HUNTINGTON -- C.J. Crawford was back on the field Wednesday with the Huntington High School football team.
Crawford had intentions of leaving Huntington High and enrolling at Nitro High School to play football. But, the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission squashed that plan.
"The WVSSAC ruled that I was athletically ineligible to play at Nitro and that's why I came back to Huntington," Crawford said. "I'm just happy to be back at my school playing football and I'm glad I'll be able to graduate here. I've come back here to compete for my job as starting quarterback.
"I just want to come in here and help the team win and I hope there is no hard feelings by any of my teammates or coaches."
Huntington High athletic director Bruce Senior said Crawford enrolled Wednesday afternoon. Senior said principal Greg Webb made the ruling that Crawford is a student at Huntington High and is eligible to compete.
Crawford completed the drug testing seminar and paperwork necessary to be able to play, Senior said.
The Highlanders practiced Wednesday evening with Crawford lined up at the safety position he played on defense last season.
But, the better question is how soon Crawford will get the chance to regain his job as starting quarterback?
Crawford was named as the state's top college prospect for the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com. Crawford is among the top high school players in the nation and narrowed his list of colleges to West Virginia, Marshall, Penn State, Virginia and Wake Forest.
His blazing 4.38-second speed in the 40-yard dash attracted the attention of many college coaches and earned Crawford invitations to some highly regarded football camps.
Huntington High coach Zach Wilson said Crawford was welcomed back with open arms and he's back where he belongs.
"There has never been a problem with C.J.," Wilson said. "He is a good athlete and it helps us having him back. He will get to tryout for whatever position he wants to play and he will play the position that works best for the team.
"He will go right in the mix and start splitting reps with our other two quarterbacks. This definitely helps our team having C.J. back and it changes everything."
On Monday when the Highlanders opened practice Wilson declared a two-man quarterback competition between sophomores Tyler Hutchison and Steve Thacker.
Now, they're competing against a veteran quarterback who passed for more than 1,600 yards last season, threw 13 touchdown passes and ran for more than 500 yards and seven scores.
WVSSAC executive director Gary Ray would not comment on whether Crawford was ruled ineligible at Nitro, but he did elaborate on Rule 127-2-7.2.5 of the WVSSAC Rules and Regulations handbook which states, "Not withstanding any other provisions of WVSSAC rules and regulations, if a student transfers for athletic reasons, the student will be ineligible for 365 days from the date of enrollment."
While the rule states that a student would be deemed ineligible for 365 days, the rule does not take into effect if the student goes back to the school from which they transferred in the first place.
Ray clarified the hypothetical scenario.
"If a student is declared ineligible at a school because it has been deemed that they moved for athletic purposes, they can return to their previous school and be eligible if they meet all other eligibility requirements," Ray said.
Jason McClure and Grant Traylor are reporters for The Herald-Dispatch. Call them at 526-2759. Send e-mails to jamcclure@herald-dispatch.com or gtraylor@herald-dispatch.com.
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