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Jovon Durante transfers from WVU football to FAU

By Matthew Peaslee

MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 20: Dana Holgorsen of the West Virginia Mountaineers looks on during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 20, 2014 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - NOVEMBER 20: Dana Holgorsen of the West Virginia Mountaineers looks on during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 20, 2014 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Jovon Durante has been missing from WVU football training camp in Morgantown the past few weeks. His absence was explained over the weekend because Durante will be transferring from the WVU football team to FAU.

The Mountaineers’ loss will be Lane Kiffin’s gain. The infamous head coach is looking to rebuild the Owls’ program and Durante will breathe fire into the team’s offense. Durante will have to sit out this season, though. He can fully join FAU in 2018.

In 25 career games for the WVU football team, Jovon Durante had 59 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns.

Those statistics will leave a hole at wide receiver depth for the Mountaineers. It’s especially troubling because the WVU football team will be without the services of Marcus Simms, who was suspended for the first game against Virginia Tech on Sept. 3. Simms was arrested last week after being arrested for his second DUI violation, while also driving under a suspended license.

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The loss of both Simms and Durante will leave the Mountaineers with an uphill challenge against the ACC’s Hokies. The renewed Battle for the Black Diamond Trophy already has enough storylines as this classic college football rivalry is being played again. It’s just a shame that the Mountaineers won’t be fully stacked like they originally anticipated.

Durante, out of famed Miramar High School, was an excellent pickup for the WVU football team in 2015. He started 17 games. His 41-yard touchdown reception against Georgia Southern also happened to be his first collegiate reception.

He would have been the perfect target as the Mountaineers break in new quarterback Will Grier. The Florida transfer will have other receivers to throw to, most namely Ka’Raun White, Gary Jennings and David Sills.

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Last year, White had five touchdowns and a total of 583 receiving yards. Jennings finished with 10 catches for 165 yards, two touchdowns and a long of 58 yards. Sills, who originally was fighting for a quarterback spot with the Mountaineers, had seven catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns in seven games in 2015.

Last year, Sills played for El Camino College where completed 127-of-237 passes for 1,636 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2016. He also rushed for 258 yards on 96 carries with five touchdowns.

He returned to the WVU football this off season and will already be set to compete for a starting job at wideout.

The Mountaineers may not miss a beat on offense, but it sure would have been nice if Durante was leading the charge. He can’t be faulted for transferring to FAU. He is from South Florida, his grandmother recently passed away and he wants to be closer to his girlfriend.

We wish Durante the best of luck at his new school.

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