MORGANTOWN — University seniors Corbin Turley and Elija Jackson both signed their letters of intent with Fairmont State University on Wednesday to play football for the Falcons beginning next year. Both Turley and Jackson are multi-sport athletes at UHS and have experienced success in both football and basketball (Jackson) and wrestling (Turney), but will continue their athletic careers on the gridiron.
Jackson is also a pivotal member of the Hawks’ boys basketball team as a starting guard. On the football field, he contributed on both sides of the line of scrimmage, playing as a wideout on offense and a cornerback on defense, the position Jackson expects to play at FSU. He doesn’t anticipate missing the feeling of scoring a touchdown too much.
“They are going to put me at corner,” Jackson said. “But I can still score touchdowns on defense so it’s cool.”
Turney is currently the fifth-ranked wrestler in the state at the 285-pound weight class for the UHS wrestling team and coach Ken Maisel. He expects to be lining up on the Falcons’ offensive line this coming fall, whether interior or exterior — he isn’t quite sure. Either way, Turney is ready for any opportunity to make an impact for FSU.
“When I visited [Fairmont], it felt like home, it felt like a family,” Turney said of the FSU program. “I’m ready to go win some games. The coaching staff has already treated me like I’m on the team and I can’t wait.”
One thing that appealed to both Jackson and Turney was the location of FSU, obviously being a short distance from their family and friends in Morgantown.
“There’s nothing more than that,” Turney said. “Being close to my family and friends means a lot to me. It’s also great that someone will be there like Elija who I know and can rely on.”
“We will be close friends for sure,” Jackson said. “I’m also not ready to leave home just yet.”
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