West Virginia’s football program is grieving after learning that class of 2027 defensive line commit Chris Wilson Jr. was shot and killed in Muncie, Indiana.
Rich Rodriguez addressed the loss in a statement Monday afternoon, then spent part of his radio show that night talking about Wilson and the impact he had on the people around him. Rodriguez said he was first informed early Monday morning and remembered Wilson as a young man who made a strong impression during his official visit.
"I got called about 5 a.m. this morning. (Defensive Line ) Coach Deke (Adams), who got called from Chris' dad and didn't know the details at the time but a great young man.
A great family. You remember the official visits because you spend two or three days with them, and you remember little bits and pieces of your conversations, but they laughed the whole time.
They had the time of their life on the weekend. Chris was a guy we were really high on.
Had a good personality, was fun to be around, and he had a lot of offers and stuff like that. But I'm not even thinking about the football aspect now.
I mean, his family and everybody that knows him and his school, he's really popular; everyone's heartbroken.
Rodriguez said he didn’t know the full details and didn’t want to speculate, but he called the news of a 17-year-old’s death “really crazy” and said the program is thinking about Wilson’s family. He added that Mountaineer Nation is behind them and that his staff is trying to reach out and help however it can.
"I don't know the details, so I can't comment on it, but it's really crazy a 17-year-old guy- something like that would happen right there in the prime of his life," Rodriguez continued. "I know his family knows all of Mountaineer Nation is behind them and thinking about them at this time.
My whole staff is trying to do what we can to reach out to them. He has great support people at the high school there, and we're going to do whatever we can to help the family."
Deke Adams also shared a message on X after Wilson’s death, writing, "RIP Chris! It was my pleasure recruiting and getting to know you!
You will be greatly missed! Wonderful young man, gone too soon!
🥲 #SpecialKid"
West Virginia’s coaches and supporters are mourning alongside Wilson’s family, friends and the Yorktown community. The hope is that the school can offer support in whatever ways it is allowed and find a way to recognize Wilson during this weekend’s home game against the Arizona Wildcats.
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