Rich Rodriguez secured his biggest score for the class of 2026, and one of the highest-rated recruits West Virginia has had in modern history.

Four-star offensive tackle Kevin Brown announced his commitment to the Mountaineers on “The Pat McAfee Show,” which makes him the fourth-highest rated recruit in WVU’s recent history. He surpassed receiver Ivan McCartney and sits just behind receiver Brandon Barrett. He’s the first top 10 recruit since offensive tackle Wyatt Milum in 2021.

Brown announced his commitment by holding up a WVU shirt on the show.

“It’s clear to me where I have to go,” Brown said. “I’m committing for the next three to four years, to the University of West Virginia, baby.”

After his commitment, Brown immediately ran outside and showed McAfee, who played at WVU, a couch, setting it on fire.

“I’m bringing couch burning back to Morgantown, baby,” Brown said. “Let’s do it. We’re bringing it back.”

Brown’s father, Tim Brown, played under Rodriguez during his first tenure at WVU, making it a full-circle moment. He went to WVU from 1999-2004, and played on the Pittsburgh Steelers for a little while. Brown sat alongside his son while he announced his commitment.

“It’s been a tough process because the situation at West Virginia hasn’t been good for the past couple of years,” Tim said. “It’s been tough with the last couple of coaches. Once Rod came in, my stomach dropped because he was already committed to Penn State. It’s been heartbreaking to me since he was a sophomore because he was committed so early.”

Brown, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, picked WVU over Ohio State and North Carolina, and recently decommitted from Penn State after head coach James Franklin was fired. Brown had been committed to the Nittany Lions since July of 2024, and didn’t want to wait for Penn State to decide on who its next head coach would be. Franklin was recently hired at Virginia Tech, but it didn’t change Brown’s decision.

“In July of my sophomore year, I committed to Penn State, and that was awesome,” Brown said. “I was set in stone, I was ready to go to Penn State, and then, James Franklin gets fired. Then, I had to open it back up, and that was stressful. The past two months, texting 10 coaches a day.”

Brown talked about how the past WVU coaching regimes left a bad taste in his mouth, which is why he never thought of WVU until after the Penn State situation fell apart. Brown grew up watching Dana Holgorsen and went to a practice. He was kicked out.

“It was not the West Virginia culture we know today,” Brown said. “We went to a practice one day, and they kicked us out. Not a good feeling. Then, my sophomore year, I went to West Virginia on a visit, and the O-line coach didn’t even watch my film.”

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native is rated as the second-best player in the state and the fifth-rated offensive tackle in the country. He is 49th-ranked nationally, too. Brown immediately becomes the highest recruit in WVU’s 2026 class and the first four-star for Rodriguez. Brown becomes the fourth lineman in the class, joining Lamarcus Dillard, Rhett Morris and Camden Goforth.

Securing Brown had been a top priority ever since Penn State fired Franklin. Rodriguez was late to his weekly press conference because Brown was taking an official visit on Oct. 28. Multiple position coaches have named Brown the “big fish.”

Brown went on multiple Power Four visits as a highly touted recruit and put the WVU program up with the elite programs in college football.

“I took my OV (official visit) this summer, and holy cow,” Brown said. “Totally changed. I went to Georgia, Alabama and Auburn. West Virginia’s facilities, coaches and everything are elite.”

This was the first big recruiting win for Rodriguez, who advertised that WVU would have a big high school recruiting class compared to last year’s large transfer portal class. Brown instantly becomes the headliner and could make an immediate impact down the road on the offensive line — an area of need after this season’s ups and downs.

The 2026 early signing period is on Dec. 3 to Dec. 5, 2025, and the final signing period starts on Feb. 4, 2026, which is when Brown’s decision will be official.

“Big commitment ‘W’,” Brown said. “Let’s do it.”