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Ferrum College’s football program will be the beneficiary of Kenston Forest School (KFS) standout Jah’Tavious Houston’s talents beginning with the 2020 season.

Houston committed to attend Ferrum and play for the Panthers at a June 10 signing ceremony,.

“A couple tears did come to my eyes,” he said when sharing what the achievement meant to him, noting it was something he worked hard for.

Houston’s mother, Joy Baskerville, said seeing him seal his accomplishment with the signing was particularly meaningful to her.

“It was a wonderful feeling because I have four sons, and out of the four — he’s the last one — he’s the only one to attend college,” she said.

Houston said he wants his academic major to be sports-related, possibly sports management or sports therapy.

Before Houston was slicing through defenses as a running back for the Kavaliers, he competed in Lunenburg County. He played for Lunenburg Middle School as a seventh and eighth grader and then played for Central High School as a freshman and sophomore.

He reclassified as a sophomore when he transferred to Kenston Forest and played three years with the Kavs, competing in 11-man football in 2017 and then making the shift with the Kavs to eight-man football in 2018 and 2019.

Originally, though, basketball was his main sport.

“He loved the game of basketball,” Baskerville said. “And then over the years, he said his coaches kind of pointed out, ‘You love basketball, but it seems you’re stronger in football.’ So then he just began to love the game of football.”

Houston said he was more into basketball until he dislocated his shoulder during his reclassified sophomore year at Kenston Forest.

“My coach had talked to me about a new college looking at me for football, so that’s when I made that decision to change sports,” he said.

He noted other schools were interested in him, but Ferrum was the most proactive in its pursuit, which played a key role in making it the option he chose.

“They were like the first school that reached out and actually really wanted me,” he said. “Plus, I like their coaching staff.”

Kenston Forest Head Coach Joseph Kaiser expressed excitement in seeing one of his stars set to play in college.

“I am so proud of Jah Houston,” Kaiser said. “He worked so hard for his teammates and our program in my first year at KFS. I know he will do great things at Ferrum. He will be a slot (wide receiver) and return specialist in 2020 for them.”

Kaiser said Houston is a leader through and through, on and off the field.

“He is a great Christian leader in his community and on the field,” the coach added. “He provides energy and always gives 110%.”

For helping him reach his present level of achievement, Houston offered thanks to his family, including his mother, grandmother, aunt, brothers and sisters.