West Virginia State quarterback Caleb Jantuah throws a pass during a Mountain East Conference football game against the University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium in Institute.
West Virginia State quarterback Caleb Jantuah throws a pass during a Mountain East Conference football game against the University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium in Institute.
There’s a certain buzz surrounding the West Virginia State football team ahead of the 2024 season.
The Yellow Jackets finished the 2023 year with a 4-6 record, with all four wins coming in the first five weeks.
There's a certain buzz surrounding the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets football program. West Virginia State underperformed last season finishing 4-6. However, the Yellow Jackets hope to get their sting back this fall with Joel Felder being a catalyst for the team.
By Taylor Kennedy
tkennedy@hdmediallc.com
WVSU and eighth-year coach John Pennington return valuable pieces, and Pennington has high expectations for this year’s team ahead of Week 1.
“This is the most talented roster we’ve ever had, by far,†Pennington said. “The important thing is that we build a team, one unit, and working in the same direction [while] understanding what’s expected of them, what the standards are and the core values. [It’s] making sure that our culture is extremely strong, then building off of that.â€
One of the top returners for the Yellow Jackets this year is running back Joel Felder.
Felder finished last season rushing for more than 1,000 yards, becoming the first player in over a decade to do that at WVSU.
The Florida native found the end zone 13 times. Felder averaged 112 rushing yards per game in 2023.
The dynamic running back has enjoyed being around this year’s team, especially the new players.
“I like the incoming players,†Felder said. “They’re willing to learn. The older players were willing to take over the younger players and show them the college life and what’s to be done and not be done. I like that everybody came in as a family and a brotherhood that can work together as one.â€
Felder said that he feels like the older guy in the locker room after spending the last two seasons in Institute.
“I’ve only been here a couple of years,†Felder said. “I do feel like the old guy, especially with people coming into the program for their first or second year.â€
Pennington knows that talent can only take a team so far.
He understands that for the Yellow Jackets to go far, then the staff must hold them to a high standard.
“We got a lot of guys coming back,†Pennington said. “We only had like four or five seniors last year. So, having a big team and bigger senior class, we just want to focus on holding them to a high standard and making sure our leaders are holding people accountable. You’re always excited.
“Right now, it’s more of the process of making sure we’re doing the right things, having the discipline, playing with great effort and the fundamentals of playing the game of football.â€
WVSU is still churning at the wheel to find its strengths within the roster.
However, the Yellow Jackets’ offensive and defensive line have captured Pennington’s attention.
“[We’re strong] up front. No doubt,†Pennington said. “We’ve got Joel Felder and other guys coming back. Andre Sagastume is arguably one of the best offensive linemen in the conference. We’ve got big tackles and guards up front.
“We’ve got Nasir Jones and Omari Lewis. We’ve got Jeremiah Covington-Griggs on the edge; Corlyn Witcher, an all-conference guy. [We’re strong] up front on both sides of the ball [with] size, athleticism and leadership.â€
West Virginia State will have a new signal-caller in the backfield following Donovan Riddick’s graduation.
WVSU is looking at three possible candidates to fill that hole, with Caleb Jantuah, Sedrick Hill and Isaiah Bess, a ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Southern transfer.
“Caleb Jantuah is coming back with the most experience,†Pennington said. “We’ve got a transfer in Isaiah Bess, who’s coming in with some experience as well. Then, we’ve got a really good redshirt freshman in Sedrick Hill. All three of those guys are battling it out.
“That’s the area we need to make sure that we have some growth, because there isn’t a whole lot of experience here at Institute, as far as playing.â€
Covington-Griggs will make his return to the field this fall after having a second surgery on the same knee last year.
The Brooklyn, New York, native looks to make an impact on this year’s defense and credits his mental growth as his biggest area of progress.
“[The rehab and treatment] was more so on the mental part,†Covington-Griggs said. “I just matured as a player and man. I’ve been able to teach the young guys stuff that I didn’t know when I came in that nobody taught me.â€
Covington-Griggs also praised the support of the Yellow Jackets coaching staff throughout his rehab process.
