Capital High football coach Jon Carpenter struggled with a sinus infection on Thursday.
In fact, he had to see a doctor. Yet don't sell him short. He can still smell a Division I recruit a mile away.
What's nice for him? He doesn't have to go a mile to find one. Or a half mile. They are in the Capital High halls and on his team.
More and more we are seeing West Virginians receiving nice offers. Maybe it's the out-of-season practice or better weight training. Whatever the case, we are not only seeing Division I recruits, but high Division I recruits. We're talking Big 12, Power 5 conference recruits.
Many you know about. Carpenter has two in linebacker Dorian Etheridge and WVU commitment Tyrhee Pratt. The former may be one of the hottest recruits in the state.
"Virginia Tech offered Dorian in June," said the coach. "They took him in Coach [Frank] Beamer's office and offered. ... He's been down there in June and July and he's going Monday."
WVU was the first to offer the 2016 recruit. Both coach Dana Holgorsen and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson were in on that offer, according to Carpenter. Marshall jumped in. The coach said Thundering Herd tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Todd Goebbel has been in charge there. Charlotte has also offered.
"Dorian has always been good tackling and running sideline to sideline," Carpenter said. "Now he's someone you also don't want to run right at."
The state's hottest recruit, of course, is South Charleston linebacker/receiver Derrek Pitts. Pitts received an offer from Auburn on Feb. 23 and he now has a stack he can't see over. WVU, Clemson, Louisville, Marshall, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Pitt, Tennessee ... you get the drift.
Etheridge might be second on the heat index. And after that? Get ready for an inferno.
Dante's inferno.
Not many know, but Fairmont Senior defensive end Dante Stills has received an offer from WVU. He's maybe 15 years of age.
"Tony Gibson offered him," said Polar Bears coach J.L. Abbott. "He's just a sophomore, but he's already got the size. He's 6-4, 260 pounds, athletic and is going to grow into that body.
"He runs well, he bends his knees well and, like I say, he's just a sophomore. Coaches see his size and athleticism."
Actually, folks in the Mountain State have seen that size and athleticism before. That's because Stills' father is former Mountaineer and NFL standout Gary Stills. The father lives in Kansas City, where he was drafted in 1999. He spent seven seasons with the Chiefs before joining the Baltimore Ravens and St. Louis Rams. He retired in 2008. But he visits Fairmont to see sons Dante and Darius line up for the Polar Bears and will be there this weekend for the North Marion game. (While Dante is a defensive end and right tackle, the older Darius, 6-1, 265, is a center.)
Next on the current heat index is probably 6-5 Cabell Midland defensive end Reese Donahue, who committed to WVU and turned down Purdue and Cornell. Morgantown High's Mav Wolfley, a 2017 recruit, would be smoking hot if he didn't take his feet out of the fire as a freshman. The projected inside linebacker could have named his school, but chose to follow his brother Stone and father Dale. The latter not only played at WVU, but works there now.
Then there are Bridgeport's Dylan Tonkery and Capital's Pratt, both WVU commits.
Some argue about Pratt, but I've always been a fan. And get this: Carpenter said Pratt not only took his feet out of the fire early, but he won't go near a spark.
"Charlotte has also offered," Carpenter said. "But Tyrhee won't go to any camps. Everyone in the world has invited him. Most kids want to go and see. But he won't go. He's in love with WVU and I think he feels he'd be cheating on his home state if he goes."
Call it a burnin' love. To wrap up the heat index.