When the college season ended back in January, all eyes turned to the NFL Draft. Everyone knew that WVU had three sure fire draft picks in Geno Smith, Tavon Austin, and Stedman Bailey. Smith was expected to go in the top ten, with Austin a little later, and then Bailey was projected to go in the fourth round. Well, nothing went as planned as Smith landed in the 2nd round, Austin went 8th overall and Bailey snuck into the third round. But if you ask just about any Mountaineer fan about the players from the team who made NFL rosters and which position was most represented, I’m sure those answers might not quite match up either.
The answer? Wide receiver.
First, everyone knows about Austin and Bailey. Each receiver caught 114 passes last season with Austin being considered the most explosive player in college football, providing excitement, and Bailey leading the nation in receiving touchdowns, providing the soft hands, but there’s two other guys who are making a name for themselves this off-season.
One name most of you will recognize and be able to call a key play into memory, but the other name, you might not recognize as much for what he did on the field, but for who his Granddaddy is.
JD Woods was signed as a priority free agent just moments after the draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Woods is probably best known for his one-handed grab late in the game against Baylor this past season. He’s played third fiddle behind Austin and Bailey, but that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his own dreams, and NFL scouts took notice. The Steelers are a team that needs offensive weapons, and Woods has shown that he can become one of those weapons and has, so far, earned a spot on the roster. With Mike Wallace jumping ship and Emmanuel Sanders possibly looking for an exit in the next couple of seasons, Woods could find himself with a contributing role if he proves his worth.
Last, but surely not least, is a guy whose name has been passed down from a bountiful Mountaineer legacy. His name is Nehlen. No, not Don. Try, Ryan. Ryan Nehlen, who has been known for his athletic ability, has been overshadowed behind Austin, Bailey, and Woods in the lineup, but when he got a tryout with the Detroit Lions, he made sure he made his own name. The 6’3″ receiver’s 39 inch vertical at pro day would’ve ranked among the top of the leader board had he been invited to the combine. He could make an additional goal line threat for the Lions, second the Calvin Johnson of course. Nehlen has impressed the coaching staff so far and continues to earn a roster spot.
WVU is taking the league by storm in the wide receiver department, and if all four of these guys land roster spots, and come in and compete, it could spell great things for WVU’s program. There’s been a saying that a quarterback is only as good as his receivers. Well, with WVU not knowing which direction they’re going with their quarterback situation, WVU fans can only hope that the receivers of the future are as talented as the ones from the 2013 draft class.
