West Virginia football doubles its pleasure at Dunbar

Dunbar football coach Craig Jefferies was getting text messages on his cell phone throughout Thursday morning with news that Crimson Tide seniors Vance and Vernard Roberts had orally committed to West Virginia.

Jefferies was puzzled. He thought the 5-foot-9 identical twins would take a few official visits in the fall, and then make a decision. So he called Vernard Roberts, who told him the good news.

"They threw me for a loop," Jefferies said. "I didn't think they were going to commit. I thought they were going to take some trips."

But West Virginia, Jefferies said, was the biggest program that had recruited the two of them together - Vance is pegged as a defensive back, while Vernard is slotted at running back.

"Part of the deal was that they wanted to play together," Jefferies said.

Even though they are genetically identical, Vance Roberts was more heavily recruited.

"It's real funny that that happened," Jefferies said. "I guess it's easier to find a 5-9 running back than it is a 5-9 defensive back. But Vernard is the bigger football player. Vance is just a great athlete."