MORGANTOWN — One of West Virginia University’s most highly anticipated recruiting classes reported to school this week as the second semester of summer school started with only three absentees.
Among those not yet on hand, but expected soon, were two highly touted prospects — defensive lineman Tevita Finau and wide receiver Deon Long.
Finau’s journey to WVU has been a long one, having signed three letters of intent only to have problems getting through junior college requirements. According to a release put out by coach Bill Stewart, Finau has completed his class work and is waiting for his grades to be posted and to be accepted into WVU.
Finau’s talent is such that even though he has yet to even qualify to play at WVU, he has already been picked as a second-team All-Big East defensive lineman. The native Hawaiian was coached by former Mountaineer Dale Wolfley as a freshman at Phoenix College and was considered one of the top junior college players in the country.
He selected West Virginia over an impressive list of suitors that included Auburn, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisville, Oklahoma, USC, Tennessee and Oregon.
Long played at Dunbar High in Washington, D.C., where he caught 35 passes for 840 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. He is still awaiting his test scores.
The other recruit who has yet to be cleared is a raw, talented 6-foot, 6-inch, 270-pound defensive end from Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy, Curtis Feigt. A native of Germany, he is awaiting his student visa.
In all, 14 recruits did report, including invited walk-on Tyler Anderson from Morgantown High.
They will join a group of eight recruits who reported with the first summer session.
In that group, getting an early start, are the two most highly touted freshmen, quarterback Eugene Smith from Miramar, Fla., who is expected to redshirt in preparation for replacing Jarrett Brown after he plays his senior season; and running back Tavon Austin, who is expected to compete for playing time this year and challenge to return punts and kickoffs.
The players will begin attending classes and going through summer voluntary workouts.
The recruit who did not make it was wide receiver Terrance Moore, a junior college player who did not qualify academically.
Camp opens on Aug. 7 and the season begins on Sept. 5 with a home game against Liberty.
E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com.
QB Smith breaks bone in foot
MORGANTOWN (AP) — A West Virginia football spokesman says incoming freshman quarterback Eugene Smith has a broken bone in his left foot that will require up to eight weeks to heal.
Mike Montoro said Tuesday that Smith injured his foot late last week in an unspecified, off-the-field incident in Morgantown.
Montoro says Smith must keep weight off his foot for four weeks, when it will be re-evaluated.
The 6-foot-3 Smith reported to school for summer workouts and is expected to compete for a backup role behind starter Jarrett Brown this season. Smith threw for 3,089 yards and 32 touchdowns last year at Miramar (Fla.) High School.
West Virginia players report for preseason camp on Aug. 7.
Bob Herzel
WVU recruiting class reports
- Bob Herzel
-
-
Notre Dame stops WVU, 55-51
If Kevin Jones could have scored 20 points against Notre Dame on Wednesday night before a disappointing crowd of 9,258 in the Coliseum he would have joined Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley in the West Virginia record books.
-
HERTZEL COLUMN: It’s unfair to consider Truck villain
The zero next to Truck Bryant’s name stood out like an obscene gesture during a Super Bowl halftime show.
Some even said he was M.I.A. as West Virginia University lost a heartbreaker, if not a season-breaker, to Notre Dame, 55-51. -
Jones nears milestone as Notre Dame visits WVU
That it is a crucial game in a season that seems to have nothing but, today’s 9 p.m. visit to the Coliseum by a streaking Notre Dame team comes with a historical footnote in the history of West Virginia University basketball.
Kevin Jones enters the game having scored 20 or more points in nine consecutive games. -
WVU source: Battle to join Big 12 nearing conclusion
Indications were growing that West Virginia University’s battle to leave the Big East and join the Big 12 in time for the 2012 season was about to be won, possibly as early as today.
A source within the Mountaineer athletic department said on Tuesday that the matter was nearing a conclusion and also told the Times West Virginian that West Virginia would be reinstating a golf team to compete in the Big 12. -
HERTZEL COLUMN: WVU, Irish strikingly similar
Consider, if you will, that it is Nov. 25 past, that the West Virginia University basketball team is running a routine drill four games into its season, getting ready for the Akron game when Kevin Jones goes down in a heap on the floor, his ACL torn, his season over.
-
WVU source: Battle to join Big 12 nearing conclusion
Indications were growing that West Virginia University’s battle to leave the Big East and join the Big 12 in time for the 2012 season was about to be won, possibly as early as today.
-
HERTZEL COLUMN - Truck drives Mountaineers to needed win
Perhaps it is what has kept him going through a West Virginia basketball career with as many turns as a trip to Pineville down in Wyoming County, but Truck Bryant enjoys being Truck Bryant.
-
WVU finds a way, wins in overtime
Truck Bryant made the headline plays, including a 3-point shot with 3.3 seconds left to play, as West Virginia saved its season with an 87-84 overtime victory at Providence, but the subheads had to be reserved for Deniz Kilicli and a pair of freshman guards.
-
Mountaineers face critical test today at Providence
The schedule tells you it’s another game in the marathon run that is the Big East season, a trip to Providence to play a team with only two conference victories, but somehow everyone connected with the West Virginia University program knows today’s noon meeting with the Friars is much more than that.
-
HERTZEL COLUMN: Jones on the brink of WVU history
On the one hand there is yesterday’s Warren Baker, who entered the WVU Athletic Hall of Fame in the latest class for the work he did from 1973 to 1976, and on the other hand there is today’s star Kevin Jones, who has emerged from the shadows of the likes of Joe Alexander and Da’Sean Butler this year to carve his own niche in Mountaineer basketball history.
- More Bob Herzel Headlines
-
Notre Dame stops WVU, 55-51
