It took one spring to seal it for Derrek Pitts. He's right at home in staying at home.
The former South Charleston High football star got a spring practice session under his belt as a defensive back at West Virginia University, and he said his decision to ultimately remain in the Mountain State was the best one to make.
"I wouldn't want to choose anywhere else but there," Pitts said.
WVU wasn't his original destination. Last summer, he sat behind a table at Dem 2 Brothers and a Grill restaurant and put a Penn State cap on his head, choosing the Nittany Lions over Tennessee, Maryland, WVU and others. A change of heart came in October, when he first rescinded his verbal commitment to PSU, then two weeks later announced he was headed to Morgantown.
Before enrolling in January, he had one heck of a send-off, earning honors as Kanawha Valley Player of the Year and the Carl Lee Award as the state's top prep football defensive back. He finished his senior season with 90 tackles (56 solo) and nine tackles for loss. He also piled up 1,169 all-purpose yards and scored 10 touchdowns - four on receptions, two on kickoff returns, two on fumble returns and one each on a punt return and an interception.
As successful as his prep career was, Pitts found out quickly what so many incoming freshmen do about the college game. It's so strikingly different than what they're used to and the time to acclimate to new schemes and faster speeds is at a premium.
That, he said, is the main reason he decided to say farewell to South Charleston a semester early and join WVU for spring practice. It used to be the main plan for prep quarterbacks, to arrive in the spring and get an extra few months with the playbook. The practice has branched out to other positions as well. Pitts hasn't regretted the move for a second, especially since he's learning defensive coordinator Tony Gibson's 3-3-5 defense.
"I was told the best thing to do was leave in January," he said. "I made the right decision. The [3-3-5] is a whole different defense and the college speed is a whole different level. I got the speed now, but when I got there I had to get adjusted to a lot of things. I had to learn how to finish through the line, how to be disciplined more at my position.
"Coming in earlier was an advantage," he said. "It was a head start on everybody else."
Pitts took a little time last weekend to help out at the Bruce Irvin Football Clinic at Little Creek Park in South Charleston. There, he stood shoulder to shoulder with former WVU greats like Irvin, Karl Joseph and Stedman Bailey and others to instruct area kids in the fundamentals of football. It was a kick for Pitts, who uses the Oakland Raiders in his video-game football exploits and was able to work with current Raiders like Irvin, Joseph and fellow clinic coach Khalil Mack at Little Creek Park.
Soon, though, it's back to Morgantown and more preparation for the 2017 campaign. He likes what he sees with the team so far, including with new quarterback Will Grier, who will be available for the Mountaineers' season opener versus Virginia Tech in Landover, Maryland.
"Will Grier is a great quarterback," Pitts said with a smile. "He's going to do special things for us."
Otherwise, Pitts will keep enjoying his journey through college football in Old Gold and Blue. It hasn't disappointed so far.
"It's just a blessing to play on the next level," he said. "Coach [Dana] Holgorsen, Coach [Gibson], Coach [Matt] Caponi, they brought me in with high expectations and I want to live up to them. They love me, I love them."
Contact Derek Redd at 304-348-1712 or derek.redd@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @derekredd.