BREAKING NEWS: West Virginia Mountaineers Land 5-Star Talent from Florida Gators Following Concerns Over Player’s Fit in Gainesville
Morgantown, WV — June 21, 2025
In a stunning offseason twist that’s sending shockwaves through the college football world, the West Virginia Mountaineers have officially landed 5-star linebacker phenom Jahlil “The Blur” Matthews, a former Florida Gators commit, in one of the most high-profile transfers of the year.
The Florida native, widely considered the No. 2 linebacker in the 2025 class, had originally pledged to Billy Napier’s Gators amid intense SEC interest. But sources close to the situation reveal growing internal concerns in Gainesville regarding Matthews’ fit within Florida’s evolving defensive scheme—particularly around his preference for hybrid playmaking freedom, which reportedly clashed with the Gators’ push toward a more rigid, zone-based structure.
Following weeks of speculation and private workouts, Matthews quietly entered the NCAA transfer portal on Monday and was spotted in Morgantown just two days later. By Friday morning, WVU head coach Neal Brown had made it official with a blockbuster post on X (formerly Twitter):
“Country Roads just got a whole lot faster. Welcome to Mountaineer Nation, Jahlil Matthews. Let’s build something legendary. #TakeMeHome #WVUFootball”
WVU’s recruiting team, led by Director of Player Personnel Trey Fields, reportedly worked around the clock to secure the commitment. Fields cited Matthews’ “explosive sideline-to-sideline speed, high football IQ, and unmatched instinct” as game-changing attributes for a defense that’s already on the rise in the Big 12.
Matthews brings elite-level experience and a chip on his shoulder to a WVU program hungry to break through the national spotlight. In his senior year at IMG Academy, Matthews posted 117 tackles, 5 forced fumbles, and 4 pick-sixes, earning comparisons to NFL star Roquan Smith.
“I didn’t feel like I could be me at Florida,” Matthews told WVU Sports Network in an exclusive sit-down. “WVU gives me the freedom to hunt. I’m ready to eat.”
With Matthews now in Morgantown, the Mountaineers just vaulted into Top 15 territory in several preseason rankings—and the college football world is officially on notice.
