“I’M COMING HOME”: The Stunning Return of a Once-Burned Star to West Virginia Football
MORGANTOWN, WV — In a move that has ignited headlines and social media alike, West Virginia University has pulled off one of the most shocking reunions in recent college football memory. Former 5-star recruit Deylan “D-Train” Matthews, who infamously scorched the Mountaineers on his way out last season, has made a stunning return through the transfer portal—just four days into fall camp.
Matthews, a 6’3”, 230-pound outside linebacker once hailed as a generational talent from the DMV area, committed to WVU two years ago in a signing-day stunner that saw him choose the Mountaineers over Alabama, Georgia, and USC. But his tenure in Morgantown was turbulent from the start. Known for his intensity, Matthews clashed with coaching staff, had multiple disciplinary issues, and left the team mid-season last year after a cryptic Instagram post calling the WVU culture “toxic.”
His departure was no less theatrical. In a since-deleted tweet, he wrote: “Some programs build men. Some build pressure. I need peace.” That exit was seen as the nail in the coffin for any possible return. Yet here we are: August 3, and Matthews is back in the gold and blue, reportedly welcomed with open arms by Coach Neal Brown and several key players.
What changed?
Sources close to the program say that behind closed doors, Matthews had been in contact with team leaders throughout the summer. “There was always love,” said senior cornerback Alonzo Greene. “We’re brothers before we’re teammates. Yeah, things were messy, but sometimes you need to leave to see what you had.”
Matthews, meanwhile, entered the portal in June after a brief and underwhelming spring stint at Oregon. A source inside the Ducks’ locker room hinted that Matthews “never gelled” with their defensive scheme. With limited NIL options and dwindling playing time, the prodigal linebacker reportedly reached out to WVU staff in late July, saying simply: “I’m coming home.”
The return wasn’t without conditions. Matthews will be on a short leash, per insiders, with weekly behavior evaluations and limited media access. But he appears motivated. “I made mistakes,” he said in a brief team-released video. “But this is where I belong. Let’s work.”
The reaction from fans has been mixed. “He called us toxic and dipped. Now he wants back? Nah,” one Twitter user posted. But others are more forgiving. “Redemption arcs are part of football too,” said lifelong Mountaineer fan Rachel Dunlap. “If he balls out and helps us win, all is forgiven.”
Make no mistake: this is a high-stakes gamble for both parties. For West Virginia, it’s a chance to regain elite defensive talent. For Matthews, it’s a shot at rewriting his legacy in the very place he once scorched on the way out.
The countdown to kickoff just got a whole lot more interesting.
