A little over two months before the start of summer camp, West Virginia has landed what could, literally and figuratively, be a huge piece to its defensive line puzzle.
In a tweet posted to his Twitter account Friday morning, Shaquille Riddick revealed that he will be climbing up the collegiate football ladder and finishing out his playing career at West Virginia. The school has yet to announce the addition to its roster, although it appears the defensive lineman is/was in the process of filling out all of the proper paperwork.
This is my future I'm excited to be apart of such a amazing culture and program. #wvu #mountaineer #blueandgold pic.twitter.com/g20DwlqLNI
— Shaq Riddick (@Gods_Exertion98) May 16, 2014
Because Riddick is transferring from FCS-level Gardner-Webb (NC) and is a graduate, he will be eligible to play immediately for the Mountaineers in 2014.
Following a 2013 season in which he posted 19 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 17 quarterback pressures, the 6-7, 262-pound Riddick was named as an Associated Press All-American at defensive end. He finished second in the country in tackles for loss per game.
And, as reminded by Bruce Feldman of FOXSports.com, Riddick had a huge game against Marshall last year with three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
It had been announced earlier this month that Riddick would be looking to move up to the FBS level and play his final season of college ball closer to his home in Akron, Ohio.
“Shaquille has put himself in a position academically to graduate two semesters ahead of schedule and he feels strongly that he should transfer in an attempt to play FBS football closer to home,” Gardner-Webb coach Carroll McCray said in a statement at the time. “We are always disappointed when a young man chooses to leave our program, but we wish him well in his future pursuits. Gardner-Webb football will move on. We look forward to an outstanding 2014 season as we push toward a berth in the FCS playoffs.”
(Photo credit: Gardner-Webb athletics)