WVU Football Building Relationship with 2025 WR Recruit Carl Jenkins Jr.

When a major conference program offers a high school sophomore, you know he’s special. And the WVU football program deems Carl Jenkins Jr. worthy of that honor.

West Virginia joined other big name brands in extending an offer to the class of 2025 wide receiver and three-sport athlete from Sant Augustine, Florida. WVSN then caught up with Jenkins (6-foot-2, 164 pounds) to chat about his recruitment, what he’s heard from coaches and his development as a player with two remaining high school seasons to go.

ALL GOD! Blessed To Receive My First Power 5 Offer From West Virginia University💛💙! @SAHSJackets @BJKGator2325 @SWiltfong247 @BlairASanderson pic.twitter.com/F27fQJKEEk

— Carl Jenkins Jr ✞ (@thecarljenkins) April 27, 2023

Rules restrict how much communication coaches can have with sophomores, but Jenkins said his offer came soon after WVU’s passing game coordinator Sean Reagan came to watch him catch. Jenkins also revealed he noticed wide receiver coach Bilal Marshall is one of several members of the West Virginia staff to follow him on social media.

It’s no secret the Mountaineers are attempting to revamp their Florida recruiting pipeline, and Marshall’s connections to recruits from the Sunshine State is helping him lead that charge. But is Jenkins aware of that? How much does so a young recruit know about the past or present of WVU football?

Apparently, Jenkins knows a lot. I know a lot. “I know about Tavon Austin, obviously. And I know that they’re an organized nice Power 5 school,” he said.

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A Florida kid being aware of Tavon Austin, even if his illustrious college career and brief time in the NFL happened when Jenkins was just a child, but the relationship that Marshall and others are building with him is exactly what the Mountaineers are hoping helps them establish a stronger presence in Florida. Jenkins even expressed liking the fact West Virginia has sent offers to several receivers in classes spanning 2024 to 2026.

No player with only a couple of high school seasons under his belt is close to a finished product, although Jenkins feels he’s already someone who can be a threat for any offense. “I would describe myself as a long, athletic, physical player that can do amazing things with the ball in my hand,” said Jenkins. That description sounds exactly like the type of prospect WVU would love to bring in.

Time will now tell how the rest of Jenkins’ recruitment goes and if West Virginia is able to strengthen their relationship with him as the years go by.