Huntington football coach Billy Seals watches from the sidelines as the HighlandersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ game against Hurricane gets ready to start on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Hurricane, West Virginia.
Huntington's Tayveon Wilson (11) celebrates a score against Hurricane during a high school football game on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Huntington High School.
Huntington football coach Billy Seals watches from the sidelines as the HighlandersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ game against Hurricane gets ready to start on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Hurricane, West Virginia.
Huntington's Tayveon Wilson (11) celebrates a score against Hurricane during a high school football game on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Huntington High School.
The Huntington Highlanders have been one of the top football teams in West Virginia under coach Billy SealsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ watch.
No Highlanders coach has coached longer nor won more games in school history than Seals.
HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s also produced high-level talent in Cabell County.
SealsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ most notable former player is lineman Darnell Wright, who is currently playing on Sundays for the Chicago Bears.
In SealsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ time at Huntington, the Highlanders have had 39 first-team all-state selections, with multiple players being recognized multiple times.
The latest player to cement his name with the rest is sophomore Tayveon Wilson.
Wilson announced in November his commitment to play football at Clemson University.
He chose Clemson over Penn State, Miami (Florida), Louisville and WVU.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t think weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve ever had a four-sport kid like Tayveon,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not a four-sport that doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t play any or impact the game. HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a four-sport stud. If you watch all our guys that have had success across all divisions, theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve all been multi-sport guys. We promote that at our place. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s important for our guys to be well-rounded.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIf you look at college recruiting, theyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re not recruiting those guys that specialize in one sport. They like those guys that can do a lot of different things.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The other Power Four-bound player on HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s roster is running back/defensive back Zah Jackson, who signed Wednesday with WVU.
There are a few former Highlanders playing Division I football, like Wayne Harris and Gavin Lochow.
Harris has appeared in three games this season as a freshman for the Golden Flashes.
Lochow was primarily a quarterback at Huntington.
However, the former Highlander has transitioned to wide receiver and has thrived in a few seasons at Dayton.
Lochow has recorded a team-best 59 receptions for 488 yards and five touchdowns this season for the Flyers.
Seals doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t think thereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s any specific formula for the success former Highlanders have had at the next level.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe kids have to be talented,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s no magic wand that weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve waved and these kids are college football players. They have to be talented and academically have to be in great standing. All those guys are. They also have to be willing to be coachable. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve done a great job of developing our guys, not only on the field but in the film room.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWhen our guys walk into college, you donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t see our guys in the transfer portal a whole lot. TheyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re committed. They get on the field and produce.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Bryce Damous, Billy Ross and Luke Zban were other former Highlanders who Seals pointed out as examples of HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s success at the next level.
According to Seals, during his watch, the Highlanders have pumped out 60 college football players.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been able to produce high-level guys,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Seals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThis is what you have to do. ItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s instant credibility. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re giving guys an opportunity to go play a sport they love for four or five more years. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re giving kids an opportunity to get a college education, get a degree, then better their lives outside of football. All of that has given our program validity that weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re doing it the right way.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Taylor Kennedy covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-7935 or tkennedy@hdmediallc.com. Follow on Twitter.
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