The T-Shirt mentioned this possibility in the transfer thread:

Quote:Why James left WVU: Had ‘heart set on playing linebacker, not defensive end’
By Allan Taylor in WVU Sports | May 25, 2014 at 4:04PM

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s football coaches have been silent on the recent departure of spring-semester enrollee Davonte James, who was among the most highly recruited signees in the Mountaineers’ 2014 class.

Rivals.com photo
Springfield (Ohio) linebacker prospect Davonte James left West Virginia after spring semester.

In fact, there was really no acknowledgement at all of James leaving after the conclusion of spring practice; only a change to the online roster.

It appears to be a scenario players encounter frequently—being promised a chance to play one position during recruiting only to encounter a different situation upon arriving on campus.

A 6-foot-3, 230-pound standout linebacker at Springfield High School in Ohio, James enrolled in January but was impacted by the staff shuffling that occurred one month later when defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Keith Patterson left for Arizona State. Tony Gibson subsequently was promoted to coordinator, and newly hired assistant Damon Cogdell was assigned to linebackers.

Somewhat of a tweener, James reportedly was projected as a Buck linebacker during recruiting but was moved to defensive end during spring practice.

“I think Davonte had his heart set on playing linebacker, not defensive end,” a hometown source close to the player told MetroNews.

“When the coach who recruited him—who was going to be his position coach—left, they changed the defense from a 40 front back to a 3-3-5. Davonte felt that wasn’t in his best interests. It was totally a football decision.”

James was ranked a four-star linebacker by ESPN, which listed him the No. 9 overall prospect in Ohio and the nation’s 279th recruit overall. However, opinions on James varied drastically: He received a three-star rating from Rivals, whose analysts ranked him as the 74th-best player in Ohio.

James committed to West Virginia last August over Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Purdue and Illinois.

He reportedly is leaning toward transferring to Cincinnati.

So if I am thinking this out correctly WVU has to release James from his LOI so that he can be immediately eligible or does he have to sit the year out either way?

(05-26-2014 10:18 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  So if I am thinking this out correctly WVU has to release James from his LOI so that he can be immediately eligible or does he have to sit the year out either way?

I *think* he would have to apply for and be granted a hardship waiver from the ncaa in order to be eligible this year. As a true frosh, it's probably not critical he be eligible anyway.

Given that he's supposedly transferring for football reasons, that wouldn't apply anyway.

(05-26-2014 10:18 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  So if I am thinking this out correctly WVU has to release James from his LOI so that he can be immediately eligible or does he have to sit the year out either way?

As an early enrollee James didn't sign a letter of intent, just his grant in aid so he is not bound to WVU by the LOI system. This is sort of like the Kenbrell Thompkins situation, except James actually attended classes where KT did not. James will have to sit this year and will have five to play for wherever he winds up.

Sounds like he would be a solid pickup. Two 4-star LB's in the same class (along with Mouhon) is pretty solid, even though both seem like true MLB's if they are going to stay at LB.

You think these LBs want to be Tuberville's next Ray Lewis?