MORGANTOWN -
Daryl Worley went
into West Virginia defensive coordinator Joe DeForest's office Monday as one of
the team's top prospects and he left as its newest commit.
A Philadelphia
native, Worley wanted to see Morgantown and the WVU facilities before he made
his decision and after arriving on campus Sunday afternoon, he got the chance
to do just that.
He spoke with the
coaching staff and some of the current Mountaineers who were still in town
working out and came away with the impression he hoped he would get from WVU.
On Monday, just
before he left town to return home, he spoke with DeForest and let him know
that his mind was made up, and the Mountaineers were his choice.
"At the end of
that meeting, I told him and then we walked out into the lobby and the rest of
the coaching staff was standing right there," says Worley. "I shook Coach
Holgorsen's hand and then everyone knew."
While he was on
campus, Worley got to chat with WVU running back Dustin Garrison and though the
conversation was brief, he learned plenty from the sophomore rusher about what
it is like to wear the team colors and represent the state.
Before his first
few hours on campus had ended, he felt like he belonged.
"They keep
everyone close and they treat everyone like a family," says Worley. "That's
really good to see and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Worley says in
speaking with DeForest, he knows that his athletic abilities could be used in a
number of different ways for the Mountaineers. DeForest, who coaches safeties,
mentioned both free and strong safety in addition to the "star" linebacker role.
When Worley,
listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, met the offensive staff, they wanted a piece of
him, too. He mentions wide or inside receiver as possibilities, too, but says
regardless of his full time position, he intends to be a real threat returning
kicks.
"After sitting
down with DeForest and he basically ran me through how they run their defense
and the role that I could play, I felt like that could be me out there on the
field," he says.
The reasons
Worley chose to commit Monday went beyond what he heard from coaches and what
he felt he could accomplish on the field, though. Morgantown itself is what he
believes ultimately led to him feeling like it was time to pull the trigger and
pledge to the Mountaineers.
"It's a quiet
place. You can't really get in trouble there if you're doing what you're
supposed to be doing as a football player. As long as I'm paying attention to
why I came here, I'll be good," he says.
Worley, a 3-star
prospect, is looking forward to seeing how his future teammates play in their
first season in a new conference. As someone who is accustomed to east coast
talent, playing for William Penn Charter School, the difference in geography and
mentality is appealing.
"I love the Big
12," says Worley. "It's such a great conference and you're playing those down
south teams that just love the game of football. It's football at its best."
With plenty of
goals remaining for himself and his team as his senior season approaches,
Worley will have an eye on the Mountaineers, as well.
"I'm already a
part of the family here," he says, "so I'm just going to treat it like it's
home."
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