Keon Hutchins, one of the most electric junior college wide receivers in the country, is back on the open market. Less than a month after committing to West Virginia, Hutchins announced Sunday evening that he’s decommitted from the Mountaineers - a significant shake-up for WVU’s 2026 recruiting class.
This one stings for West Virginia. Hutchins isn’t just another JUCO prospect - he’s widely regarded as the No. 1 junior college wideout in the country, and when you watch him play, it’s not hard to see why.
The speed jumps off the screen. According to his own post on X, Hutchins has been clocked at a blistering 4.21 in the 40-yard dash.
That’s elite, game-breaking speed - the kind that can change the geometry of a defense.
At Northwest Mississippi Community College this season, Hutchins put that speed to good use. He caught 25 passes for 569 yards and six touchdowns - a stat line that speaks to both his big-play ability and his knack for finding the end zone.
He committed to West Virginia over a long list of suitors that included Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Liberty, Washington State, and several others. But now, his recruitment is wide open again.
As for why Hutchins decided to step back from his pledge to WVU, that remains unclear. What is clear is that West Virginia isn’t standing still.
The Mountaineers are still actively working the recruiting trail, especially at wide receiver. Word is, they’re targeting a couple of high school pass-catchers currently committed elsewhere, and there’s growing confidence that at least one of them could flip to Morgantown in the coming days.
Even without Hutchins, WVU’s 2026 receiver class remains solid. The group includes Robert Oliver, Malachi Thompson, Charlie Hanafin, Kedrick Triplett, and Landon Drumm.
Triplett, like Hutchins, is a junior college standout and is expected to officially sign with the Mountaineers this week. If that happens, it would be a major win for West Virginia’s staff, who appear to be leaning into the JUCO route to add experienced, ready-to-play talent without the hefty NIL price tag that often comes with transfer portal players.
Here’s a look at how the rest of the Mountaineers’ 2026 class is shaping up so far:
Quarterbacks: Jyron Hughley, Wyatt Brown
Running Backs: SirPaul Cheeks, Christopher Talley, Martavious Boswell
Wide Receivers: Robert Oliver, Malachi Thompson, Charlie Hanafin, Kedrick Triplett, Landon Drumm
Tight Ends: Sam Hamilton, Kade Bush
Offensive Linemen: Kevin Brown, Lamarcus Dillard, Rhett Morris, Camden Goforth, Aidan Woods
Edge Rushers: Noah Tishendorf, Carter Kessler, Kamdon Gillespie
Linebackers: Antoine Sharp, Miles Khatri, Cam Dwyer, Caleb Gordon
Cornerbacks: Vincent Smith, Simaj Hill, Makhi Boone
Safeties: Emory Snyder, Rickey Giles, Jayden Ballard
There’s still plenty of time before signing day, and as we’ve seen, recruiting in this era is fluid - especially with JUCO prospects and portal movement. But West Virginia is clearly building with intent, and even with Hutchins’ decommitment, the Mountaineers have laid a strong foundation.