3-star Kentucky EDGE target Makai Byerson commits to West Virginia

Kentucky football already has two EDGE recruits committed to the class of 2024, but missed out on the chance to add a third.

On Friday afternoon, three-star rising senior Makai Byerson announced his commitment to the West Virginia Mountaineers. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound product out of Richmond (VA) Manchester was down to a group of finalists that included WVU, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, and Rutgers. Byerson officially visited all four schools throughout the month of June, but ultimately elected to choose the program that his father attended years ago.

“I made the decision on West Virginia the weekend after my official visit,” Byerson told On3’s Chad Simmons. “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 tough, one of the hardest decisions in my life, but I feel good about it. I rocked with everyone at West Virginia.”

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Byerson is considered the No. 736 overall prospect in the country. Kentucky has 10 class of 2024 commitments at this point, including a pair of three-star EDGE recruits in Caleb Redd and Antwan Smith.

🚨BREAKING🚨 2024 EDGE Makai Byerson has committed to West Virginia🏔

More from @ChadSimmons_: https://t.co/d0YqD6aHWN pic.twitter.com/aEKDAiMdDs

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 30, 2023

Just a couple of weeks ago, Byerson told KSR that Kentucky was “definitely 1A, 1B right now” and that he could see himself suiting up for the Wildcats one day. He took his official visit to Lexington the weekend of June 16 and was even in town for Junior Day back in January. That being said, family ties helped lead him to Morgantown. Byerson’s father, Brad, played for the West Virginia men’s basketball team in the mid-2000s.

Byerson is the second Kentucky target to commit elsewhere on Friday, joining four-star DL Dominic Kirks who landed with Washington. But the UK coaching staff has other EDGE targets in mind. In particular, four-star Brian Robinson is the one to keep an eye on, along with three-star Amontrae Bradford.