LB Daiveon Taylor is commit No. 1 for West Virginia in the 2026 cycle

Pittsburgh (Pa.) Aliquippa 2026 linebacker Daiveon Taylor committed to West Virginia on Saturday morning while in Morgantown for the Mountaineers spring game.

The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Taylor chose to play for head coach Neal Brown and his staff over other early offers from Penn State, Pittsburgh and Syracuse among others.

“The coaching staff mainly,” Taylor said of what he loved about West Virginia. “Coach (Jeff) Koonz we hit it off really good from the first time we met and our relationship has just improved over time. 

“I also love how they use their linebackers and I like the plan he has in mind for me I feel like that’s where I fit in at.”

The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Taylor is the first to commit for Brown and the staff in 2026.

“I feel like I found my fit and I want to just focus on football and getting better and graduating early so I can play spring ball and try to get on the field as a freshman,” Taylor said.

Taylor ranks as On3’s No. 36 linebacker in the country and as he said, he sees the vision they have for him on the field.

“They way they used Ben Cutter and how they will use Josiah (Trotter) this year and how Coach Koonz puts trust in freshmen to go play,” Taylor said. “That’s most important to me having a real opportunity to play early.”

Taylor is the second commit for Brown and his staff of the day as tight end Jackson Accuardi added to the 2025 class.