4-star WR DayDay Farmer flips to West Virginia from UCF: ‘They showed loyalty to me’

Melbourne (Fla.) Melbourne Central Catholic four-star wide receiver DayDay Farmer announced his commitment to Pittsburgh last Christmas before flipping to UCF on Aug. 1. Despite those decisions, West Virginia never gave up in its pursuit of the 5-foot-11, 160-pound wideout. 

The Mountaineers made sure to stay in contact with him throughout his recruitment and make it clear that he was seen as a priority in Morgantown. That effort paid off for head coach Neal Brown and his staff as Farmer flipped to West Virginia from UCF on National Signing Day. 

“I started thinking about flipping to West Virginia after the season,” Farmer told On3. “They did a great job with their freshmen wide receivers. The coaches didn’t care what year they were in. They threw the best group out there on the field and that’s the best opportunity for me.”

Farmer has been recruited by the Mountaineers since his freshman year, when the program became the second overall school to offer him. The No. 48 player in Florida eventually made his first trip to West Virginia for an official visit last June. 

According to Farmer, the Mountaineers’ pass-first offense and opportunities to play early were key roles in his decision. For example, a freshman – former four-star Traylon Ray – was West Virginia’s fifth-leading receiver this season with 15 receptions for 230 yards and two touchdowns. 

Farmer is excited to play for the coaches at West Virginia

Farmer also developed strong connections with the coaching staff. The four-star, who made the “very tough” choice to flip to West Virginia over the weekend, plans to enroll this summer. 

“They showed loyalty to me,” said Farmer, the No. 397 overall prospect and No. 65 wide receiver in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking. “They really did their job, a good job of keeping in contact with me and not caring about my connection to other schools.”

Multiple West Virginia staffers have recruited Farmer throughout his high school career, including offensive coordinator/running backs coach Chad Scott and wide receivers coach Bilal Marshall. Farmer complimented Marshall’s relatable nature and called him “very honest and trustworthy.”

Meanwhile, Farmer was also impressed by Brown, who has been leading the Mountaineers since 2019. In its fifth year under Brown, West Virginia went 8-4 in the regular season – the best campaign of his tenure – and will take on North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl later this month. 

“He’s a really cool guy and really relatable too,” Farmer said about West Virginia’s head man. “He vibes really good with the players and is real with his players too.”