Signing classes show bright future for WVSU, UC football

Former South Harrison standout Freddy Canary (21) is one of the highlights of West Virginia State’s signing class.
Photo by: Kyle Jenkins Exponent-Telegram

By: Michael Carvelli, Staff Writer | Posted: Feb. 7, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

When National Signing Day came around last year, things were a lot different for John Pennington at West Virginia State.

Just days into his tenure as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach, Pennington and the small staff he already had in place scrambled to get to recruits in the closing days before signing day, pitching the idea of what his version of the program would look like. A year later, that idea has turned into actual tangible results on the field – and a WVSU team that is coming off its first winning season since 2008 as it heads toward what Pennington and his staff believes to be a bright future.

“This class is a culmination of our staff having this first full year of work,” Pennington said. “We’re trying to change a culture and, when you do that, it’s about marketing your beliefs and values and people can feel the energy when they’re on campus. We have a belief that we can do big things here, and I think that helped us bring in the class we got today.”

The future got a little brighter for both West Virginia State and the University of Charleston on Wednesday, as the two programs brought in classes full of what both coaching staffs believe can be high-impact players that they’ll be able to build around for the years to come.

West Virginia State brought in an additional 24 players to go with the seven it announced in January. The Golden Eagles announced a class of 21 incoming players.

“I feel really good about the group we’ve brought in,” Charleston coach Pat Kirkland said. “We knew coming in that we didn’t need to bring in a big class so we were careful and made sure we brought in the right type of kids who were going to be the best fit for our program and what we want to do here at UC.

“This group has a lot of talent that I know our coaching staff is really excited about getting on campus and developing the way we know we can.”

As Wednesday approached for Kirkland and his staff, they looked at this year’s group as one able to be mentored by the large number of players the Golden Eagles have returning for the 2018 season.

With 90 players already on campus for winter conditioning and spring football, the goal wasn’t to necessarily find players that they needed to contribute immediately. The incoming players will be able to go through their development and learn from the older players, while still having plenty of opportunities in practice and games to prove they can play a role right away if needed.

Kirkland pointed to players like running back Tyler May, a Roane County High graduate who transferred to UC midyear after going to West Virginia as a preferred walk-on, as well as running back Niko Tauti and tight end and Hedgesville product Ethan Fairchild as offensive players who could be potential difference makers. Defensively, Kirkland thinks linebacker Michael Perry from Winchester, Virginia, can come in and push to see the field early.

“We talked to our recruits when they came on campus about the fact that they’re going to get to be mentored while also jumping right in and fighting for playing time,” Kirkland said. “They’re going to get their chances to contribute, but we also know there’s a transition when you go from high school to college, so it’s going to be really valuable for these new guys that we have players here who can teach them along the way.

“I’m excited about everyone we have because we filled our needs and I think we found kids who work for our team really well.”

West Virginia State sees this year’s signing class as a group with several players who can contribute immediately, along with some who can develop into their roles as their time with the program goes on.

The major objectives they had was filling voids at linebacker, wide receiver and offensive line, while continuing to build around several in-state players. Midyear signings like Charleston native Dustin Crouser at linebacker, offensive lineman Josh Durst and wide receiver Tyrone Lyte helped them get started on the first objective.

Wide reciever Chase Ackerman, a 6-foot-5 target who has a knack for making plays, and running back Freddy Canary from South Harrison, who has also rewritten the record book for sprinters in the state, bring qualities that Pennington said West Virginia State hasn’t seen in some time. Players like Ackerman and Canary, as well as George Washington defensive lineman Owen Tillis could be among those players who come right in and make an impact for WVSU.

In addition to Canary, Tillis and Crouser, Hurricane linebacker Payton Lunsford, Cabell Midland offensive lineman Brier Elswick and tight end Latrell Warr — who played at Musselman before spending a year at Fork Union Military Academy — have also helped the Yellow Jackets keep their roots in the state of West Virginia.

“We love our class. It’s great to see that we have guys who we think will be able to come in and compete right away as well as a lot players who we can really develop into quality college football players with the staff and facilities we have here,” Pennington said. “These guys really seem to fit in well with our team and that was very important. We’re happy we were able to bring in these kids we got from in-state too. They add the type of toughness and drive and pride that we want to see in our program.”

West Virginia State signing class