WVU Football Home Grown Players
When Head Coach Dana Holgorsen arrived at WVU there were grumblings about the lack of home-grown players on the team. Going down the roster today, I feel confident that under Holgorsen we have seen a significant increase of players from in state. Here is the list of players playing at WVU who are actually from WV:
- TE/FB Elijah Wellman Huntington
- Kicker Mike Molina Hurricane
- LB Justin Arndt Martinsburg
- Safety Shane Commodore Morgantown
- RB Brady Watson Ridgeley
- TE Trevon Wesco Gerrardstown
- Safety Dante Bonamico Bridgeport
- LB Shea Campbell Morgantown
- LB Jonah Campbell Morgantown
- DL D. J. Carozza Parkersburg
- LB Max Chefren Parkersburg
- DL Reese Donahue Ona
- TE/FB Elijah Drummond Bridgeport
- TE Nate Green Wellsburg
- K/P Billy Kinney Morgantown
- TE/FB Jon Lewis Morgantown
- LB Troy Lilly Beckley
- Safety Deamonte Lindsay Martinsburg
- LS Nick Meadows Williamstown
- Safety Jordan Miller Bridgeport
- LS Kyle Poland Morgantown
- Safety Mark Shaver Huntington
- Safety Kody Shearer Morgantown
- Kicker Evan Staley Romney
- Kicker Evan Stire Morgantown
- Safety Dylan Tonkery Bridgeport
- TE/FB Matt Vucelik McMechen
- LB Carter Walburn Martinsburg
- WR Connor Watts Hurricane
- TE/FB Stone Wolfley Morgantown
As you can see WVU has 30 home-grown WV players on its rosters. Many are preferred walk-ons while some have scholarships, but the important thing is that all of the young men are getting an opportunity to play for their home state university while getting a quality education. Some of the walk-ons will become key starters or backups and a few will later be given a scholarship for thier key efforts.
Many will contribute as important members of the scout team helping to prepare the Mountaineers for upcoming opponents. All contribute to the success of WVU football.
Some already have game experience such as: Elijah Wellman, Mike Molina, and Justin Arndt. Nick Meadows will most likely see the field in 2016 as a long snapper. According to Coach Seider, RB Brady Watson is beginning to impress the coaches.
We can complain about Head Coach Dana Holgorsen all we want, but this is one area in which I have to applaud him and his coaching staff. I don’t think I’ve ever seen 30 home-grown WV players on WVU’s roster before. I’m sure we’ll see many of these players on the field during games. We may even see a few in the NFL.
This is something we can all be proud of as fans, alumni, and as West Virginians.
I wish all the young men the Best of Luck and . . . . . GO EERs!
