By David Knox, Sports Editor
CLAY – Jalen Harvey is going to be a Mountaineer.
The former Clay-Chalkville All-State defensive lineman committed to play at West Virginia this week. Harvey is currently at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Miss.
Monday he posted on Twitter, “After sitting down and talking with my family. I’ve decided to commit to West Virginia.”
Mountaineer head coach Dana Holgorsen and assistant Joe Wickline visited with Harvey during WVU’s off week.
The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Harvey plans to enroll in December. He projects as an immediate contender for the nose tackle spot, where West Virginia will lose two seniors.
Harvey has eight tackles, two for loss, for the 4-0 Rangers, who are ranked No. 2 in the country in the latest NJCAA poll. Last year, when NW Mississippi went 11-1, Harvey racked up 40 tackles, seven for losses totaling 24 yards, 3.5 sacks for 18 yards, five quarterback hurries and two blocked kicks.
He said he is excited about the chance to play at West Virginia.
“Out of all the schools they are the best opportunity,” Harvey told Rivals.com. “I want to go somewhere I can win and play at,” he said. “I can’t wait to get there in the spring and get familiar with the system.”
West Virginia of the Big 12 is 3-0.
Harvey was a junior college teammate of Mountaineers running back Justin Crawford last season.
Harvey signed with Syracuse in 2014. He had committed first to South Alabama and then to Western Kentucky, but got a late offer from the Orange. After a redshirt season in the frigid North, he transferred to junior college in 2015. He signed with Chattanooga, but ended up staying at NW Mississippi for this season. He has two years of eligibility remaining after this year.
He still has offers pending from UTC, Georgia Southern and Middle Tennessee, but Harvey said, “It’s done. I’m coming to West Virginia and I’m excited to be a Mountaineer,” he told Rivals.