MORGANTOWN – Jimmy Gregg didn’t begin playing football until he was a freshman in high school. Even then, he wasn’t a punter to start with.
Fast forward four years to Wednesday morning, and Gregg was signing his name on the dotted line to secure his commitment to Syracuse University to play Division I football as the top-ranked punting prospect in the country.
“Freshman year, we needed somebody to kick on JV,” Gregg said. “Originally, I played outside linebacker and some running back, but I had a soccer background and played goalie, so it was something I thought I could do.”
Gregg says Coach Donnie Tucker, the UHS defensive coordinator Jimmy’s sophomore season, approached him and mentioned that he thought Gregg had an exceptional talent.
“He told me I needed to take it a little more seriously,” Gregg said. “I reached out to Adam Tanalski, who’s still my coach, and he took me from being the best in the state to being the best in the entire country. It took a lot of hard work after I decided to be a punter purely.”
Gregg had a stellar 2025 for the Hawks, totaling 2,246 yards on 49 punts. He averaged 45.14 NET yards per kick, and of his 49 punts, 25 went inside the 20-yard line, 13 went inside the 10, and he dropped four on the one. All of that came without a single ball rolling into the endzone for a touchback.
That was also after he had already been named as the nation’s top punter by 247Sports.
“Finding that out was kind of crazy because I had no clue I had even been rated,” Gregg said. “They did a rankings update in June after I announced my decision, and it was really special finding that out when I opened my 247 profile one day.”
Gregg chose Syracuse over WVU, but held offers from Fairmont State, Marshall, Purdue, and NC State. He says SU head coach Fran Brown was a significant factor in his decision.
“There’s been some firings recently with position coaches, but the entire class is still committed,” Gregg said. “That’s Fran Brown. On my visit, my Mom was a huge part of everything. We spent Father’s Day at his home on Sunday. He gave my Dad a gift. He took time to include my parents in everything, and even on his Father’s Day, he spent time with us. That was a huge difference maker for me.”
Gregg was joined on Signing Day by four of his classmates who also signed their intent letters.
Bri Fox (women’s basketball, Washington & Jefferson College), Olivia Masoner (softball, Tusculum University), Sophia Lehosit (softball, University of Charleston), and Colson Jenkins (baseball, Garrett College) all joined Gregg in securing their academic and athletic futures.
Across town at Morgantown High, Mohigan football linemen Ze’von Shipman signed with FCS D-I program Southern Utah two days ahead of playing for the Class AAAA state championship. A trio of MHS baseball players did as well, as all-state selections Mason Bowers and Koa Silvers both signed with Delgado CC in New Orleans, LA. and Slade Barton, who joined Morgantown in the summer from George Washington HS, signed with WVU.
