Eric McGhee

Eric McGhee

Eric McGhee

(Class of 1991)

Eric McGhee was a sensational three-sport standout for the Maroon Knights and the school’s first and still only winner of the prestigious Kennedy Award, given annually to West Virginia most outstanding high school football player. That same season saw McGhee also recognized as the state’s Gatorade Circle of Champions and the Morgantown Touchdown Club’s player of the year. Following a senior season which  saw him rush for a then modern Ohio Valley record of 2,479 yards on 307 carries while scoring 30 touchdowns, McGhee joined 50 athletes across the country on the USA Today football team and he earned recognition from the Touchdown Club of Atlanta. During the 1990 season he led the state in scoring with 192 points on 34 total touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, he logged four interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown. As a junior, McGhee finished second in the Kennedy Award voting after leading the Ohio Valley in rushing, accumulating 1,565 yards on 201 carries. He scored 28 touchdowns  and 172 points overall to lead all West Virginia high school football players. Locally he twice was named captain of the all-Valley Small School team and the all-OVAC Class AA squad.  The two-time all-stater, McGhee’s junior and senior seasons saw the Maroon Knights post a 20-2 record. Central Catholic finished 9-1 in 1989 and 11-1 in 1980 before bowing out against repeat state champion East Bank in the semifinals of the WV Class AA playoffs.

  Along with his football accolades, he played on the Maroon Knights’ 1990 Class AA state championship basketball team. In baseball the Wheeling Central Catholic standout earned OVAC Class AA player of the year honors as a lead-off batter for the Maroon Knights.

  After his prep career, Eric received a scholarship from Bowling Green State University. He played two years serving primarily as kick returner. In 1992, he was a member of the Falcon’ 10-2 record squad that won the Las Vegas Bowl. He led the team in kickoff returns with 14 for 269 yards, including 125 yards against Wisconsin. Later, he played two seasons of indoor professional football with the Wheeling-based Steel Valley Smash. In August of this year McGhee will be inducted into the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

 

2019-06-10T15:11:52-04:00
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