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In a move that has turned the college football world on its head, high school phenom Jaylen “Jet” McBride, the nation’s undisputed No.1 overall recruit and five-star quarterback out of Long Beach Poly in California, has decommitted from Alabama and shockingly announced his new commitment to West Virginia University — bypassing offers from traditional powerhouses like Alabama and Ohio State.
The announcement came via a cryptic midnight Instagram post featuring a fog-drenched Appalachian mountain range and the words: “Sometimes the climb is greater than the crown.” Moments later, McBride’s profile bio updated to: “Country Roads… take me home.” Within minutes, the post had gone viral, sparking disbelief, anger, and celebration across the college football universe.
At 6’5”, 225 pounds, with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and a cannon arm drawing comparisons to Cam Newton and Patrick Mahomes, McBride had become the face of the 2025 class. He had been a lock for Nick Saban’s successor at Alabama — a commitment secured with national headlines, a helicopter landing on his high school field, and an NIL package reportedly exceeding $2.5 million. Ohio State, long in pursuit, had also remained in the mix, offering him a fast track to NFL development in their pass-heavy offense.
But McBride’s sudden about-face stunned even his closest confidants.
“I didn’t even know until he showed me the post,” said Quincy Jones, his high school offensive coordinator. “I thought it was a joke. Then he just smiled and said, ‘I need to build, not just win.’”
Inside sources say the shift came after a quiet visit to Morgantown in late May, where McBride was moved by the program’s raw energy, new offensive coordinator Marcus Boyd’s pro-style innovation, and the promise to let him become the centerpiece of a culture shift rather than just another cog in a machine.
West Virginia, known more for its blue-collar fan base and grit than blue-chip recruits, hasn’t landed a top-25 recruit in over a decade, let alone the No.1 overall. Head Coach Caleb Warren, entering his third year at the helm, has spoken openly about “changing the narrative” of the Mountaineers program.
“This isn’t just about football,” McBride said during a surprise ESPN interview Tuesday morning. “This is about legacy. I don’t want to join a dynasty — I want to build one.”
Reactions have been polarizing. Alabama fans flooded McBride’s social media with snake emojis and disbelief, while West Virginia students took to the streets of Morgantown in celebration. One video showed dozens of fans singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” under the stars, lighting up the night with blue and gold flares.
College football analysts are already calling this “the most shocking commitment flip of the NIL era,” with major implications for recruiting, team rankings, and conference power dynamics. ESPN moved West Virginia’s recruiting class from 29th to 6th in one day.
If McBride lives up to the hype — and early signs say he just might — the Big 12 may soon have a new king in the mountains.
And it all started with a decision no one saw coming.
