Tennessee DL Transfers to West Virginia

Late last night, the West Virginia Mountaineers got a big boost to their defensive line when Tennessee Volunteers grad transfer Darel Middleton announced he has committed to the Mountaineers. Middleton will be a redshirt senior and will have one year of eligibility remaining. He is expected to arrive on campus next week.

Middleton announced his decision via Twitter and teased his SEC counterparts Ole Miss, both with the video background and in the video itself as he flashed the Ole Miss logo before cutting to the Flying WV.

The 6’-7, 305 pound defensive tackle was ranked as a composite 3-star recruit when he joined the Volunteers in 2019 as a JUCO transfer from East Mississippi Community College, who he helped lead to a 2018 national championship. He was ranked as the #4 defensive tackle as a JUCO. 247 National Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins said this -

One of the top prospects in the JUCO ranks and it’s easy to see why. Jumps off the screen on tape and has a rare combination of size, length, quickness and power. Has a strong, athletic 6-6 frame and looks lean but is all of 285 pounds. Shows the positional versatility to play tackle or end and could fit in any type of scheme. First step quickness is exceptional, can beat a guard or center before they get out of their stance, has the power to toss a lineman aside and the speed to run down plays from behind. Once he gets in to a real college weight program and adds even more strength, his game will rise to another level. If he stays hungry and motivated, there is no reason why he can’t be an instant impact upper tier Power 5 starter and early-mid round NFL draft pick.