver and second-ranked recruit from Pennsylvania).

WVU’s class doesn’t just extend to Gallagher either, as a number of top-ranked defenders had added their pledge.

Josiah Trotter and James Heard are a couple of top-ranked recruits from the Philadelphia area, with both playing at powerhouse St. Joseph’s Prep in Philly, and the duo committed to WVU in June.

Trotter, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, committed to WVU over the likes of Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas A&M. The four-star linebacker, the son of former All-Pro linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, picked WVU over a strong list of finalists.

Heard, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, chose WVU over Cincinnati, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and others, and Trotter’s running mate is another valuable addition.

The Jackson brothers, Josiah (6-foot-1, 175-pound cornerback) and Jordan (5-foot-11, 175-pound athlete) added a versatile duo from Fairfield, Ohio and Justin Benton (6-foot-2, 275-pound defensive lineman) added some beef from Covington, Georgia. It’s the kind of haul that adds a much, much needed jolt to the very core of WVU football.

And that’s without adding:

Johnny Williams IV: three-star OL from Northeast High School in Macon, Georgia

Jahiem White: three-star RB from William Penn High School in York, Pennsylvania

Jordan Louie: three-star RB from Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Georgia

Rahiem Jeter: three-star QB from Spartanburg High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina

Cooper Young: three-star OL from Downingtown West High School in Downington, Ohio

Cameron Jackson: three-star DL from Spartanburg High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina

Tory Johnson Jr.: three-star WR from Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia

Corey McIntyre Jr.: three-star DL from Treasure Coast High School in Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Eamon Smalls: three-star DL from Beaufort High School in Ladys Island, South Carolina

Elijah Caldwell: three-star WR from Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina

Ben Cutter: three-star LB from East Lincoln High School in Denver, North Carolina

Noah Braham: three-star TE from University High School in Morgantown, West Virginia