By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
West Virginia has secured a major addition to its defensive line ahead of the 2026 season.
JUCO standout Jaylen Thomas, a 6-foot-2, 313-pound force of nature from Northwest Mississippi Community College, has officially signed with the Mountaineers, bolstering an already aggressive front this recruiting cycle under head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Thomas, a Memphis native and Rivals three-star prospect, brings two seasons of eligibility to Morgantown. His commitment caps a whirlwind recruitment that saw him field offers from blue-blood programs like Tennessee and Arkansas, as well as Big 12 rivals Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Syracuse. Vanderbilt rounded out the list of high-major suitors, but it was the Mountaineers’ relentless pursuit that sealed the deal.
Over two seasons with the Rangers, Thomas proved he was more than just a body in the trenches. Appearing in 16 games, he tallied 25 total tackles, including 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. But his progression this past season is what turned heads league-wide. Named the MACCC North Division Defensive Player of the Year, Thomas anchored the front with 18 tackles, 2.5 TFLs.
