The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

College Sports

September 3, 2010

WVU freshman McCartney ready to be in spotlight

By Dave Morrison Sports Editor

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia freshman wide receiver Ivan McCartney likes drama. Which suits his position well.

And not surprising since he is the cousin of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.

But he’ll have to really do a number this season to top his signing with the Mountaineers in February.

It appeared the Miramar, Fla., native was set to go to Miami — his favorite team growing up — when his sister Tianaka ran on stage yelling for him to wait.

She presented her brother with a WVU hat and the rest is history.

McCartney is primed to be an impact player this season. Maybe as soon as Saturday, when the Mountaineers open the season with Coastal Carolina at 3:30 p.m. at Milan Puskar Stadium.

“It was always my dream to play on this level, and coming in, I never expected myself to play as a true freshman,” McCartney said. “But with hard work, things happen. I’ve worked my butt off ever since I got here on June 6, and I worked my way into the rotation.”

Playing at Miramar prepared him for his first season at WVU.

“With watching film, it’s the same way we did it in high school because my high school head coach set film up just the way they do in college,” McCartney said. “The only difference is practice because the tempo is really fast in college compared to what it was in high school.”

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Running back Noel Devine and slot receiver Jock Sanders came in together, and they will go out together.

That the duo stayed for another year — both could have declared for the NFL after last season — is in large part because of their close friendship.

And Sanders and Devine readily agreed.

“It’s just like when you have three brothers and everyone has a favorite brother,” Devine said. “He’s just like my favorite brother. My team is my family and we’re on the same team, he’s just my favorite brother.”

“It’s indefinable,” Sanders said. “We just had that instant vibe. We’re just always on the same page because we’re around each other so much. Whether right or wrong, we’re on the same page.”

Coach Bill Stewart said the two returning speaks volumes about where the program is.

“When he (Devine) and Jock Sanders decided to come back, it spoke volumes about this program,” Stewart said. “There is a trust in the Mountaineer family. I don’t say that for hype or sensationalism. I know what is going on in this program. I know we are bonding and I know we have young guys that are bonding.”

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Running back Ryan Clarke, who Stewart called his No. 2 running back behind Devine (and added that Clarke will be in the backfield with Devine and they will also motion Devine and have Clarke in the backfield), benefited from West Virginia’s jumbo package last year.

Clarke finished with 250 rushing yards but added eight touchdowns on the year.

He sees the package being even better this season.

“We ran it last year with the same people, except Matt Lindamood as an extra blocker,” Clarke said. “We just critiqued everything from last year and we’re able to run plays better now.”

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Devine on the potential of this season’s offense: “The only people that can stop us is us. There’s too many threats, too many positions, too many people for the defense to be able to guard one person as far as running and passing. They’re going to have to be able to defend everything.”

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