Sun Jun 22 22:20:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article based on it:
**Summary:**
Nitro High School wide receiver Malachi Thompson, a highly-rated prospect from the 2026 class, has verbally committed to play football at West Virginia University. Thompson, the reigning Randy Moss Award winner for West Virginia’s best receiver, had a stellar sophomore season and holds multiple Division I offers. He joins three other West Virginia prep athletes from the 2026 class who have already committed to Power 4 conference schools.
**News Article:**
**Nitro Star Receiver Malachi Thompson Commits to WVU**
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University has landed a commitment from one of the state’s top high school football prospects. Nitro High School wide receiver Malachi Thompson, a member of the 2026 recruiting class, has verbally committed to play for the Mountaineers.
Thompson, who stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 200 pounds, is coming off a phenomenal sophomore season that earned him the Randy Moss Award, recognizing him as West Virginia’s best receiver. In 2024, he hauled in 74 passes for 1,593 yards and 18 touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to a 10-2 record and a Class AAA quarterfinal appearance. As a freshman, he recorded 57 receptions for 1,264 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Thompson chose WVU over a host of other Division I offers, including Marshall, Eastern Kentucky, Toledo, Youngstown State, Ohio, Temple, Kent State, Akron, and Miami (OH).
“We are very happy to welcome Malachi to Morgantown,” said a WVU football spokesperson. “He’s a tremendous talent with a bright future, and we’re excited to see what he can accomplish as a Mountaineer.”
Thompson joins Huntington’s Tayveon Wilson (Clemson), Spring Mills’ Xavier Anderson (Cincinnati), and University’s Jimmy Gregg (Syracuse) as West Virginia student-athletes from the 2026 class to commit to Power 4 conference programs.