Much of WVU’s recent success in recruiting can be attributed to the nationwide connections belonging to the coaching staff, which have landed them players from Hawaii to the Mountain State and many points in between. Once again the coaches' wide network has helped them on the trail, this time in their efforts to bolster the defensive line.

David Mahoney, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound junior college defensive lineman from Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.,  is being pursued largely by regional Pac-10 programs, but West Virginia has found itself on a list of suitors that includes on Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Washington State, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas Tech  and Nebraska.

“We called them up and told them about him,” said Pierce College coach Ephraim Martinez. “One of our coaches knows someone on their staff. He’s the type of big, highly recruiting defensive linemen that everyone wants.”

Martinez said WVU recruiting coordinator Doc Holliday has been the point man in the recruitment of Mahoney, who is taking an official visit to Morgantown next weekend after a previous official to Tennessee earlier this fall. He’s already scheduled another, to Texas Tech, the following weekend, and Martinez said he plans to some or all of Arizona, Arizona State, Washington State and Florida International.

“He’s probably going to take a while to commit, but he could just say I’m tired, I found the right place and I’m going to commit,” Martinez said.

It’s easy to see why Mahoney is highly sought. Despite his massive size, he runs the 100-meter dash in the 11.4-second range and clocks a 4.7-second 40-yard dash.

“That’s really fast for a guy his size,” Martinez said of Mahoney, who has recorded 37 tackles and eight sacks as a sophomore at Pierce College. “He’s plays defensive end for us but he’ll be a defensive tackle in college. He’s half [pass-rusher] and half [run-stopper].”

Mahoney will have two years of eligibility remaining after this season. He enrolled in junior college after narrowly falling short of NCAA eligibility requirements. Unlike some junior college prospects, Martinez said, there are no other, off-field issues.

“He’s solid off of the field, a great guy, no issues. So that makes him an even better commodity. You’ve got to love kids who make you’re program look good. I feel bad for coach Kiffin at Tennessee” because of the recent arrests of three UT players after an alleged robbery.

Mahoney is no the first Pierce College player recruited by WVU; cornerback Chaz Russell committed to the ‘Eers in 2008.

“They do a great job. They’re great people and they do everything the right way,” Martinez said. “They’re guys of integrity, so I trust them with my players.”

Stay tuned for more on David Mahoney, as well as everything else WVU sports and recruiting related…

Discuss it on the EerSports.com recruiting forum!