Harley names favorite, talks visits

The leader to land Georgia Military College linebacker LeGrande Harley is set. For now, anyway.

As things stand, West Virginia is king of the hill as it relates to the three-star prospect's recruitment. He's seen the faculties and knows the coaching staff. There's a certain level of familiarity in place. It's the reason he has no trouble saying the Mountaineers are out in front.

"They're kind of the leader," Harley said. "It's everything about them. We played a game down there. Everything was really cool. I like the coaching staff. We have a few players from here down there. They tell me that the coaches treat them well and everything is great. They're like family down there. I really like it. I think I fit in with it."

His only in-season visit will be to Oregon State on Oct. 26. Following the season, the travel will intensify.

"I know I'm going to USF in January," Harley said. "I go to Oklahoma State in December. I go to Memphis in December. That's all I know for right now."

Despite trailing West Virginia, Oklahoma State has its appeal. Harley has never seen the campus or met the coaching staff face-to-face, but if any program has the ability to knock the Mountaineers from their perch following a campus visit, it's the Pokes.

Mike Gundy and company have a tie to Harley the likes of which no other program can match. When Oklahoma hired Eric Henderson as a graduate assistant in the offseason, it opened the door to Harley.

"I have a coach there, Coach Henderson, at Oklahoma State," Harley said. "He coached me last year. I'm looking for a family atmosphere, and coach Henderson is already family to me. He really cares about me and cares about Oklahoma State. I just want to see the place, you know?"

For now, though, Oregon State is the more pressing issue. Harley's trip to Corvallis is approaching, and the linebacker says he'll tour the school with an open mind. He really has no choice. As of now, he knows little about what he's traveling to see.

"I've been talking to Oregon State a lot, but I really can't say too much because I really don't know about them," he said. "The coaches seem to really care about the program. They just want me to get up there so I can see a little more."

As of now, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Harley holds a total of nine scholarship offers. He won't enroll in the school of his choice until after spring practice but plans to announce his decision on Jan. 7.