The state of West Virginia's top high school receiver has committed to the state's flagship institution, becoming the 21st player in the Mountaineers' recruiting class of 2026.
Malachi Thompson, the Randy Moss Award winner as the top prep wide receiver in West Virginia in 2024, announced his choice of WVU as his college destination on Sunday evening. He is a two-time first-team all-state selection who has piled up 2,857 yards and 31 scores on 131 catches over the past two seasons at Nitro High School, including 74 caches for 1,593 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior.
Previously, Thompson played at Sissonville High School as a freshman.
The big numbers hadn't translated to top-level offers yet, but West Virginia was the first into the pool with a Power Four scholarship tender, which Thompson was quick to accept. He also had offers from Marshall, Toledo, Akron, Ohio, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Youngstown State, Temple and Eastern Kentucky.
Thompson has a number of attributes that will help him in his quest to make his mark on WVU's receiving corps of the future. His large catch radius and frame allow to him make grabs that beat good coverage, and his diligent route-running and attention to detail put him ahead of many others in comparisons of fundamentals.
Also notable is his footwork, which he uses to set up defenders with double moves, stutter and jab steps in order to obtain separation. He's not a flashy, first-step speed receiver, but when he hits top gear can eat up ground in the open field, and he also tracks the ball well in the air, showing the ability to catch it over either shoulder.
He also exhibits good fundamentals on wide receiver screens, getting squared up to the quarterback early and looking the ball in before making the transition to a runner.
Thompson is the third wide receiver in the class, joining Robert Stith and Charlie Hanafin. All three have committed in the past week. He is the first West Virginian in the class.
