MORGANTOWN -
Schyler Miles is packing up a bag for a weekend on the
campus of West Virginia University that could go a long way in determining
which football program he signs with in February.
Miles, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, is no stranger to
Morgantown, having taken an unofficial visit on his own over the summer. He
believes he got a good idea of what to expect from WVU in that brief trip and
he's hopeful what he experiences Friday and Saturday will reaffirm those
beliefs.
"I'm hoping to have that same feeling this time around,"
says Miles. "I want to have a good relationship with the coaches when I'm there
and take everything in and get the full view of everything."
The Tampa, Fla. native knows at least one thing will be
different, and that's the defensive coaching staff. Miles' lead recruiter was
David Lockwood, who will be introduced as a member of the University of
Arizona's staff on Friday.
Lockwood set up Miles' official visit prior to leaving the
Mountaineers, but no other coach has really stepped in to take over the reigns
on his recruitment. Still, Miles remains high on WVU because of many other
factors, which don't focus on a departed secondary coach.
"Coaches are going to come and go, so you have to deal with
that and you really can't pick the school because of that," says Miles. "You
have to pick the school because of how you feel about it. Coaching changes
happen, so I'm not too worried about that."
Miles says he hasn't heard too much about the coaches West
Virginia hopes to bring in to replace the three assistants heading west, but
he's anxious to find out who they'll be. As much as he's determined not to let
a coach determine his college decision, he'd like to know who he's going to be
playing for were he to choose the Mountaineers.
"Definitely. I want to get familiar with whoever it's going
to be as soon as possible and see what they have going on and if I like them or
not," he says.
Getting to know and to like coaches on the WVU staff hasn't
been an issue for Miles thus far, and in fact, it's a major reason why the
Mountaineers are currently in his top three schools along with Florida and
Kansas.
"I like the fact that they moved to the Big 12 and they've
got a great program and a great coach in Coach [Dana] Holgorsen," says Miles.
"I really like him as a coach and when I was there in the summer I enjoyed
speaking with him. Chemistry is a big thing with coaches and I had great
chemistry with all the coaches."
Another factor that has Miles leaning in Morgantown's
direction is the possibility of early playing time. He really doesn't need to
look any further than Jared Barber – a freshman linebacker who started for much
of this past season – to know that West Virginia has no reservations about
getting rookies on the field early.
Knowing he could get on the field in year one if he works
hard and proves himself worthy makes the Mountaineers even more attractive to
the Berkeley Prep senior.
"My aggressiveness and instincts for the football, I feel
like I can fit in very well with the team with what I do and what I bring to
the table. I'm just a football player, really, I'm looking to play and to make
plays," he says.
When Miles return to Tampa on Sunday, he may have all the
resources he needs to make his commitment. He isn't setting a limit on his
decision, but he knows February's signing day is quickly approaching.
Many college recruiters will tell you the last campus a
prospect sees is generally the one that leaves the best impression, and Miles'
trip to WVU just happens to be his last scheduled official visit.
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