McCartney returns to West Virginia

Published May. 21, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Wide receiver Ivan McCartney is returning to West Virginia's roster six months after leaving the team.

West Virginia football spokesman Mike Montoro on Monday confirmed McCartney's return.

McCartney left for personal reasons last November after making nine catches for 112 yards in his junior season. McCartney was third on the team in 2011 with 49 catches for 585 yards.

He quit a week after freshman wide receiver Travares Copeland left the team. Both had struggled to get playing time behind Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and J.D. Woods.

Austin and Bailey were selected in April's NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams, while Woods signed a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Jordan Thompson as the Mountaineers' leading returning receiver with 13 receptions for 85 yards in 2012.

Other receivers who will try to make a mark with West Virginia this fall are sophomore K.J. Myers, junior college transfer Kevin White, redshirt freshman Devonte Mathis and freshman Daikiel Shorts.

The 6-foot-2 McCartney was a teammate of former WVU quarterback Geno Smith at Miramar (Fla.) High School. Three quarterbacks will be battling for Smith's starting job in August.