Top QB makes a sudden decision
West Virginia got a huge jump start on their 2009 recruiting class today hauling in two of the top prospects on the East Coast. One of them is an elite quarterback who committed to the Mountaineers over offers from Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College and others.
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"At first I wasn't going to commit, but it felt right and I talked to my dad," Hampton (Va.) Phoebus quarterback Tajh Boyd said. "He said go ahead and do it. Everything fit and it was the best opportunity for me.
"I just left, but I told Coach Stewart. He was ecstatic. He got up and all the coaches came in. I told them I'm committed and he gave me a kiss on the forehead, he was hyped. It was crazy."
Boyd discussed what made him select the Mountaineers over numerous other colleges.
"I just felt really comfortable with the coaches, everything felt right," he said. "It's a great opportunity with Pat White and Jarrett Brown. I should be able to jump in right after them and play my redshirt freshman or sophomore year. Everything felt right. Plus, they have good character people like Pat White and Steve Slaton. I think I fit that and it's a good atmosphere."
Although nobody knows the new West Virginia offense that is coming, Boyd is excited about what he's seen.
"Coach Jeff Mullen came from Wake Forest this year and probably will run the same offense this year to not change things for Pat White," he said. "After that they are going to throw more. They are going to throw 60% and run 40%. That's a big thing for me.
"I also like Coach Beatty. He's from Northern Illinois and he was kind of a factor since I've known him since my ninth grade year, but all the coaches are. They are very sincere. I talk to Coach Mullen all the time, calling him, we're best friends. I also like that I was the No. 1 quarterback on their board. They are not bringing in any other quarterbacks this year."
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is relieved to get a decision behind him.
"I kind of wanted to get it done, not going into the summer leading people on," he said. "I liked everything and the state revolves around the football team. They won the Big East four of the last five years and hopefully we can keep it going."
Will Boyd enroll early?
"Probably I'll enroll on-time," he said. "I'm going to see if I can do it early since I'm not taking that many classes."
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