West Virginia Football: Top 5 recruiting targets for 2019 National Signing Day

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 01: Darius Stills #56 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts after a play against the Tennessee Volunteers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 01: Darius Stills #56 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts after a play against the Tennessee Volunteers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Collin Duncan, Cornerback

Everybody knows the Big 12 is a pass-heavy league. And in a conference where teams enjoy airing it out 40 times a game, you can never have too many defensive backs – especially if the group is an inexperienced one.

The Mountaineers’ secondary was that inexperienced unit in 2018, and a number of players got reps throughout the season, but a commitment from Collin Duncan could give the ‘Eers another viable option on the back end in 2019 and beyond.

Duncan, a 6-foot, 3-star prospect from Montgomery, AL is a known commodity to new WVU head coach Neal Brown and his staff. Al Pogue, who followed Brown to WVU after coaching the cornerbacks at Troy since 2015, has been Duncan’s primary recruiter throughout the process. It makes sense, though, as both Duncan and Pogue are Alabama natives.

Including West Virginia, 11 schools offered Duncan a scholarship. Only a few pose a real threat to the Mountaineers, though: Mississippi State, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Tar Heels are West Virginia’s biggest threat in my opinion, as former NFL star Dre Bly joined Mack Brown’s UNC staff and recruited Duncan. That type of star power might be enough to sway an 18-year-old kid.