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Updated Apr 3, 2009 6:30 PM ET
     
 
Back-to-back seven-win seasons have West Virginia State University hungry for more. With a talent like quarterback Kevin O'Brien, Yellow Jackets coach Earl Monroe says this may be the year for his program to take the next step. "He's our team leader," Monroe said of O'Brien. "He is a tremendous talent but this is his last go-around. He has had some success here, but we won't be satisfied with it unless he gets out of here with a championship." O'Brien returns for his senior season following a junior year that saw the 6-foot-4 quarterback throw for 2,220 yards and 16 touchdowns in nine games as the Yellow Jackets posted a 7-3 record. "We had a good year, but we are by no means satisfied," Monroe said. "We want to be [West Virginia] conference champs. That's our immediate goal. Then we want to get into the [NCAA] Division II playoffs and see what happens." State's spring drills began this week with a corps of truly committed players, Monroe said. "Our numbers are down a little because we lost some guys that decided that they didn't want to make the sacrifices needed in winter conditioning," Monroe said. "Some of them couldn't cut it. But the 50 guys that are here have been working hard. It's been a pleasant spring so far. "We're doing all we can to put all of the pieces of the puzzle in place." The cupboard isn't bare by any stretch. "We have what I call our 'Big Three' coming back: O'Brien, junior wide receiver Jermain King and junior running back Brian Mitchell," said Monroe. "They're our producers on offense so we're pretty optimistic that we're going to be good on that side of the ball." King had 51 catches for 722 yards last year for State and was a second-team All-WVC pick. Although he missed three games due to injury, Mitchell racked up 876 and 10 touchdowns on the ground in just seven contests. Monroe, in his fourth season as head coach at State, expressed confidence that the Jackets have a program to be reckoned with. "After another 7-3 season last year, I think a lot of people are realizing that this program is for real," he said. "I think we've turned the corner. But it's tough every year because everyone else is recruiting and trying to do the same thing. It's tough in this conference. You have to be ready to compete every week. You have to play 60 minutes to survive." The Black and Gold scrimmage is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 25 at Lakin Field.
Tagged: West Virginia, Virginia

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