2024 WV Team Preview: Mingo Central Miners

For a discounted subscription to view all of our content, use Code PRZWV30 at checkout for 30% off!   The Mingo Central Miners enjoyed some resurgence in 2023 under new head coach David Jones, finishing the year 8-3 and having their first winning season since 2019. While the Miners lost some talented players to graduation off of last season's playoff squad, they lucked out in the reshuffling of classifications and are now in the new Class AA with a path to more winning seasons in their future. The 2024 schedule has some tough matchups against Roane County, Independence, and Scott among others, but Mingo Central has the returning talent to match or exceed their regular season win total from a year ago.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2024 TEAM SCHEDULE</h2>   08/29 (H) Tug Valley 09/06 (A) Westside 09/13 (H) Liberty-Raleigh 09/20 (H) Man 09/27 (H) Point Pleasant 10/04 (H) Scott 10/11 (-) Open 10/18 (A) Independence 10/25 (A) Roane County 11/01 (H) Chapmanville 11/08 (A) Logan   2024 Record Prediciton: 7-3 2023 Record: 8-3   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">PLAYERS TO KNOW</h2>    We've been high on 2025 Mingo Central OL [player_tooltip player_id='1105914' first='Logan' last='Hurley'] for a while now and believe he has a high ceiling as a prospect. You obviously can't teach 6'4 300, and Hurley is a large presence on the Miners' line. He plays left tackle for them and could likely slide inside to guard at the next level where he can excel at. Hurley is a mauling run blocker with a strong punch and hands and a true people mover. He's still raw in some areas and it'll be interesting to see how much he's improved since his junior year, but Hurley is a very moldable athlete who is a definite future college starter if he wants to be.   He's a prospect who every D2 program in the state should be after and an athlete who will likely earn some accolades this season.      2025 LB [player_tooltip player_id='908101' first='LeQues' last='Strother'] was a great addition to the Mingo Central program last season and was the second-leading tackler on the team as a junior. Strother returns 91 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 5 sacks to a strong linebacking corps which should be the strength of their defense again this season. He's an athletic middle linebacker with a quality frame to continue adding mass and further raise his ceiling as a prospect. Strother can be versatile in the run-and-pass game given his athleticism and can line up at outside backer at times too.   Strother should receive some D2 opportunities this season and a name to watch for programs at that level.      Mingo Central's strong offensive line group continues with OL [player_tooltip player_id='1126402' first='Rilee' last='Hatfield'] who recently debuted in our 2025 Top 200. We got to see him live earlier this year at the PRZ WV Combine, and Hatfield has underrated film for the position that is worthy of looks by small colleges.   Here's what we recently said about Hatfield in our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/2025-prospects-new-to-the-top-200-pt-3/">2025 rankings New Additions article</a>:   "Another PRZ WV Combine participant who now ranks inside of the 2025 Top 200 is Mingo Central OL [player_tooltip player_id='1126402' first='Rilee' last='Hatfield']. Hatfield has junior film that we liked a lot but size keeps him in the D2/D3 border ranking range. He's a highly physical player who plays with a nasty streak and has violent hands that we loved when evaluating his tape. Hatfield can be a devastating pulling guard in the Miners' offense who brings a lot of force to the point of contact. He has heavy hands with a powerful punch and finishes his blocks until the whistle. Hatfield also showed quality athleticism when pulling and at our combine event with good feet in the short area."      Mingo Central returns 1,000-yard rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1015079' first='Dylan' last='Vance'] who averaged 9 yards per carry and scored 8 touchdowns in 2023. The 2025 RB is a big-play threat for the Miners who can break the game open on any given touch. Vance has the speed to separate from defenders in the open field and is explosive through the hole. He gets to top speed quickly and has a great burst that gets him to the second level of the defense consistently before they have a chance to react. Vance is also slippery in space and can make defenders miss on first and second contact.   He should put up bigger numbers in 2024 as Mingo Central breaks in a new quarterback and could be relied on heavily as a senior.      Another big offensive lineman that will pave the way for Vance and Co. is 6'2 300 2025 OL [player_tooltip player_id='1126403' first='Gary' last='Pope']. He'll be part of a big and strong offensive line for the Miners again this season and is a prospect we'll be watching closely who's on the cusp of being ranked. Pope played tackle for the Miners last season but we like him as a future college guard given his size and is a position he could excel at the next level. He's a quality athlete for his size and moves his feet well which explains why they utilize him at tackle. Pope can block in space and get his hat on linebackers consistently which he showed on his junior tape. He also showed the ability to blow defenders off the ball and the level of physicality that you're looking for in an OL.   Pope is an under-the-radar prospect who could play himself into some D2 looks this season if he puts some good things on film again as a senior.      The third returner to the Mingo Central linebacker group is 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1126825' first='James' last='Moore']. Moore finished the 2023 season as the fourth-leading tackler and totaled 49 tackles and 11 TFLs with 19 QB hurries as their strongside outside linebacker. He's a long and rangy linebacker who often lined up head over slot receivers and has the athleticism to play in pass coverage. Moore also showed he can set the edge in run sets and is a relentless pursuer of the ball. Filling out his 6'1 frame will further improve his game as he gets stronger and stouter in run defense but his athleticism gives him a good base to build on. Moore plays in space well due to those athletic traits and can harass the quarterback effectively given in speed off the edge.   Moore would be a steal at the D3 level if D2s pass on him and is a prospect certainly worthy of college looks this season.      Mingo Central WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='908000' first='Aidan' last='Burke'] is highly thought of in our 2026 rankings as a Top 30 player who returns as the Miners' top target in the passing game this season. Burke was the second-leading receiver in 2023 with 500 yards and 7 touchdowns and finished the year with 800 all-purpose yards. He can affect the game in all three phases and is a threat in the return game along with being a defensive starter too. Burke is a big play threat and should expand on that trait this season as their likely go-to target on offense. You can get him the ball in a variety of ways as both a receiver and runner and can make plays at all three levels of the offense.   Burke should have his true breakout year as a junior and build on the success he had as a sophomore last season.      A 2026 prospect that will have a bigger role in 2024 is ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1239111' first='Donavon' last='Valdelamar']. Although still undersized right now, Valdelamar has the potential to become a dynamic player for the Miners in time and you should see evidence of that this season. He can line up in the slot or in the backfield on offense with cornerback potential as well on defense. You can picture Valdelamar becoming your prototypical shifty slot receiver which could happen this season as the Miners will need some new receivers to step up after some graduation losses. You got some flashes of his potential last season as a sophomore, but Valdelamar will give us a better idea of his ability and ceiling this season as a junior.   He's a prospect to follow this season as more opportunities become available for him and a name for colleges to tuck away for later.      Mingo Central has one of the early top 2027 linebackers in the state with [player_tooltip player_id='907920' first='Taegan' last='Hackney'] who had a great debut freshman season for the Miners in 2023. He'll return as a young defensive leader for the Miners this season and is a prospect to know for the future as he continues to develop.   Here's what we recently said about Hackney in our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/2027-rankings-debut-21-30-ranked-prospects/">2027 rankings Debut article</a>:   "The most productive varsity 2027 prospect last season had to be Mingo Central LB [player_tooltip player_id='907920' first='Taegan' last='Hackney']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/taegan-hackney/"></a> who produced a huge freshman campaign for the Miners in 2023. Hackney totaled 106 tackles and 17 TFLs as a first-year player and leader of the defense as a freshman. He's another 2027 prospect that we got to see in person at our Combine event and now debuts as a Top 30 player and #3 LB in the class. Size is the one concern with Hackney that keeps him a bit lower at this point, but if he keeps growing his ceiling is high as a prospect. He's a very smart young player and plays the game like a veteran for his age. Hackney was a confident player as a freshman and led the team in tackles from his middle linebacker spot which not only speaks to his ability but also shows the trust his coaches have in him."     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OTHER PLAYERS TO KNOW</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1126445' first='Ashton' last='Kinser'] - DL | 2025 Watch List   [player_tooltip player_id='1126446' first='Jace' last='Harmon'] - DL | 2025 Watch List   [player_tooltip player_id='1316844' first='Jaxon' last='Nenni-Mills'] - QB | 2025 Watch List   [player_tooltip player_id='908261' first='Jace' last='Coleman'] - RB | 2027 Watch List   [player_tooltip player_id='1580731' first='Jacob' last='Maynard'] - RB/LB | 2028   Isaiah May - LB/DE | 2028

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