West Virginia scored one of the biggest victories of National Signing Day by flipping four-star running back Amari Latimer from Wisconsin. The Mountaineers, coming off a difficult 4-8 season in their first year back under head coach Rich Rodriguez, entered the offseason with a clear mandate to rebuild the roster. With 45 commitments already secured, West Virginia is aggressively reloading, and Latimer’s decision marks a significant milestone in that effort.
Latimer, a powerful 6-foot, 225-pound back from Georgia, had been committed to Wisconsin since June. Despite that pledge, several programs continued pursuing him throughout the fall. On Wednesday, Latimer informed On3 Sports recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett that he would flip his commitment to West Virginia. Fawcett later posted the announcement on social media, confirming the Mountaineers had pulled off the major recruiting upset.
The running back’s original commitment to Wisconsin was influenced heavily by family ties, as his brother is currently with the Badgers. Still, interest from other schools never faded. Programs such as Ohio State, Miami, and Tennessee pushed to remain in the race, while Georgia Tech and West Virginia emerged late as the most serious contenders. Ultimately, Rodriguez’s staff made the strongest impression during the final stretch before Signing Day.
Latimer is not the only high-profile prospect West Virginia managed to land. Former Penn State commit Matt Sieg, a four-star safety, also flipped to the Mountaineers. Their additions add to a class that already included interior offensive lineman Kevin Brown, a top-100 recruit and another former PSU commit. Brown, known for his fiery personality, literally set a couch ablaze to announce his commitment—an unconventional but fitting moment for West Virginia fans.
For Wisconsin, losing Latimer is a significant setback. He was the top-ranked prospect in the Badgers’ 2026 class, which has now tumbled outside the top 50 nationally. His departure underscores the increasing volatility of modern recruiting, where verbal commitments often remain fluid until the official paperwork is signed.
With the addition of Latimer and the continued momentum on the recruiting trail, West Virginia now boasts the largest recruiting class in the nation. Rodriguez’s rebuild is still in its early stages, but the Mountaineers’ aggressive approach has begun paying dividends. If these trends continue, the foundation for a competitive resurgence in Morgantown may already be taking shape.
