WVU Officially Signs FCS All-American Edge Rusher

West Virginia has officially secured one of the most dominant pass rushers in the FCS over the last few seasons.

WVU announced the signing of Ty French — a 6-foot-3, 230-pound pass rusher from Gardner-Webb — Tuesday morning, and he is immediately one of the most impactful edge rushers on the roster.

French committed to West Virginia on Dec. 18, choosing the Mountaineers over Western Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Tech and Appalachian State.

𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 ✍️

Welcome to Almost Heaven, @tyfrench50!

🔗 https://t.co/2zR7g5oyl1#HailWV pic.twitter.com/GPUsvK9H7Y

— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) January 9, 2024

French arrived at Garnder-Webb as a low-three-star recruit in the class of 2020, receiving offers from Gardner-Webb, Chattanooga, South Alabama and UAB, and he started his second recruiting chase in much higher demand.

247Sports rated him as the 285th-ranked transfer (20th-ranked edge rusher) and Rivals rated him as the 271st-ranked transfer.

It’s not a surprise considering French’s impact at the FCS level over the last three seasons. He earned All-American honors as a freshman, sophomore and senior. In four seasons, playing in 41 games, he racked up 239 tackles (125 solo), 61 tackles for loss, 34.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and three recoveries, an interception and seven pass breakups.

French was particularly dominant over the last two seasons, recording 143 tackles (77 solo), 38.5 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception and seven pass breakups.

French committed to WVU after he took an official visit to Morgantown, W.Va. over the weekend of Dec. 15, and with his signing, he is officially the newest Mountaineer.

WVU has also signed former Ohio State linebacker Reid Carrico, and the remainder of the transfer portal class (Old Dominion safety Tahj Ra-El, Jacksonville State offensive lineman Xavier Bausley and Troy defensive end Theodore Jackson) will sign in the coming days.

French will have one season of eligibility remaining at West Virginia, helping to bolster the WVU defensive line and boost his own stock ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Click here for the rest of WV Sports Now’s coverage of WVU football recruiting.