The 2018 recruiting class for the West Virginia Mountaineers received a nice boost Monday evening as Dillon Spalding committed to head coach Dana Holgorsen.
Dillon Spalding is a special talent who has seen what it takes to be a part of the Mountaineers’ dynamic offense. Of course, there were many moments this season where the West Virginia offense sputtered. The team played inconsistently and the offense wasn’t performing up to its full potential.
With Spalding joining the Mountaineers, there is the possibility of strengthening an already established unit. Drawing comparisons to current WVU wide receiver David Sills, Spalding has a strong build and an accurate football sense. He has the soft hands to make catches and the athleticism to make extraordinary plays. According to 247sports, he is 6-foot-1, 216 pounds.
Most recruiting sites list Spalding as a three-star recruit. It’s kind of shocking that he is a three-star and not a four-star prospect because of his long list of offers. He had nearly a dozen offers from Division I schools and narrowed his choices down to the Mountaineers and Michigan. A huge recruiting win is securing a top-rated player against the likes of a college football legend in Michigan.
By Spalding picking WVU over Michigan, it paves the way for other star-studded recruits. It should give the Mountaineers hope that more bright young players will give the program a second look. West Virginia’s loyalty to Spalding proved to be worthwhile because Spalding showed that same loyalty back to the Mountaineers, according to Rivals.com. The site interviewed Spalding about his decision and the young man offered glowing remarks about West Virginia.
"“West Virginia felt the best for me, it’s not too far from home, and I have the best relationship with the staff. It’s just a great all-around place.“I love how they throw the ball a lot. That’s really important to me. I think they’ve done great this year. It didn’t end how they wanted it to but I think they’re on the rise for sure. I feel like I can definitely contribute since I’ve picked up some speed and I’m continuing to do that. They want me to play inside and outside to create mismatches."
Spalding talks about the Mountaineers in ways that should fire up the fanbase. There seems to be a growing sense of apathy for the Mountaineers and Coach Holgorsen. Following a seven-win regular season in 2017, expectations have dropped considerably. There were more games that West Virginia should have won, but the recent blowout loss to Oklahoma has knocked down the spirit of many fans.
But some victories on building a program are won off the field as opposed to on it. Even before Spalding committed to the Mountaineers, the team was considered in good shape in the recruiting ranks. According to 247sports, West Virginia is No. 23 in the nation in recruiting. It’s rare that the Mountaineers crack the top 25 in that category.
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The commitment of Spalding may even get the Mountaineers in the top 20. There are other players out there who could be future Mountaineers. Spalding’s glowing recommendation of the program and coaching staff should entice any top prospect to join the WVU football team.