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West Virginia Football: 5 early signees who’ll have instant impact in 2019

By Phil Poling

LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 21: Wendell Smallwood #4 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates his 24-yard touchdown run with head coach Dana Holgorsen in the first quarter against Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 21: Wendell Smallwood #4 of the West Virginia Mountaineers celebrates his 24-yard touchdown run with head coach Dana Holgorsen in the first quarter against Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 02: Offensive line coach Joe Wickline of the Oklahoma State Cowboys talks with his players on the sideline against the Stanford Cardinal during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 2012 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 02: Offensive line coach Joe Wickline of the Oklahoma State Cowboys talks with his players on the sideline against the Stanford Cardinal during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 2012 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Donavan Beaver, Offensive Tackle

The Mountaineers will undoubtedly see some shuffling along the offensive line next season after one key departure from their 2018 roster: left tackle Yodny Cajuste is heading to the NFL. Colton McKivitz will be the leader of the bunch, but the Mountaineers will have some depth up front that they’ve lacked in recent years, and Donavan Beaver could play a big role in that.

RELATED: 10 best recruits joining the Big 12 in 2019

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound tackle is a three-star recruit from Fredericksburg, Va., and is a top 25 player from the state. He held offers from Florida, Louisville, Maryland, Pitt and Syracuse among others, but committed to the Mountaineers during the summer of 2018.

Offensive line coach Joe Wickline will have around a dozen lineman to construct the best unit, but like most football teams, there’ll be plenty of shuffling as the team works out the kinks. With over half of those lineman having game experience, though, Beaver’s 2019 outlook will likely be in a reserve role.

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