The Mountaineers were one of the first schools to start recruiting Lorton (Va.) South County wide receiver Dillon Spalding and it has paid off. He picked West Virginia over Michigan on Monday night.

IN HIS OWN WORDS...

"West Virginia felt the best for me, it’s not too far from home, and I have the best relationship with the staff," Spalding said. "It’s just a great all-around place.

"Coach Dews, the running backs coach, is my area recruiter and I talk to him the most," he said. "He’s actually from where I’m from. He went to high school about five miles down the road. He’s told me about how badly they need receivers and that, if I come in ready my freshman year, I’ll be on the field. That’s really big for me.

"I love how they throw the ball a lot," said Spalding. "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.

"I know there is a great group of guys commitment and I feel like we’re one of the best recruiting classes in the nation," he said. "I’m really excited to play with and work with them for the next few years."

RIVALS' REACTION

The addition of Spalding to the West Virginia wide receiver corps gives the Mountaineers another sure-handed receiver that can make the tough catches over the middle and does a good job of moves the chains. Spalding isn't a burner but West Virginia already has a lot of speed on their roster. West Virginia getting Spalding also shows that the Mountaineers can still recruit the state of Virginia.