Get To Know WVU Prospect Kwantel Raines

Kwantel Raines - Safety - Aliquippa High School (Aliquippa, PA)

Kwantel Raines, an ESPN300 prospect out of Aliquippa, PA, listed his top 15 schools and West Virginia made the cut including a host of other Power 5 schools from around the area and nationally. Kwantel, who is listed as a safety and quarterback, is a four-star player, is listed at 6’-3 and 200 pounds. He has two special connections to West Virginia.

The first is this tweet from Raines yesterday. West Virginia identified Raines early in the process and offered him as soon as they could. This is typical of the staff who knows that they are competing with a multitude of schools and in order to reel in the top players they have to offer them early. For certain players, they never forget the first suitor.

The second is Raines cousin, junior Dravon Askew-Henry. Henry, a four-star prospect in his own high school days, has been telling Raines all about West Virginia and the way head coach Dana Holgorsen is true to his word.

"We're real close. I've known Dravon since I was little," Raines said. "He was telling about how they do things down there, how fun their practices are and how the coaches are true to their word. I want to see their facilities. I want to see how they coach their players and I want to talk to them about their academics." - Brian Dohn, Scout.com

As a safety, Raines appears to blend the ball skils of Dravon with the ferociousness of former first rounder Karl Joseph. Check out his highlights of his hits. Raines plays the ball well and displays good closing speed when attacking players with the ball.

Despite listing multiple top programs in his top 15 schools, the Aliquippa native is expected to be choosing between the two Pennsylvania schools (Pitt and Penn State) and the good guys of Morgantown. Raines has not said when he plans to make a decision.