Three-star EDGE Makai Byerson commits to West Virginia: 'I rocked with everyone there'

Richmond (Va.) Manchester three-star EDGE Makai Byerson came down to three schools as he was making his commitment decision: West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Kentucky.

He officially visited the Mountaineers the first weekend in June, and at that point believed he wanted to go to WVU. Virginia Tech and Kentucky both gave him something to think about in the past few weeks, but his gut feeling was that Morgantown was his home. On Friday, he publicly announced for Neal Brown and the Mountaineers.

“I made the decision on West Virginia the weekend after my official visit,” he told On3. “It got a little rocky after Kentucky and Virginia Tech visits because I liked those schools too, but I wanted to stick with my first feeling. It was was tough, one of the hardest decisions in my life, but I feel good about it. I rocked with everyone at West Virginia.”

West Virginia had a unique feeling no other school had

Even after Byerson visited the Wildcats and Hokies, his mind just kept coming back to West Virginia. Not only did they have the on-field attributes he was looking for, but the education and life after football also fit him perfectly.

“The feeling for West Virginia is different, I can’t even explain it. It felt like home right away. The overall feeling about the program and the people in the building is different for me there. They put a big emphasis on life after football — they have a plan for student-athletes and it is perfect.

… Then on the football side, the defense is very versatile. Coach Jackson runs a great defense for me. They move their players anywhere on the line, and I love that.”

Defensive line coach Andrew Jackson led the way in his recruitment, and the two have connected both on and off the field.

“He’s a cool guy,” Makai Byerson said. “He was my recruiter and he kept it real at all times. We talked ball a lot, and we have similar football IQs and love the game. We see it very similarly. He is a guy who can mentor me, and I like that a lot.”

Byerson’s is a West Virginia legacy. His father, Brad Byerson, played basketball for the Mountaineers.