In early November of last year, Ivan McCartney was the second West Virginia wide receiver in a span of four days to leave the football program.
A half a year later, the wayward receiving son has returned home.
Dana Holgorsen confirmed to the Charleston Daily Mail that McCartney is back with the team and will be given the opportunity to make amends for whatever led to his initial departure. The head coach, though, doesn’t exactly sound optimistic that the return will stick.
“Second chances are few and far between,” the said coach told the Daily Mail. “This kid’s got an opportunity to right the ship. Maybe he makes the best of it. Maybe he doesn’t.”
Holgorsen added that McCartney, a high school teammate of Geno Smith, has been back home in Florida, and that individuals from his high school had reached out to him about a possible return.
A four-star member of WVU’s 2010 recruiting class and a U.S. Army All-American, McCartney was rated as the No. 5 receiver in the country and the No. 5 player at any position in the talent-rich state of Florida. The 6-2, 183-pound receiver played in 33 games during his first stint in Morgantown, totaling 59 receptions for 701 yards and three touchdowns.