The WVU football team received some really good news following a disappointing loss. Kwantel Raines announced his intent to come to West Virginia.
The four-star recruit from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania limited his college options to WVU, Pitt, Penn State and Florida. The Mountaineers won out in the end for a few reasons.
First, the connection to Aliquippa for the WVU football team runs deep. Actually, any top player in Western Pennsylvania is usually on the Mountaineers’ radar. With Tony Gibson as the recruiter for the area, the WVU football team is usually on the short list of a lot of Pittsburgh-area players.
With Dravon Askew-Henry, another standout who went to Aliquippa, starting for the Mountaineers, Raines was already quite familiar with the Mountaineers and the program. That closeness paid off in the end for Gibson and the WVU football team.
With the way the defense has played this season, it’s safe to say that almost any position is open for the taking. So, early playing time could have been a determining factor for Raines, but really it was the thought of working hard to earn a spot that appealed to him, according to reporters.
Of WVU, Kwantel Raines liked that they told him he was going to have to work to play. He found other schools' bold promises disingenuous.
— Jeremy Tepper (@jeremy_tepper) October 30, 2017
The honesty and respect shown by Gibson, head coach Dana Holgorsen and the WVU football program shows that old fashioned words and encouragement can go a long way in attracting top talent.
Raines may not see the field for a few years in Morgantown, but another young player from the Pittsburgh area was right in the thick of things against Oklahoma State as Kenny Robinson intercepted a pass and took it for a touchdown in the third quarter. At that point it was still a winnable game for the Mountaineers.
All glory to God.. pic.twitter.com/gaiszSZWyS
— TellyMac (@KwantelRaines) October 30, 2017
Raines can make those big plays for the WVU football team, too. He is already a standout on one of the best prep defenses in the state of Pennsylvania. Aliquippa has only allowed one offensive touchdown all season, according to maxpreps. The Quips went 10-0 in the regular season and begin the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs this weekend.
According to 247sports.com, Raines is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. He will be able to add to that already sizable frame once he gets on the WVU football lifting program.
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In the crazy world of recruiting, anything can happen up until signing day. Raines may back out of his commitment, but all signs point to him staying true and becoming a Mountaineer next season.