Terrell Chestnut garners important honor
Becoming a football player at West Virginia University is a lifelong dream for many who grow up in the Mountain State.
For the thousands of guys who didn’t grow up in West Virginia, but donned the Mountaineers jersey, the sensation may not enthrall them as much as those who have lived here their entire life.
Still, most Mountaineers embrace the culture of not only Morgantown, but the entire state of West Virginia.
Terrell Chestnut is one of those players.
He was a leader on one of the top defensive units in the country and he elevated the players around him when some other starters went down with injuries.
Chestnut, himself, battled through injuries in his college career, but still managed to finish with 86 total tackles in 40 games. Chestnut had 35 tackles in his senior year, alone, and had three interceptions.
Though his time as WVU player is done, Chestnut, a Pottstown, Pa. native, still will have a lasting impact on the WVU football program, as well as the Morgantown community. In fact, most of his memories may come away from the game.
This week, Chestnut was honored with the Curtis Jones Jr. Achievement Award. It is an accolade presented to the Mountaineer who best exemplifies excellence in all facets of their college career, from academics and athletics to community service.
Basically, the whole Mountaineer experience.
Curtis Jones, himself, was a great judge of that Mountaineer character as an associate athletic director for academic support, before his sudden death in 2013.
"“It is a privilege and honor to win this award; this really means a lot to me,” Chestnut said. “Curtis was an exceptional person, who was an example to us and displayed so much positivity. I remember his attitude and character rubbed off on all of us, and we always tried to emulate the way he was and what he stood for.”"
According to WVUsports.com, Chestnut he gives food to homeless people, visits patients at the WVU Children’s Hospital and even cooks at the Ronald McDonald House. He has spent time encouraging children to be active and exercise daily, talks to high school students about staying away from drugs and alcohol and the importance of getting an education.
Chestnut’s classmate, Jared Barber, earned the Curtis Jones Jr. Achievement Award in 2014.
The inaugural honor was bestowed upon linebacker Wes Tonkery in 2013. Tonkery, a Shinnston, W.Va. native, is one of those guys who lived and breathed WVU football growing up in West Virginia.
Fulfilling a dream of playing for the Mountaineers was just one gratifying component of his playing days. Giving back to the many youngsters who looked up to him, completed the full circle of what it truly means to be a Mountaineer.