2025 WV Rankings Preseason Update: New Additions (Defense)
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The West Virginia rankings were in need of an overhaul and over 60 new prospects have been added to the list since our last update. Our preseason rankings update now shows the Top 75 2025 athletes in WV and will…
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Continue ReadingThe West Virginia rankings were in need of an overhaul and over 60 new prospects have been added to the list since our last update. Our preseason rankings update now shows the Top 75 2025 athletes in WV and will be updated and expanded again mid-season. Here are some of the new defensive additions to the Top 75 that have made a name for themselves since our last update.
Brock Kehler
Brock
Kehler
6'3" | 240 lbs | LB
University | 2025
State
WV
– University | LB
Overall Ranking: 7 | Position Ranking: 1
University’s Brock Kehler Brock Kehler 6'3" | 240 lbs | LB University | 2025 State WV is best known for his work on the wrestling mat but he’s just as talented of a football player as he is a wrestler which is very scary for opposing offenses. Kehler is 6’3 230 and finished his sophomore wrestling campaign unblemished with a perfect 52-0 record in the 215-pound weight class and was a state champion. He’s going to be an elite wrestling prospect but he deserves credit for his work on the gridiron too. Kehler’s combination of prototypical linebacker size and high-level athleticism earns him the #7 overall spot in the 2025 rankings and the #1 rated linebacker.
Guner Flores
Guner
Flores
6'1" | 205 lbs | LB
George Washington | 2025
State
WV
– George Washington | LB
Overall Ranking: 14 | Position Ranking: 2
Another 2025 linebacker name to know is George Washington’s Guner Flores Guner Flores 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB George Washington | 2025 State WV . The 6’2 190 rising junior is an extremely athletic linebacker prospect and a terror on the edge. His pass-rush ability is very good for a young player and can even put his hand in the dirt as a defensive end in a 5-man front. With his size and athleticism though he best translates as an OLB or Edge type player. Flores’ pass-rush moves are very advanced for a player his age and his burst off the line is very quick. He’s an exciting prospect with a high ceiling which earned him a #14 overall ranking and #2 linebacker.
Isaiah Osafo-Mensah
Isaiah
Osafo-Mensah
6'2" | 240 lbs | DL
Washington | 2025
State
WV
– Washington | DL
Overall Ranking: 17 | Position Ranking: 3
I am really high on Washington DL Isaiah Osafo-Mensah Isaiah Osafo-Mensah 6'2" | 240 lbs | DL Washington | 2025 State WV and he enters the 2025 rankings 17th overall and our #3 ranked defensive lineman. He already has really good size for his age at 6’2 240 and he really impressed me at the GCOH Performance Exposure Camp. Osafo-Mensah was not on my radar until that camp but quickly climbed my DL board. I think he has D1 potential if he continues to develop and is one of the top WV 2025 defensive linemen in the state.
Landon Nida
Landon
Nida
5'10" | 180 lbs | DB
Cabell Midland | 2025
State
WV
– Cabell Midland | DB
Overall Ranking: 23 | Position Ranking: 3
Cabell Midland’s Landon Nida Landon Nida 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Cabell Midland | 2025 State WV is a speedy little defensive back and quickly stood out when watching his junior highlights. The 5’10 160 speedster can flat-out fly around the field and can cover a ton of ground in a short amount of time. I love the way he gets downhill and attacks ball carriers from his safety position. Nida is a good tackler for a DB and although he’s not the biggest athlete he certainly doesn’t shy away from contact. His athleticism and physicality earned him the #23 ranked athlete in 2025 and the #3 ranked DB.
Xavier Kirk
Xavier
Kirk
6'1" | 165 lbs | DB
Hedgesville | 2025
WV
– Hedgesville | DB
Overall Ranking: 28 | Position Ranking: 5
The 2025 WV DB class is one of the most talented position groups for their class and that continues with Hedgesville’s Xavier Kirk Xavier Kirk 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Hedgesville | 2025 WV . Kirk has good length for the position at 6’1 and is also a good receiver but I like his ceiling the most as a DB for now. He’s a high-upside player with his length and athleticism which earned him the #28 overall ranking and #5 rated DB. You need to keep an eye on this 2025 DB who should only continue to get better as he progresses.
Solomon Ferrell
Solomon
Ferrell
6'2" | 170 lbs | DB
George Washington | 2025
State
WV
– George Washington | DB
Overall Ranking: 35 | Position Ranking: 6
George Washington DB Solomon Ferrell Solomon Ferrell 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB George Washington | 2025 State WV will be making the transition from South Charleston HS this season and should only continue to raise the talent level in the loaded Patriots’ DB group. He’s another long corner at 6’1 165 that can run and cover a lot of space. I think Ferrell has the potential to climb much higher in these rankings if he still performs well against some really tough competition and athletes that George Washington faces. Ferrell had 3 interceptions and 7 pass breakups in 2022 and enters our rankings at 35th overall and the #6 DB.
The rest of the new defensive additions:
#40.
Charles Cantrell
Charles
Cantrell
6'3" | 240 lbs | DL
Nitro | 2025
State
WV
– Nitro | LB
#41.
Jake Young
Jake
Young
6'0" | 205 lbs | LB
Hedgesville | 2025
State
WV
– Hedgesville | LB
#42.
Prophet Guillaume
Prophet
Guillaume
6'3" | 230 lbs | DL
Spring Mills | 2025
State
WV
– Spring Mills | DL
#45.
Braxton Lovejoy
Braxton
Lovejoy
6'2" | 230 lbs | DL
Nitro | 2025
State
WV
– Nitro | DL
#46.
Drake Lanham
Drake
Lanham
6'3" | 265 lbs | OL
Hurricane | 2025
State
WV
– Hurricane | DL
#47.
Brody Cottrill
Brody
Cottrill
6'2" | 220 lbs | LB
Linsly | 2025
State
WV
– Linsly | DL
#51.
Joey Quijano
Joey
Quijano
5'10" | 205 lbs | LB
Hurricane | 2025
State
WV
– Hurricane | LB
#52.
Nick Busky
Nick
Busky
5'11" | 190 lbs | RB
Martinsburg | 2025
State
WV
– Martinsburg | LB
#55.
Tucker Van Meter
Tucker
Van Meter
6'3" | 255 lbs | OL
Capital | 2025
State
WV
– Capital | DL
#58.
Keyon Mills
Keyon
Mills
5'10" | 175 lbs | DB
Spring Mills | 2025
State
WV
– Spring Mills | DB
#64.
Damani Johnson
Damani
Johnson
5'8" | 165 lbs | DB
Fairmont Senior | 2025
State
WV
– Fairmont Senior | DB
#68.
Brady Baker
Brady
Baker
6'3" | 280 lbs | OL
James Monroe | 2025
State
WV
– James Monroe | DL
#69.
Ty Mitchell
Ty
Mitchell
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
Scott | 2025
State
WV
– Scott | DL
#70.
Darion Davis
Darion
Davis
5'11" | 310 lbs | DL
Hurricane | 2025
State
WV
– Hurricane | DL
#73.
Wes Molish
Wes
Molish
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
Oak Glen | 2025
WV
– Oak Glen | LB
#74.
Jameson Maynard
Jameson
Maynard
6'1" | 185 lbs | LB
Wheeling Park | 2025
State
WV
– Wheeling Park