Parkersburg High School’s Bryson Singer, center, agreed to continue his career as a student-athlete to play football at West Virginia University on Wednesday afternoon inside Memorial Fieldhouse. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — When it finally came down to it, Parkersburg High School’s Bryson Singer elected to stay “home” and the Big Red senior made it official Wednesday afternoon inside Memorial Fieldhouse by choosing to continue his career as a student-athlete for West Virginia University and head Mountaineer football coach Neal Brown.

The Big Reds’ all-time career all-purpose total yards leader didn’t make it known until after he read a statement and then opened up his jacket to show off his WVU T-shirt and accompanying hat he placed on his head, which led to a large cheer from the gathered crowd.

“First off, I’d like to thank God for putting me in this position,” he said. “I would also like to thank my mom (Jana), dad (Brian) and grandparents because none of this would be possible without them.

“I would also like to thank all the coaches who have pushed me to become the player I am today. With that being said, I’m 100% committed to West Virginia University.”

Singer made his third visit to Morgantown on Saturday and admitted he likes “just being close to home and playing in front of everybody I know and try to be the hometown hero, I guess.”

Aside from WVU, the Big Red also was heavily considering Cincinnati, Marshall, VMI and a couple of Division II programs. The Bearcats losing offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock to LSU also was a factor in his decision. “That wasn’t the only thing that changed my mind, but that was a big part of it,” said Singer, who is the career Big Red touchdown leader with 69 along with being the career points leader, having the most total yards in a game, the longest touchdown pass, the first signal-caller to rush for 200-plus yards in a contest as well as becoming the first Big Red gridder ever to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards in a season, which he accomplished during his sophomore campaign.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder said assistant coach Jeff Casteel “showed a lot of love to me.”

A planned business major who has a 3.5 GPA this year, Singer doesn’t yet know how he will be utilized as a Mountaineer.

“I’m tired of everybody asking me,” quipped Singer of finally making the decision. “Most of my school is already paid for. It’s honestly crazy.

“They’ve put so much money into that facility. I don’t even know how to describe it. Not everybody gets this opportunity to be part of this great school. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Overall, Signer is mentioned 39 times now in the updated Big Red record book and when asked if any of his accolades stand out more than the others he replied “probably having the most all-purpose yards in school history. Maybe, I guess, the most total yards in a game.”

Singer also finished third all-time in career rushing yards with 3,380.

“I’d rather play offense, but wherever I get to see the field the fastest,” he said. “I feel like it’s (being a college student-athlete) going to be stressful, but I’m used to the stress. I’ve been going through it my whole life.”

When asked if he had a top moment in his career as far as being a Big Red, he steadfastly replied “the Friday nights.

“I’ll never forget those. I’ve got to grind as hard as I can so I’m already prepared when I get up there and I’m not behind on anything.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com