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WVU Football Recruiting

WVU OL Coach Jack Bicknell Placing 2026 3-Star Richard Thigpen Among Top Priorities

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WVU Football OL recruit Richard Thigpen and Jack Bicknell

A big part of recruiting is building relationships with players, and that’s especially important for the new WVU football staff when it comes to existing recruits like 2026 offensive lineman Richard Thigpen.

To fully show Thigpen that West Virginia is till interested in making him a Mountaineer, offensive line coach Jack Bicknell took a trip to Tennessee days after sending him another offer. On Jan. 16, Thigpen revealed WVU re-offered him. And then on Jan. 19, Thigpen posted about Bicknell visiting him at home and the time player and coach spent together.

“Thanks Coach Bicknell for stopping by last night to talk about West Virginia football! Canโ€™t wait to get back to Morgantown soon!,” said Thigpen.ย 

While Thigpen is just one of several prominent offensive lineman Bicknell has been re-engaging with recently, he’s definitely one that’s important to the WVU staff.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, carries three stars from most national outlets and is ranked as one of the top players in Tennessee. Viewed as an offensive tackle, Thigpen, has another high school season remaining at Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tenn.

Thigpen’s initial West Virginia offer, his first from any Big 12 program, came just a few months ago in October.

Thigpen has 11 offers at this point in his recruitment, with Power Four programs like Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Vanderbilts standing out in addition to WVU. He also has offers from Arkansas State, Connecticut, Eastern Kentucky, Marshall, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Southern Miss, Troy, Tulane and UAB.

Thigpen’s Georgia Tech offer came in between West Virginia’s second offer and Bicknell’s visit on Jan. 17.

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

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