MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It was late in the Morgantown High 2019 season. The roster was depleted, and then-coach Matt Lacy had to make some changes. Morgantown had just been shut out by eastern panhandle power Musselman and was set to face another top Class AAA team, Wheeling Park, in a Thursday night showdown at Pony Lewis Field.
One of those changes included unleashing junior Deondre Crudup out of the backfield. Crudup, mostly a defensive player, quickly proved his versatility to pick up a touchdown on one of his eight carries. Although, the Patriots came back to win that tight game, Crudup quickly became a player to watch. He led the Mohigans in their final two games — both wins — including a career-best, three-touchdown night against University.
After a successful senior season, seeing significant time in all of the Mohigans’ six games, Crudup made his decision to continue his football career at Glenville State on Monday.
“It’s a huge weight off my shoulders for sure,” Crudup said. “The coaching staff, as soon as I walked into the offices, the energy was good to be around. You could vibe around it. The facilities are top-notch, everything about it is just great.”
A decision hasn’t been made about whether Crudup will play running back or defensive end, but knows whatever position the Pioneers’ coaching staff puts him in, he’ll work to excel.
“It just depends on what happens when I get up there,” he said.
Other draws to the small-town college are the physical therapy program, the academic path Crudup will take. With a 5-year Master’s program, he’ll be able to graduate on an accelerated path. He also enjoys the small-town atmosphere Glenville provides. Tucked in the hills of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Crudup noted his many visits there to watch his little brother play travel baseball helped his choice. Not to mention, the town shows incredible support for the Mountain East program.
After recent conference changes, Glenville is part of the MEC’s South Division with Charleston, Concord, UNC Pembroke, West Virginia State and West Virginia Wesleyan. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MEC decided to move its 2020 football season to this spring. The first two games of the season will begin March 11, and then the other five will commence two days later. In 2019, the Pioneers finished sixth in the conference at 7-4, with their regular-season finale a 10-7 win over Frostburg State. As a freshman, Crudup hopes to be able to show his leadership ability right out of the gate.
“I just want to set my presence weight room-wise, that’s where the learning starts,” he said. “I want to be a good teammate to others, just show my leadership right off the bat and stay true to myself. Don’t try to do anything extra.”
Looking back on his career, Crudup notes that, while it wasn’t the best high school career at first, he finished strong and is excited to move forward.
“I’m truly blessed to be in this position, for sure,” he said. “It’s not been the best high school career, but I can’t control things that are uncontrollable.”
As for the future, he’ll let his faith guide him forward. When asked where he sees Glenville taking him, he simply said, “That’s a story for God to write. I’m just following that path.”
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