WVU Targets 2027 4-Star Edge Rusher from Maryland

New Mountaineers coach focuses on recruiting top pass rush talent.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:47am

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The West Virginia University football staff has extended an offer to Rion Jackson, a highly-touted 2027 edge rusher prospect from Annapolis High School in Maryland. Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound four-star recruit, has also received offers from several other major college programs.

Why it matters

WVU has made improving its pass rush a priority in recent recruiting cycles, and landing a top edge rusher like Jackson would be a major boost for the Mountaineers' defensive efforts in the coming years.

The details

Jackson was directly recruited by new WVU assistant coach Larry Knight, who was hired this offseason to work with the team's edge rushers and specialize in the pass rush. In addition to the Mountaineers offer, Jackson has also received scholarship offers from schools like Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Auburn, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Notre Dame.

  • On January 27, 2026, Rion Jackson revealed that he had received a scholarship offer from West Virginia University.

The players

Rion Jackson

A 2027 edge rusher prospect from Annapolis High School in Maryland, Jackson is ranked as a four-star recruit by Rivals and a three-star by 247 Sports.

Larry Knight

The new West Virginia University assistant coach, hired this offseason to work with the team's edge rushers and specialize in the pass rush.

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What they’re saying

“To continue their focus on recruiting for the pass rush lately, the WVU football staff sent an offer to a top prospect in a neighboring state.”

— Mike Asti, Author (wvsportsnow.com)

What’s next

Jackson will likely continue to weigh his numerous scholarship offers from top college football programs over the next year as he decides where to continue his academic and athletic career.

The takeaway

WVU's aggressive pursuit of Rion Jackson, a highly-touted 2027 edge rusher, demonstrates the program's commitment to upgrading its pass rush capabilities through recruiting top talent from the region.