2024 WV Rankings Preseason Update: New Additions (Defense)

The West Virginia rankings were in need of an overhaul and over 50 new prospects have been added to the list since our last update. Our preseason rankings update now shows the Top 100 athletes in WV and will be updated and expanded again mid-season. Here are some of the new defensive additions to the Top 100 that have made a name for themselves since our last update.   [player_tooltip player_id='866263' first='Curtis' last='Jones Jr'] - Cabell Midland | LB Overall Ranking: #3 | Position Ranking: #2   [player_tooltip player_id='866263' first='Curtis' last='Jones Jr'] enters our Top 3 overall ranking and just received an offer from WVU as a linebacker. Jones Jr also sees a lot of carries in Cabell Midland's ground-and-pound offense but it's at linebacker where his ceiling is highest. The 6'2 210 rising senior also holds three other D1 offers from Eastern Kentucky, Toledo, and Marshall. With that kind of D1 interest, it was an easy decision to put Jones Jr in our Top 3 and the decision was certainly warranted. He also ranks as the #2 linebacker in the state just behind fellow Cabell Midland teammate [player_tooltip player_id='370285' first='Cannon' last='Lewis'] who is committed to NC State. The Knights will have the best linebacker tandem in the state this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='891257' first='Aaron' last='Clark'] - Hurricane | DL Overall Ranking: #14 | Position Ranking: #2   [player_tooltip player_id='891257' first='Aaron' last='Clark'] has seen his stock rise this year receiving his first D1 offer from FCS Eastern Kentucky back in early June. The 6'1 280 big man is an athletic interior lineman and after watching his junior film it's no surprise why a D1 school would love his potential. Clark will be playing his senior season at Hurricane HS after transferring from South Charleston and should bolster the middle of the Redskins' defensive line. Clark is so athletic that he even lined up as a running back at times and carried the ball for the Black Eagles last season. I expect his D1 interest to continue to rise this season with a good senior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='888165' first='Rashad' last='Reid'] - Martinsburg | DL Overall Ranking: #16 | Position Ranking: #3   Martinsburg's [player_tooltip player_id='888165' first='Rashad' last='Reid'] enters our rankings at #16 overall and the #3 defensive lineman. I expect his ranking will increase for our mid-season update in October and Reid has already seen his stock rise since these rankings were made. He just picked up his third D1 FCS offer from East Tennessee State and also holds offers from Robert Morris and Saint Francis. Reid was a Class AAA First Team All-State performer in 2022 as a junior and was a terror along the Bulldogs' defensive line all season. He totaled 84 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 20 TFLs last season and should have an even bigger senior season this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='891254' first='Quintin' last='Goins'] - Jefferson | DL Overall Ranking: #17 | Position Ranking: #4   The defensive line position in WV might be the deepest and most talented position across the board this season. Jefferson's [player_tooltip player_id='891254' first='Quintin' last='Goins'] is another very talented defensive lineman and has seen his stock rise this year. Goins is an athletic 6'3 250 and picked up his first D1 FCS offer back in March. He also earned Big Man Camp MVP honors at WVU's camp at the end of June. You won't find many QB/DE combos but Goins even saw some time at quarterback in the past. His best position is at defensive end and with the amount of athleticism he has the ceiling is very high there.   [player_tooltip player_id='891267' first='Jamie' last='Riedel'] - Linsly | DL Overall Ranking: #28 | Position Ranking: #5   Yet another very talented defensive lineman that was added to our rankings is Linsly's [player_tooltip player_id='891267' first='Jamie' last='Riedel']. Riedel comes to the U.S. by way of Germany and is one of many talented foreign imports on Linsly's roster. The 6'1 280 interior lineman had impressive junior film for an interior DL and showed he can rush the passer well from the inside. That's a trait that isn't common for interior defensive linemen but Riedel was a terror there last season. He makes our Top 30 overall and #5 DL ranking in a deep defensive line class.   [player_tooltip player_id='893386' first='MJ' last='Dixon'] - George Washington | DB Overall Ranking: #39 | Position Ranking: #3   [player_tooltip player_id='893386' first='MJ' last='Dixon'] is our first DB addition to the rankings and the 6'2 185 safety has the size and skill to be one of the top defensive backs in the state. Dixon will be transferring to George Washington HS from Capital HS and will immediately bolster the Patriots' secondary. Dixon is a physical DB that will come up and pop you from his safety position. That 6'2 185 size really helps him in run defense and he has enough speed to cover the pass as well. I could even see him bulking up and being a very good linebacker one day as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='160731' first='Nolan' last='Meehleib'] - Jefferson | LB Overall Ranking: #44 | Position Ranking: #5   The second linebacker added to our rankings is Jefferon's [player_tooltip player_id='160731' first='Nolan' last='Meehleib']. Meehleib is a very athletic linebacker that can run and will get physical. The 6'2 195 Cougar might be flying under the radar a bit in the loaded Eastern Panhandle but I think he has all of the tools to be at least a high-end D2 player if not D1. I love the way he gets downfield and isn't afraid to stick his nose in there to make the tackle. Meehleib runs in the 4.6 40 range which is very high tier for a high school linebacker. He still needs to grow into his frame a little bit but he's well on his way to being a very good linebacker and it would not shock me to see him climb the rankings by our next update.   [player_tooltip player_id='891256' first='Buddy' last='Marcum'] - Tug Valley | DL Overall Ranking: #45 | Position Ranking: #7   Class A also makes an appearance in our Top 100 new additions with Tug Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='891256' first='Buddy' last='Marcum']. Marcum is a 6'4 225 defensive end that can also play tight end. I like his ceiling the most on the defensive line and I think that's where he plays in college. He earned Class A First Team All-State honors as a junior and I would expect him to repeat those honors for his senior season. Marcum isn't very active on Twitter so it's hard to say how much college interest he's received so far but when you're 6'4 225, athletic, and racking up 34 TFLs and 8 sacks as a junior you're going to get some looks. He might fly under the radar in Class A but is certainly one of the Top 50 athletes in WV.   [player_tooltip player_id='891259' first='Durrell' last='Johnson'] - Hedgesville | DL Overall Ranking: #45 | Position Ranking: #7   The theme of the new defensive additions is defensive linemen and Hedgesville's [player_tooltip player_id='891259' first='Durrell' last='Johnson'] is a very promising DE prospect. The 6'3 235 Johnson is a really athletic player and has a high ceiling for the position. He's so quick off the ball and can run down most skill players as a defensive lineman. Johnson still needs to continue working on his fundamentals and if he does he has the potential to really climb in the rankings. The raw talent and athleticism are already there and if he keeps developing some D1 schools are going to come sniffing around.   [player_tooltip player_id='892313' first='Raymond' last='Kovalesky'] - Linsly | LB Overall Ranking: #49 | Position Ranking: #6   The third new linebacker name to our Preseason Top 50 is Linsly's [player_tooltip player_id='892313' first='Raymond' last='Kovalesky']. Kovalesky is a 6'3 225 specimen that had a very productive junior season for the Cadets. He was a junior captain for his team and totaled 126 tackles in 2022 while helping lead the Cadets to one of their best seasons in school history. The rising senior has picked up an offer from D2 West Liberty along with some D3 offers but I expect him to add more D2 offers this year. Kovalesky comes in as the #49 player and #6 linebacker in WV and could certainly increase that ranking with another good season for his senior year.   The rest of the new defensive additions in the Top 100:   #52. [player_tooltip player_id='892315' first='Andrew' last='Stalnaker'] - Bridgeport | LB #57. [player_tooltip player_id='891128' first='Tristen' last='Tuttle'] - Tyler Consolidated | DL #60. [player_tooltip player_id='892314' first='Matthew' last='Stalnaker'] - Bridgeport | LB #65. [player_tooltip player_id='863362' first='Julion' last='Grace'] - Hurricane | DB #66. [player_tooltip player_id='891255' first='Kiyou' last='Jackson'] - Huntington | DL #69. [player_tooltip player_id='370256' first='Turner' last='Garretson'] - Parkersburg South | LB #72. [player_tooltip player_id='891258' first='Derek' last='Croghan'] - Wheeling Park | DL #84. [player_tooltip player_id='893387' first='Jayvon' last='Goodrich'] - Cabell Midland | DB #86. [player_tooltip player_id='892316' first='Tanner' last='Hathaway'] - Bridgeport | LB #87. [player_tooltip player_id='891261' first='Brock' last='Meadows'] - Washington | DL #89. [player_tooltip player_id='891260' first='Troy' last='Woolaston'] - Musselman | DL #92. [player_tooltip player_id='892317' first='Gerrard' last='Wade'] - Bluefield | LB #94. [player_tooltip player_id='893388' first='Brandon' last='Richardson'] - Roane County | DB

The West Virginia rankings were in need of an overhaul and over 50 new prospects have been added to the list since our last update. Our preseason rankings update now shows the Top 100 athletes in WV and will be updated and expanded again mid-season. Here are some of the new defensive additions to the Top 100 that have made a name for themselves since our last update.