The offseason is in full swing for high school football around the country, which means college coaches are on the road visiting high schools …
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Two players in the history of college football have worn No. 100 on their jerseys during an official game.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Ƶ BlueGoldNews.com reported last week that running back Lyn-J Dixon, who had transferred from Clemson to ƵU in January, was apparently leaving West Virginia.
That departure has now been confirmed, as Dixon has entered the NCAAƵs transfer portal.
After four years at Clemson, Dixon came to ƵU in search of more playing time with the Mountaineers, but he did not cement himself in the upper echelon of West VirginiaƵs depth chart at running back during spring practice.
Sophomore Tony Mathis seemed to gain a strong hold on the No. 1 RB spot in the spring, while sophomore Justin Johnson appeared to be No. 2. That left Dixon fighting redshirt freshman Jaylen Anderson for the third running back slot.
Dixon wonƵt continue that fight at West Virginia, as heƵs leaving the Mountaineers in search of another new home.
While Dixon is departing ƵU, a number of new Mountaineer football players are ready to begin their West Virginia careers.
Freshman offensive lineman Maurice Hamilton reported on social media his arrival in Morgantown this past weekend, and junior college defensive back Jaylon Shelton informed BlueGoldNews.comƵs Kevin Kinder that he is coming to West Virginia on July 6.
Tight end Will Dixon, a late addition to ƵUƵs class of 2022, also is slated to enroll at West Virginia this week. These are the final signees from ƵUƵs class of Ƶ22 who had not yet enrolled at the university, as all the other scholarship signees had already begun their academic and athletic work at West Virginia.
With the addition of these three scholarship players, as well as the departure of Dixon, the Mountaineers appear to have in the neighborhood of 81 or 82 total scholarship players on their 2022 roster.
The exact count can vary slightly if a walk-on or two are issued scholarships, but that reward was not made public. Like all FBS programs, ƵU can have a maximum of 85 players on scholarship, so it is close Ƶ closer than it has been in many years Ƶ but it is still a few shy of the max.
In terms football players by class (including walk-ons), ƵUƵs football roster currently shows 23 true freshmen, 27 redshirt freshmen, 30 sophomores, 14 juniors and 13 seniors.
In addition, four preferred walk-ons are also slated to arrive at ƵU this week:
Ƶ Martinsburg, West Virginia, receiver Hudson Clement (6-1, 190 lbs.).
Ƶ George Washington High receiver Taran Fitzpatrick (6-4, 180 lbs.), who is from Charleston, West Virginia.
Ƶ Parkersburg, West Virginia athlete Bryson Singer (6-4, 215 lbs.), who will likely be a spear linebacker at ƵU.
Ƶ Batavia (Ill.) High School long snapper Macguire Moss (6-1, 219 lbs.).
There will be additional walk-ons to West Virginia beyond these four, but these are ones weƵve confirmed to this point.
The gates of the transfer portal continue to spin.
Now it is one of the most experienced Mountaineer defensive players who has entered, as linebacker Josh Chandler-SemedoƵs name popped up on the portal list Friday afternoon.
ƵU officials have confirmed that Chandler-Semedo has entered that transfer portal. He is the 18th Mountaineer scholarship football player to enter the portal since last August.
A three-year starter for West Virginia, who had played in 44 games over the past four seasons, he had announced in December that he would return for a fifth year of college football.
At the time it was assumed that meant heƵd be back at ƵU in 2022, but now heƵs looking for a new home in which to spend his final collegiate season.
A first-team Division I all-Ohio selection during his senior season at famed Canton McKinley High School, Chandler-Semedo earned immediate playing time upon his arrival at ƵU in 2018.
With David Long playing at an All-American level that season, there werenƵt many defensive snaps for Chandler-Semedo at the will linebacker position behind Long, so he had to be content with seeing most of his duty on special teams.
He played in all 12 games that year and finished with 14 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Long moved on to the NFLƵs Tennessee Titans in 2019, and Chandler-Semedo was able to take over for him as the MountaineersƵ starting will linebacker.
He missed a couple of games because of injury but saw enough action to finish second on the team in tackles with 72 to go along with 3.5 TFLs.
His effort on the field his sophomore season earned him all-Big 12 honorable mention notice, and his classroom performance gained him a spot on the Academic all-Big 12 first team.
He again was a huge factor in 2020, starting nine of ƵUƵs 10 games, as he missed the meeting with TCU because of a knee injury.
He finished third on the Mountaineer defense in tackles (64), and he saved his best for last, as he had 13 tackles in the Liberty Bowl against Army, and preserved the West Virginia win with a late-game interception.
Chandler-Semedo slid over from will to mike linebacker in 2021, but despite the position change, he didnƵt miss a beat.
In fact, his numbers got even better.
Starting all 13 games, he led the Mountaineers in tackles with 110, which was the third-most in the Big 12.
He became the first ƵU linebacker in 21 years (Chris Edmonds vs. Rutgers in 2000) to haul in two interceptions in a single game, as Chandler-SemedoƵs pair of fourth-quarter picks against Kansas helped West Virginia hold off the JayhawksƵ comeback attempt.
With 260 tackles and 13.5 TFLs while at ƵU, Chandler-Semedo will look for a new college home.
WHEELING, W.Va. (Ƶ News) Ƶ Two of the stateƵs most honored college football players will be inducted into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
Major Harris and Darryl Talley will be enshrined by the West Virginia Sports Writers Ƶsociation at the 75th annual Vicrtory Awards Dinner on May 1 at the Embassy Suites in Charleston.
Harris and Talley in 2021 became only the fourth and fifth West Virginia University football players to have their jersey numbers retired by the school. Harris wore No. 9 and Talley No. 90. Both earlier were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the ƵU Sports Hall of Fame and Mountaineer Legends Society.
Harris, a three-time team MVP from 1987-89, also placed third Ƶ the highest-ever for a Mountaineer Ƶ and fifth as a sophomore and junior in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
He was a two-time ECAC Player of the Year and, as a junior, earned 1st Team Kodak All-America and 2nd Team The Ƶsociated Press and Football News.
He was selected twice by the W.Va. Sports Writers Ƶsociation as the state Amateur Athlete of the Year for 1988 and 1989.
Harris became one of only two Division I quarterbacks to pass for over 5,000 yards and rush for over 2,000 yards while finishing with a then-school record 7,334 total yards in his three seasons.
After leading ƵU to the 1987 Sun Bowl as a redshirt freshman, he guided the Mountaineers to the schoolƵs first-ever unbeaten, untied regular season before bowing to unbeaten Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, billed as the national title game, where Harris was injured on the third play and was limited the rest of the game.
A Mountaineer fan favorite, he received some votes in the 1988 state Gubernatorial Election.
After his junior season, he opted to turn professional and was selected in the 12th Round of the NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders. Harris played one season with the British Columbia Lions in the Canadian Football League before turning to the Arena Indoor League for much of the next decade as a player or coach including a year as coach of the Wheeling Thunderbirds.
He currently resides in his hometown of Pittsburgh, where he played for Brashear High School.
ƵThis honor means a lot to me,Ƶ Harris said. ƵI think you appreciate honors more when youƵre older and can look back. When youƵre playing sports, youƵre more focused on the present and the next game. The best time of my life was at ƵU. The fans were the best and the state supported our teams.Ƶ
Talley, a four-year ƵU starter at linebacker from 1979-82 and team captain and MVP as a senior, is Mr. Defense while Harris would be Mr. Offense in this selection.
Talley became only the third consensus All-American in ƵU history in 1982.
HeƵs the most prolific tackler (484) in not only Mountaineer history but in the history of the NFL Buffalo Bills, where he recorded 1,137 tackles while never missing a game in 12 seasons from 1983-94.
He finished his 14-year pro career with one season in Atlanta (1995) and one season in Minnesota (1996).
He was picked 39th overall in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Bills, where he started in four Super Bowls and two Pro Bowls and was selected to two All-Pro teams.
HeƵs a member of the BillsƵ Wall of Fame and was selected to the 26-player All-Time Bills Team on the 50th anniversary of the franchise.
He was recruited out of Shaw High School in Cleveland, Ohio, by then-ƵU coach Frank Cignetti and played two years before finishing his Mountaineer career with two years under coach Don Nehlen. He played in the 1981 Peach Bowl victory over Florida and in the 1982 Gator Bowl.
Talley was selected by the W. Va. Sports Writers Ƶsociation as the 1982 state Amateur Athlete of the Year.
He currently resides in Orlando, Fla.
ƵWhen I was in school at ƵU,Ƶ Talley said, ƵI didnƵt have time to smell the roses. But I must admit that the honors never get old when I look back and reflect on the past. When I look back, my only word would be ƵWowƵ.Ƶ
Talley said he has good memories of his coaches, Cignetti and Nehlen, and noted that Nehlen Ƶhelped me and showed me to walk the walk if I wanted to be the best I could be in football. I listened and trusted coach Nehlen, who helped me a lot.Ƶ
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Ƶ News) Ƶ There may be better football players in West Virginia's 2022 recruiting class than Nicco Marchiol, but there are none more important.
There may be an All-American or two in the group of 22 that was announced on Wednesday, a figure that is expected to grow into the new maximum of 32 recruits before they kick off next season against Pitt, but none will get more attention than Marchiol through the spring and summer.
He isn't asking to be the focus of this year's recruiting class, probably would be content not to be the face of the group, but no one is asking him what he wants.
He's the quarterback, a freshman quarterback with four stars besides his name on the recruiting sites, and coach Neal Brown understands what that means.
"Offensively, a high school quarterback is the focal point of any class," Brown said as he got into looking at what he now has put his and the ƵU football team's future on. "Quarterbacks develop leadership skills within their class, first and foremost, which is something we felt Nicco definitely did."
Brown sees things in Marchiol that you can't teach and that transcend the boundaries of the football field.
"He's got the it factor," Brown said. "I think he's going to be a guy who is going to be a fan favorite from Day 1."
And just why does Brown feel that way?
"He's got charisma. He's got strong leadership capabilities. He loves football. He's been groomed from an early age by his father Ken to be a Division 1 and hopefully an NFL quarterback," Brown explained.
But it's deeper than even that.
"When you go watch him play, he's left-handed, the ball comes out of his hand really smooth, he's got a strong arm, he's a physical runner and he's a great teammate," was the way Brown described him.
The physical assets, obviously, are what will put points on the board and make fans cheer like they did for Will Grier and Clint Trickett and Geno Smith and Pat White.
We leave Skyler Howard out of that group not because they did not cheer him, too, but because he was one of those love-me-or-hate-me quarterbacks, a player who played far better than he was given credit for and did so, perhaps, with far fewer physical skills than White, Smith or Grier.
In some ways, Brown's description of Marchiol is a combination of all those guys, packaged to win football games.
"He's a good kid," Brown stressed. "And when you go watch and are able to just sit back and see what he's doing you notice he's the first to congratulate someone when they score and the first to go greet the defense when they come off the field.
"So, he's talented but he's also got these other intangibles that make you go, 'OK, these are the that take someone talented and really make him special,'" Brown said.
It has been a long while since ƵU recruited a freshman quarterback who started for them. Doege was a transfer, Austin Kendall was a transfer. Grier was a transfer. Howard was a transfer. Trickett was a transfer.
In fact, the last QB to start for ƵU who was recruited by them out of high school was Chris Chugunov, who replaced Grier after he injured his hand in the Texas game. Chugunov started the season's final two games.
Certainly, there are all kinds of questions swirling around the ƵU quarterback situation as this year comes to an end. The first question, of course, is will Jarret Doege return for the extra year of eligibility he has been granted due to COVID?
If he does, he certainly would be the leader in the clubhouse for the starting job next year as he brings the one thing that the other quarterbacks on the roster can't and that's starting experience.
In fact, only Smith, Marc Bulger, Grier and Howard have more career passing yards than Doege at West Virginia; only Smith and Bulger have more completions.
Doege would go into camp with competition for the job even if Marchiol weren't on the team with Garrett Greene offering an option to run a more run-oriented offense and with Goose Crowder having gotten a redshirt year under his belt and having impressed.
But the man of the hour right now is Marchiol and if Brown is right about him there will be a great temptation and, perhaps, outcry from the fans to start him.
Can you do that with a true freshman?
"Let's get him first," Brown answered when asked that question. "I think there's a lot of freshmen that play college football, not many quarterbacks, though. I'll be able to give you a better answer to that during spring practice. Right now, it's to be determined."
There is a lot more included in that answer than there seems to be, because it wasn't anywhere near a flat no ... and it certainly made it sound like Brown already is considering the prospects of doing that.
Certainly, he believes Marchiol has the right make up for it.
"He's a tough guy and it's a really athletic family," Brown said. "He grew up as the youngest of three boys and they are really competitive. His dad was a college football player. He's been around competitive athletics for a long time.
"The one thing that stood out to me, especially we started recruiting him heavily last spring, is he handles adversity more than a lot of young quarterbacks."
And if he were to be rushed in as a starter, he surely would have to deal with adversity, which comes with the job.
So what kind of quarterback is Marchiol?
He's a pro style QB out of Hamilton High in Chandler, Ariz, one good enough to entertain 27 offers including (listed alphabetically, even though that is one more than the alphabet itself):
Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Rutgers, TCU, USC, Utah and Washington State.
It's understandable when you realize he was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Arizona, the first from his school to take down that honor. In his high school career he threw for 8,310 yards and rushed for 1,301.
Ƶ a senior he led the team to the state semifinal by completing 203 of 274 passes, which is 74.4%, for a school-record 2,690 yards with 37 touchdowns.
And he's the perfect match to be taking snaps from All-American center Zach Frazier as he is a three-time state wrestling champion, Frazier, of course, also having been a four-time state wrestling champion who lost only two matches while at Fairmont Senior.
MORGANTOWN Ƶ It doesnƵt take long, even in a room filled with football players, to pick out West Virginia offensive guard James Gmiter.
It isnƵt the ƵtatsƵ that he displays on muscles that would stand out in any room. That just makes him look like almost any other football player across America.
But you take one look at the hair, dyed blond, spiked, his sides shaved clean.
LetƵs just say it ranks up there with the Mohawk that Owen Schmitt sported back in his heyday.
It was natural to wonder if that was the first visible sign of the creativity to come out of the in-house barber shop that was included in the refurbished football facility, but it turns out the story was even better than that.
ƵMy wife did it,Ƶ Gmiter revealed, speaking of his wife, Quin.
But before you go off and congratulate her on her styling flair, consider that this was his, not her, idea ... she was only the means Gmiter used to get to the end he wanted.
ƵIt was my idea. She kind of fought me a little bit. I finally got her to agree to do it,Ƶ he said.
See, having her do it at home helped solve one of the most pressing problems Gmiter has and that is working in time for everything.
Gmiter is a busy young man. ThereƵs a wife, a 13-month-old daughter, Ryott Jay, at home with another child now on the way. ThereƵs football, which is demanding on time and body, along with school work ... all of which tugs at him from one direction or another.
Somehow, though, this man with the exotic hairdo is very sensible and old-fashioned in his approach to life.
ƵIt takes a lot of balance,Ƶ he admitted. ƵYou have to really figure out where your priorities are and manage school work, my relationship at home with my wife, helping her, and then also managing my football time. Am I here enough? Am I home enough? You have to find a nice balance. Having over a year to do that, itƵs gotten a lot easier, and I donƵt have to struggle with that any more.Ƶ
And, of course, when the second child comes into his and QuinƵs lives, things will get even more hectic.
ƵItƵs going to be different, but nothing I havenƵt done before,Ƶ he said.
The family, he maintains, is anything but a distraction from his football, even after a loss like SaturdayƵs 30-24 defeat at Maryland.
ƵAnything that happens Saturday, you know you are going to go home to your wife and beautiful daughter. Anything else really doesnƵt matter,Ƶ he said. ƵI try not let anything that happens on the field carry over to home. WeƵll have conversations about it, but I bring anything that happened during games or practices home. I try to lay that aside and be a husband and a daughter.Ƶ
That may change when Ryott gets a bit older and begins understanding football. Right now she isnƵt sure what sheƵs watching, although sheƵs far from disinterested.
ƵShe just tries to watch me. She doesnƵt know what else is going on. ThatƵs kind of like my mom is, too. She just watches No. 74,Ƶ Gmiter said. ƵI got kicked in the shins Saturday and she wanted to know who did it.Ƶ
Football does complicate things, though.
ƵItƵs hard during camp because I have to be here all day, but I have a very supportive wife who takes care of things all day and doesnƵt complain about it. SheƵs always in a good mood when I get home, so I really thank her for that,Ƶ Gmiter admitted. ƵThereƵs definitely some times where I feel I miss family time, but you have to sacrifice when you are in my position.Ƶ
RyottƵs arrival 13 months ago was far more of a life-changer than the football aspect of his life, and it came at an interesting time, just as college football was passing Name, Image and Likeness legislation that allowed athletes to earn money while competing, an important change for young families.
ƵI think itƵs something thatƵs been long overdue,Ƶ Gmiter said to his hometown Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this summer. ƵThe way I look at it, weƵve been under the NCAAƵs thumb the entire time where we were not allowed to benefit off our name when we were the ones that put in the most blood, sweat and tears. To be able to finally say, ƵIƵm going to make money off my hard work and my name on my jersey,Ƶ thatƵs something should never be taken away.Ƶ
ƵBeing able to have that second income is huge,Ƶ Gmiter continued. ƵItƵs not going to be life-changing money that youƵre going to come into unless youƵre AlabamaƵs quarterback, but itƵs still something. You have extra cash in your pocket at the end of the month.
ƵSince becoming a father, my whole life is turned around,Ƶ Gmiter concluded. ƵEverything that I do is for her and my wife, to be able to support them and give them everything they need ItƵs my needs last, my daughterƵs first and my wifeƵs second. ItƵs the best job IƵll ever have. I wouldnƵt change anything for the world. I love my daughter and I love my wife. Just being able to support them is the biggest dream that I have.Ƶ
A victory or two, though, is now a second dream heƵd like to see come true.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Ƶ News) Ƶ It doesnƵt take long, even in a room filled with football players, to pick out West Virginia offensive guard James Gmiter.
It isnƵt the ƵtatsƵ that he displays on muscles that would stand out in any room. That just makes him look like almost any other football player across America.
But you take one look at the air, dyed blond, spiked, his sides shaved clean.
LetƵs just say it ranks up there with the Mohawk that Owen Schmitt sported back in his heyday.
So, it was natural to wonder if that was the first visible sign of the creativity to come out of the in-house barber shop that was included in the refurbished football facility, but it turns out the story was even better than that.
ƵMy wife did it,Ƶ Gmiter revealed, speaking of wife, Quin.
But before you go off and congratulate her on her styling flair, consider that this was his, not her, idea ... she was only the means Gmiter used to get to the end he wanted.
ƵIt was my idea. She kind of fought me a little bit. I finally got her to agree to do it,Ƶ he said.
See, having her do it at home helped solve one of the most pressing problems Gmiter has and that is working in time for everything.
Gmiter is a busy young man. ThereƵs a wife, a 13-month-old daughter, Ryott Jay, at home with another child now on the way. ThereƵs football, which is demanding on time and body, along with school work ... all of which tugs at him from one direction or another.
Somehow, though, this man with the exotic hairdo is very sensible and old-fashioned in his approach to life.
ƵIt takes a lot of balance,Ƶ he admitted. ƵYou have to really figure out where your priorities are and manage school work, my relationship at home with my wife, helping her, and then also managing my football time. Am I here enough? Am I home enough? You have to find a nice balance. Having over a year to do that, itƵs gotten a lot easier and I donƵt have to struggle with that any more.Ƶ
And, of course, when the second child comes into his and QuinƵs lives, things will get even more hectice.
ƵItƵs going to be different, but nothing I havenƵt done before,Ƶ he said.
The family, he maintains, is anything but a distraction from his football, even after a loss like SaturdayƵs 30-24 defeat at Maryland.
ƵAnything that happens Saturday, you know you are going to go home to your wife and beautiful daughter. Anything else really doesnƵt matter,Ƶ he said. ƵI try not let anything that happens on the field carry over to home. WeƵll have conversations about it, but I bring anything that happened during games or practices home. I try to lay that aside and be a husband and a daughter.Ƶ
That may change when Ryott gets a bit older and begins understanding football. Right now she isnƵt sure what sheƵs watching, although sheƵs far from disinterested.
ƵShe just tries to watch me. She doesnƵt know what else is going on. ThatƵs kind of like my mom is, too. She just watches No. 74,Ƶ Gmiter said. ƵI got kicked in the shins Saturday and she wanted to know who did it.Ƶ
Football does complicate things, though.
ƵItƵs hard during camp because I have to be here all day, but I have a very supportive wife who takes care of things all day and doesnƵt complain about it. SheƵs always in a good mood when I get home, so I really thank her for that,Ƶ Gmiter admitted. ƵThereƵs definitely some times where I feel I miss family time, but you have to sacrifice when you are in my position.Ƶ
RyottƵs arrival 13 months ago was far more of a life-changer than the football aspect of his life and it came at an interesting time, just as college football was passing Name, Image and Likeness legislation that allowed athletes to earn money while competing, an important change for young families.
ƵI think itƵs something thatƵs been long overdue,Ƶ Gmiter said to his hometown Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this summer. ƵThe way I look at it weƵve been under the NCAAƵs thumb the entire time where we were not allowed to benefit off our name when we were the ones that put in the most blood, sweat and tears. To be able to finally say, ƵIƵm going to make money off my hard work and my name on my jerseyƵ thatƵs something should never be taken away.Ƶ
ƵBeing able to have that second income is huge,Ƶ Gmiter continued then. ƵItƵs not going to be life-changing money that youƵre going to come into unless youƵre AlabamaƵs quarterback, but itƵs still something. You have extra cash in your pocket at the end of the month.
ƵSince becoming a father, my whole life is turned around,Ƶ Gmiter concluded. ƵEverything tht I do is for her and y wife to be able to support them and give them everything they need ItƵs my needs last, my daughterƵs first and my wifeƵs second. ItƵs the best job IƵll ever have. I wouldnƵt change anything for the world. I love my daughter and I love my wife. Just being able to support them is the biggest dream that I have.Ƶ
A victory or two, though, is now a second dream heƵd like to see come true.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Ƶ News) Ƶ Ƶ you get older you begin thinking about what might have been and what you might change and right now, today, a…
Since West VirginiaƵs first intercollegiate football game in 1891, thousands and thousands of individuals have played for the Mountaineers.