Battling back from any injury can be a difficult process. When you have to deal with it on multiple occassions, it becomes even more challenging.

St. Clairsville graduate Brendan Ferns is currently in that position.

The West Virginia University linebacker has not seen the field yet this season as he continues to battle back from his second ACL tear.

The latest tear, which was sustained during the spring, came on the heels of a season-ending injury in 2017.

This week, in his weekly media conference, Mountaineers’ head coach Dana Holgorsen was asked about Ferns’ progress. According to Holgorsen, Ferns still isn’t practicing and is probably “about a month away” from practicing.

“We’re going to get (him) back,” Holgorsen said. “I don’t make any of those decisions. If they’re practicing, I can assure you, they’d be playing. (Ferns) isn’t cleared, he’s not practicing. The closer we get to that six-month mark, the better we’ll all feel about it.”

Here’s a look at other area products:

FOOTBALL

Division I

COLTON MCKIVITZ, West Virginia — Union Local grad started once again and played well in the Mountaineers’ victory against Kansas.

JOSH SILLS, West Virginia — Meadowbrook product started at right guard and was named to the Pro Football Focus weekly Big 12 team.

AUSTIN DORRIS, Indiana — Shadyside grad played on a bevy of special teams and caught a pass in the first half of the Hoosiers’ loss at Ohio State.

ROSS COMIS, UMass — Madonna product completed 12-of-23 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown.

CHUCKWUDI CHUCKWU, Ohio — Linsly graduate had a tackle in the Bobcats’ win over Kent.

MAALIK RICHMOND, Youngstown State — Steubenville product had three tackles and a sack in a win over Southern Illinois.

Division II

ROBERT VARGO, Ohio Dominican — Martins Ferry graduate started at right guard for the nationally-ranked Panthers.

MATT BARBOUR, Ohio Dominican — Martins Ferry product played in the Panthers’ win over Walsh.

COLE SKAGGS, West Virginia Wesleyan — St. Clairsville grad had an impressive outing in a victory. He recorded seven tackles, five of which were solo and he forced a fumble in the win over Charleston.

MATT HACKATHORN, Gannon — Wheeling Park graduate started at right tackle in a loss.

NATE PHILLIPS, West Liberty — West Liberty graduate made his collegiate debut last week in a loss to Shepherd. He caugt a pass for 8 yards.

MAZEY MOSBY, West Liberty — Wheeling Park grad had a big game in a loss to Shepherd. He rushed 4 times for 23 yards and caught 2 passes for 28 yards.

JACK DAVIS, West Liberty — Martins Ferry product appeared in last week’s game.

BRENTON COLABELLA, West Liberty — Steubenville Central graduate completed 18-of-32 passes for 195 yards in last week’s start.

CODY ENRIETTI, West Liberty — Weir High product had four tackles last week.

CODY RINE, West Liberty — Brooke graduate had four tackles.

CLIFFORD CLARK, West Liberty — Cambridge graduate had 18 tackles to lead the Hilltoppers last week.

THEO BLACKSTON, Mercyhurst — Wheeling Park graduate caught 2 passes for 19 yards.

DEVON HARRIS, Walsh — St. Clairsville graduate caught a pass for 6 yards in a loss to Ohio Dominican.

ALIJAH DEMTRIAS, Walsh — Steubenville graduate started on the offensive line at center in last week’s game.

JACK FITCH, Wheeling Jesuit — Martins Ferry product played wide receiver and handled the punting duties during the Cardinals’ latest victory at Frostburg State.

RYAN LAFOLLETTE, Wheeling Jesuit — Monroe Central alumnus continued to shine for the Cardinals. He caught a pair of touchdowns last week.

Division III

TANNER CLARK, Marietta — Caldwell High graduate rushed 34 times for 232 yars and 3 touchdowns. He caught two passes for 13 yards.

GAGE GIOVENGO, Marietta — Linsly School graduate caught 2 passes for 32 yards.

PARKER CARETTI, Marietta — River product caught a pass for 7 yards.

LUCAS HERRINGTON, Mount Union — Steubenville graduate caught 2 passes for 20 yards and scored a touchdown in a win over Wilmington.

CHRISTIAN WITCHEY, St. Vincent’s — St. Clairsville graduate punted three times for 115 yards, which is a 38.3 yard average. He had a long of 45 yards.

SOCCER

CAT CALISSIE, West Liberty — Wheeling Central grad scored the only goal of the game to lift the Hilltoppers to a victory at Urbana.

CROSS COUNTRY

MEGAN BATEMAN, California, Pa. — Union Local grad was the fifth runner for the Vulcans, who won the Carnegie Mellon Invitational with 54 points. She finished 20th overall in 21:05.

JAMIE FOGLE, West Liberty — Martins Ferry graduate was fifth on the Hilltoppers at the Carnegie-Mellon Invite last weekend, running a solid time of 23:42.

ZAC BANKS, West Liberty — St. Clairsville graduate finished 45th overall and was seventh on the Hilltoppers’ team at Carnegie-Mellon.

SOFTBALL

A TRIO of area graduates — Kierstyn Czuchran (Buckeye Local), Alexia Dowdle (Harrison Central) and Jolyn Shunk (St. Clairsville) were honored by the National Fastpitch Coaching Association as an Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete recipient.