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Former WVU linebacker Marc Magro credits position switch in high school

Marc Magro was inducted into the University High School hall of fame on Friday night.

 

— By Sean Manning, The Dominion Post

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Marc Magro thinks back to the summer before his senior year at University High in 2002 and what would’ve been different if the switch wasn’t made.

A defensive end at the time, Magro was asked to move to linebacker by coach John Kelley.

“Coach Kelley was paramount in me moving on to the next level at WVU,” Magro said. “Just a little insight into his wisdom and experience, he moved me to linebacker my senior year. If it wasn’t for that move, I never would have received a scholarship to play at WVU.”

Magro was one of 10 members inducted into the inaugural UHS Sports Hall of Class on Friday night. He was an all-state defender for the Hawks before joining the Mountaineers, where he played in 51 games as a linebacker from 2004-07. He finished his college career with 188 tackles — 20 for loss — and four forced fumbles.

Magro eventually got a shot in the NFL, playing with the St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

All of his college success at West Virginia and short professional career came down to a decision from Kelley.

“Coach (Rich) Rodriguez and Tony Gibson even told me that they wanted to see how I moved in space and how I played at linebacker. With Coach Kelley moving me to playing linebacker, WVU got the opportunity to witness me play there.”

Rodriguez was known for being a tough coach during his time at West Virginia, but Magro got a taste of that while he was in high school from Kelley.

“Rich Rodriguez was a demanding coach and expected a lot of out of you, and Coach Kelley, in a similar fashion, was that way,” Magro said. “Coach Kelley was very respectful but he expected a lot of you and you had to prove yourself each and every day.”

Others enshrined Friday were Rich Braham, Rebecca Burbridge, Duke Pride, Bobby Watts, Edward Solomon, Homer Fizer, John Harvey, M. Steven Davis and current St. Louis Cardinal infielder Jedd Gyorko.

Against the backdrop of Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium, the inductees were honored before the Hawks’ football game against Wheeling Park. A plaque was dedicated inside the school.

“I’m humbled to be honored to be with the likeness of these men and women,” Magro said. “I’m extremely grateful for the men and women that got me here. It’s not about what Marc Magro accomplished, it’s about what everyone else accomplished to get me to where I’ve gotten. My parents, my sisters, all the coaches, the athletic trainers — it’s really an honor to those people more than anything.”