Sunday, February 3, 2013
Brother of WVU QB takes in junior day
By Jared Shanker
As the younger brother of a 2013 West Virginia early enrollee, Justice Rawlins (Monessen, Pa./Monessen) already knows a lot about the Mountaineers program. This weekend was the first time he was able to experience it on his own, though.
Rawlins, whose brother is quarterback Chavas Rawlins, said the focus was on him this weekend instead of Chavas.
“Most of the other visits I went with him and it was for him and I was just there,” Rawlins said. “This visit was for me. It was just for me.”
At the junior day, Rawlins had an opportunity to speak with a few of the coaches. He spoke with former recruiter Steve Dunlap and was introduced to assistant Tony Gibson, who might take over his recruitment. Gibson will recruit a number of prospects out of Western Pennsylvania.
Already with offers from Akron, Pittsburgh and Rutgers, Rawlins said he is not favoring West Virginia despite his brother signing with the Mountaineers.
“I’d view them as if they’re any other school,” he said. “There’s no front runner right now.”
Rawlins added those offers before his junior season, even though he was coming back from a torn ACL his sophomore season. He came back even stronger as a junior, registering nine sacks. As a freshman, he finished the season with just two.
“I rushed the quarterback a lot better and got off blocks better from being in the weight room,” Rawlins said.
This offseason, Rawlins is working on his film study and pass-coverage skills.
Rawlins said Cincinnati, Duke, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia are among the schools interested in the 6-foot-1, 232-pound Rawlins.
