OL commits to West Virginia

The West Virginia Mountaineers just got a little deeper along the offensive line for the 2004 season and beyond.

"I committed to West Virginia this weekend, right after they offered me," said Pittsburgh (Pa.) Baldwin offensive lineman Ben Iannacchione. "I called coach Gibson to see how their rising senior camp went because I was not able to make it, and he told me that they talked about it and were ready to offer me."

Iannacchione also had offers from South Carolina, Cincinnati and Toledo, but knew that West Virginia was special.

"I knew that West Virginia was the place that I wanted to go. When I went down there to visit on their junior day I really liked what I saw," the 6-foot-4, 283-pounder said. "It's a beautiful campus with great facilities and excellent coaches."

The coaching staff played a big part in the lineman's decision.

"I got a chance to work with coach Trickett when I went there for a day of camp, and he really seemed to know a lot about offensive line, and I just really liked his coaching style. Coach Rodriguez is a great head coach, and my recruiting coordinator, coach Gibson, is also a really great guy."

Iannacchione also wanted to stay local, something West Virginia is perfect for.

"I knew I wanted to stay somewhere close to home and West Virginia is only about an hour from my house so the location was perfect. I also got to meet another one of their offensive line committments, John Bradshaw, and I'm really excited to play with him because he looked like a really good player. I'm very excited to be a Mountaineer."