MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Coach Neal Brown confirmed that senior safety JoVanni Stewart is no longer part of the West Virginia football team on Tuesday.
“JoVanni has made the decision to not be an active participant,” Brown said. “As a result he is no longer a member of the team this fall.”
When asked if there was a possibility of Stewart returning to the program next season, Brown said “I’m just dealing with the here and now, honestly.”
Stewart started the first four games at the spear position before deciding to sit out the Texas game and redshirt the remainder of the season.
Last year the NCAA passed legislation aimed at freshman players that would allow them to play in up to four games while preserving their redshirt, but this year Stewart is already the second senior in the Big 12 who has jumped through the loophole. Kansas running back Khalil Herbert is also redshirting the remainder of the year.
Brown didn’t want to say whether the rule should be tweaked this offseason.
“I don’t think it’s the best to speak on it in the middle of the season,” Brown said. “I’d have to think about it. I’m not at that point right now. Any rule has unintended consequences.”
Freshman Tykee Smith has taken Stewart’s place in the starting lineup.
“Tykee had himself in a position to play more before that,” Brown said. “Infectious attitude. Loves football. Loves the weight room. Enjoys the grind of it. You don’t get that all the time.”