WVU’s Larry Jefferson arrested in Morgantown

Larry Jefferson could have made a big impact with the WVU football team this season. After a recent arrest, coupled with other issues, it appears that he will no longer be a member of the Mountaineers.

A redshirt senior, Larry Jefferson, could have been a starter on the defensive line in 2016. He appeared in just eight games in 2015, but had a spot prepared for him this season.

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On Tuesday morning, Jefferson was arrested in Morgantown for possession of marijuana and cocaine. Two substances no college athlete should ever be associated with.

There are plenty of temptations when going away to college, especially for a college athlete. Getting involved with the illegal drugs is always a recipe for disaster. With staff members and graduate assistants monitoring the players’ every move, it’s a wonder why some people still take the risk.

Technically, Jefferson was not even on the WVU football team at the time of his arrest. Jefferson, along with several other players, were suspended for spring activities. Despite being behind in terms of practice time and fitness level, Jefferson still could have made an impact this year.

Now, it looks like his playing days are over. Jefferson is no longer listed on the official WVUsports.com roster.

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Jefferson came to Morgantown after a two-year stint at Itawamba Community College. There, he played along the defensive line after graduating from Banneker High School in College Park, Ga. Out of high school, Jefferson was named to the All-State team and he was considered one of the Top 100 prospects in the talent-rich state of Georgia.

When the WVU football depth chart came out earlier in July, Jefferson was not on the two-deep roster at any position on the defensive line. This was because of his earlier suspension.

Listed as starters were Noble Nwachukwu (defensive end), Darrien Howard (nose tackle) and Christian Brown (defensive end). Jon Lewis, Alec Shriner and Adam Shuler are the backups.

Larry Jefferson had a chance to make strides as a senior football player at West Virginia, but instead chose to throw it away with a handful of bad decisions.