WEST JEFFERSON — Josh Wineberg, a highly-recruited defensive lineman for the Ashe County football team, has made his college choice, giving a verbal commitment to Western Carolina.

Wineberg, a 6-foot-6, 240-pounder, will host a signing ceremony on national signing day, Feb. 1, at the school, according to athletics director Marc Payne. The N.C. Preps website was first with news of his choice, which was confirmed Tuesday morning by Ashe County High administrators.

Verbal commitments are non-binding. National letters of intent can be signed beginning Feb. 1.

Wineberg, the son of Dale and Amanda Wineberg, was a fixture on the line for the Huskies en route to the school's ninth consecutive state playoff berth and a 6-6 record. Ashe finished fourth in the Mountain Valley Conference and lost a first-round playoff game at Catawba Bandys.

Wineberg was chosen the MVC's Defensive Player of the Year.

In choosing Western Carolina, Wineberg becomes part of the first recruiting class of head coach Mark Speir and his rebuilding efforts. Speir was previously on the staff at Appalachian State and has assembled a coaching staff that includes colleagues from ASU as well as holdovers from Western.

Among the holdovers from Western is defensive line coach Mark Rhea. Rhea was interim head coach after the resignation of former head coach Dennis Wagner. Speir announced three weeks ago Rhea would be retained and would also have the title of recruiting coordinator.

Wineberg was recruited by a number of universities. Strong said Wineberg received interest from schools in the Southeastern Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wineberg said most of his visits were to Southern Conference schools.

Western Carolina was 0-8 in the SoCon and 1-10 overall this past season.

The Catamounts have just one postseason appearance, finishing as the national runner-up in 1983. Western last posted a winning record in 2005, going 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the SoCon, and is 11-56 since.