Redshirt sophomore Michael Ferns doesn’t hesitate when he says it.

“I should have come here in the first place,” the former Michigan transfer said.

A four-star prospect with offers from all over Ferns elected to sign with Michigan out of high school in large part because he felt he got “caught up,” in the recruiting process.

It’s not that he wasn’t happy with the Wolverines, it’s just that Ferns had a strong connection with the West Virginia football program and was even in attendance for the Orange Bowl so the ties were already there. He always felt that Morgantown was home even when he elected to go elsewhere.

“If you go off the idea that someone should go to the place they really care about and growing up watching I should have been here,” Ferns said.

So when the staff that recruited him at Michigan was fired, he realized that he had a chance to right that wrong so to speak and potentially play for the Mountaineers. His first call was to offensive line coach Ron Crook who he had developed a relationship with throughout his initial recruitment.

“I said hey is there any opportunity here?” Ferns said.

The answer to that was yes, and Ferns would quickly transfer to West Virginia. After sitting out a redshirt season at Michigan, he was going to be asked to do the same for a second consecutive season something that can prove quite challenging to some players asked to only do it once.

That’s a long time away from the game of football.

And one that can become mentally exhausting at times with nothing to show for your hard work outside of developing as a player.

“The staff really took care of me. I feel like I’m stronger and faster with what I did the last year not being able to play,” Ferns said.

On the field there was never any doubt that Ferns would start his career on the offensive side and he has taken advantage of every opportunity he has been given to date. Serving mostly in a blocking role at both full back and tight end, Ferns has administered some punishing blocks this season to date.

He has embraced the role that comes with being a blocker. All the work and none of the glory, but being on the field means that he is living out a dream at a place he refers to as home. But making those blocks requires him flipping on a switch and becoming aggressive when inserted into the game.

“When we score it feels good,” Ferns said.

Against Texas Tech he saw a total of six offensive snaps, four of which resulted in touchdowns.

“Maybe I need to get him on the field a little more,” running backs coach JaJuan Seider said.

But through it all, he became a source of encouragement himself. Now, with two years of sitting out under his belt he serves as a point of reference for players going through redshirt seasons. He also has used his experiences to help out his own brother, Brendan, who is sitting out this season due to injury.

“I try to help guys out here. I get it. I have a story to tell,” he said.

But for now Ferns is just enjoying every moment he has on the field and the fact that he is getting to do it in a place he is comfortable and at home.

“It feels great to wear that flying WV on the helmet,” he said. “It feels like I’m actually home.”