The Basics
The West Virginia Wesleyan football team is set to open the 2021 spring season on the road at West Virginia State on Saturday (March 13) at 1 p.m.
Quick Hits
•
Trey Milam,
Khalil Smith,
Kobe Vinegar and
Dana Young were named team captains.
• Junior safety
John Merica was named First Team All-MEC in 2019 after recording 70 solo tackles (third most in NCAA).
• Redshirt-junior linebacker
Grant Safford earned MEC Honorable recognition after a 2019 campaign where he finished second on the team with 58 tackles and also forced a pair of fumbles.
• On the offensive line, Milam also earned MEC Honorable Mention accolades at right guard last season.
•
Kenny Lewis Jr. led the Bobcats in touchdown receptions last season with two of those coming against West Virginia State on October 26, 2019.
•
Devin Taylor collected the most receptions (41) for the Bobcats last season.
•
Allen Gant (defensive coordinator/linebackers),
Mike Maloney (offensive line/recruiting coordinator),
Dominic Bornman (wide receivers/strength & conditioning) and
Jordan Hopgood (running backs/tighe ends) all enter their first year on the WVWC football coaching staff.
• West Virginia Wesleyan alumnus and former assistant,
Tony Testa returns for his second season as head coach.
Scouting West Virginia State
The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish second in the MEC South Division and received five first place votes. WVSU finished 7-4 during the 2019 season and lost in the MEC Championship game against Notre Dame (Ohio), 31-14.
Dylan Lucas is back as the top running back for West Virginia State. He rushed for 590 yards and an average of 5.1 yards per carry in 2019. Donovan Riddick enters the season as the starting quarterback.
Linebacker Dustin Crouser garnered numerous accolades last season after notching 78 solo tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss. Next to him, Noble Zuschlag recorded 69 total tackles including 3.5 for loss.
John Pennington enters his fourth season as the head coach. West Virginia State defensive coordinator George Shehl served as the West Virginia Wesleyan head football coach from 2013-2015.
Up Next
The Bobcats head south to UNC Pembroke for a 12 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, March 20. This season marks the first for the Braves as a Mountain East Conference affiliate member in football.
