W. Va. wide receiver learning from NFL cousin Chad Ochocinco

When West Virginia wide receiver Ivan McCartney tells people "it runs in the family," it carries a little more weight than the average person.

As the cousin of New England Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco, McCartney has big shoes to fill if he hopes to carry on the family tradition.

But despite his own initial doubts, McCartney said others have seen glimpses of the six-time Pro Bowler in his play.

"When people started telling me things like that, I didn't believe them at first," said the sophomore wide out. "Then I started to watch myself and saw that a lot of the things I did mimicked everything that he did. He's part of the reason I play the way I do now, especially my route running."

While it's only his second year on campus in Morgantown, W. VA., McCartney has already established his role in the high-powered Mountaineer offense, which ranks No. 7 in the nation in pass offense with 356 yards per game and No. 15 in scoring offense, averaging 42 points per game.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 178-pounder leads all Mountaineers with two touchdown receptions. He is second on the team with 17 catches and third on the squad with 211 receiving yards.

The Miami native developed into a four-star recruit and pledged his allegiance to West Virginia over a slew of offers from across the nation, including Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Oregon, to name a few.

"I prayed about it and asked God to give me the right fit, and this is where I ended up," McCartney said. "In high school, we played in the same type of offense as Coach [Dana] Holgorsen — the spread and the fast tempo — so it helped out once Coach Holgorsen got here because we were already used to something like that."

McCartney was recruited out of Miramar High School by former West Virginia wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway, who has since been hired as co-passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Wake Forest.

McCartney said Galloway was one of the major influences in his decision to become a Mountaineer, but added that the 1,200-mile move from home had him calling his older cousin, Ochocinco, when he was feeling homesick.

"We've hung out plenty of times before and we talk from here to there," McCartney said. "I call him when I'm under pressure and get the home fix sometimes, being away from home. I'd call him and ask him how he would deal with those types of things. He gave me advice and it helped out."

McCartney may have needed more help last season, when he recorded only one reception for four yards.

Despite the Mountaineers returning four of their top-five wide receivers from last season, McCartney has worked his way into a starting role the past two games against Norfolk State and Maryland.

"He's playing well and improving every day," Holgorsen said. "He's still young. His attitude is great, his work ethic is great, his effort and his ball skills are great, and he's a guy that we should continue to see get better as this year goes on."

McCartney and the Mountaineers have a tough task Saturday, as they face an LSU defense that ranks as the No. 6 total defense, allowing 207.67 yards per game, and the No. 14 scoring defense, surrendering 12 points per game.

"They look pretty fast, physical, smart, patient and very good," McCartney said. "They have a very talented secondary and a very talented defense, period. We just have to come out, play fast, play high tempo and do our assignments and everything will play out. Mountaineer nation is going to be crazy."

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Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com