MORGANTOWN - West Virginia's football history is littered with guys who were stars in the spring and then vanished into obscurity once the lights came on.
While Nehlen faces plenty of competition, there are also plenty of opportunities for receivers. At Oklahoma State last season, Holgorsen's offense produced 10 players with at least double-digit catches. A year earlier in Houston, there were 12 such players.
"I just love how the offense is spread around. Anyone at any time can make plays,'' Nehlen said. "The ball can go to Tavon inside or outside, to Tyler inside, to me outside. Anybody can make plays and the defense has a tough time guarding everybody . . . But it's a simple. It's not organic chemistry or anything.''
Nehlen, by the way, is taking organic chemistry, so he knows.
Lined up side by side with the rest of the receivers, Nehlen might not be the one who stands out, save for the fact that he's the tall, lanky walk-on from Morgantown. But he says not to be fooled by appearances.
"I'm definitely a better athlete than I was when I came here. I can jump higher, I'm faster, all of that,'' Nehlen said. "But this offense is all about being in the right spot. You don't necessarily have to be the fastest. It's about getting in the right spot and hoping the quarterback finds you. And if you're open, he will get you the football.
"And I don't think anybody underestimates me. I think I've proven through the spring and the summer that I'm a good athlete and I'm ready to step on the field and play.''
In order to do that when it counts, though, is different than doing it in the spring.
"Just keep making plays,'' Nehlen said when asked what he needs to do to avoid being lost in the shuffle. "The biggest thing about this offense is if you make plays, you'll be on the field and if you don't, you'll be on the sidelines. I just have to keep making plays, keep working hard, keep doing all the little things like blocking.
"I can only judge myself and what I'm capable of doing. And I feel I'm capable of making plays in this offense and really helping this team out. I really feel like there's a position for me out there.''
Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
MORGANTOWN - West Virginia's football history is littered with guys who were stars in the spring and then vanished into obscurity once the lights came on.
It is a phenomenon born from a couple of different factors, but primarily because spring is the best time to take a look at players who might otherwise never have an opportunity to play and it is also not wise to overwork those who will play.
Just a few examples from recent Mountaineer history:
In 2007, the top three tailback rushers in the spring game were Tommy Spurlock, Eddie Davis and Jetavious Best and the top receiver was Carmen Connolly. In the fall, Best was gone and the other three combined for 2 yards of total offense.In 2006, the top rusher was Pernell Williams, the top receiver Brandon Barrett and the only touchdown pass was thrown by T.J. Mitchell. None ever wore a WVU uniform again.In 2000, Cooper Rego carried 14 times for 82 yards in the spring game. Avon Cobourne and Quincy Wilson combined for 15 carries and 8 yards.Perhaps the all-time meaningless-game player in the school's history, though, was Shawn Terry. In the 2000 spring game, he caught four passes for 97 yards. Two years before that he caught six passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns in a junior varsity game against Potomac State in Charleston. And while Terry would eventually make a mark as a kick returner (he ran back four for touchdowns) his best season as a receiver resulted in 10 fewer yards than he gained in that one JV game.The history lesson is pertinent today because as West Virginia goes through the early stages of fall camp it does so with a walk-on receiver who had one of those eye-popping springs.
Ryan Nehlen knows Mountaineer football history as well as anyone on the roster and admits he's seen it happen plenty of times. And he's determined not to be one of those flash-in-the-pan spring phenoms who then disappear.
"I actually do not think about that at all,'' Nehlen said. "I definitely think I can be the exception, just because I want to.''
The grandson of former WVU coach
Don Nehlen and the son of equipment manager Dan Nehlen, Ryan Nehlen took advantage of Dana Holgorsen's arrival and the implementation of his offense to become a spring star. The walk-on from University High School worked his way into the top four receivers by the end of spring and then caught five passes for 79 yards in the spring game.
He begins fall camp in the same spot, as one of the top four receivers on the depth chart along with Tavon Austin, Tyler Urban and Stedman Bailey.
But lurking around is plenty of competition, be it from J.D. Woods, Bradley Starks, Ivan McCartney or Wake Forest transfer Devon Brown. There are also a couple of new faces in freshmen KJ Myers and Dante Campbell, as well as another spring star in walk-on Willie Millhouse.
"I just need to keep working hard,'' Nehlen said. "It's early still. There are still a lot of practices, but I feel good about what I'm doing so far. I think the coaches like it, too.''
While Nehlen faces plenty of competition, there are also plenty of opportunities for receivers. At Oklahoma State last season, Holgorsen's offense produced 10 players with at least double-digit catches. A year earlier in Houston, there were 12 such players.
"I just love how the offense is spread around. Anyone at any time can make plays,'' Nehlen said. "The ball can go to Tavon inside or outside, to Tyler inside, to me outside. Anybody can make plays and the defense has a tough time guarding everybody . . . But it's a simple. It's not organic chemistry or anything.''
Nehlen, by the way, is taking organic chemistry, so he knows.
Lined up side by side with the rest of the receivers, Nehlen might not be the one who stands out, save for the fact that he's the tall, lanky walk-on from Morgantown. But he says not to be fooled by appearances.
"I'm definitely a better athlete than I was when I came here. I can jump higher, I'm faster, all of that,'' Nehlen said. "But this offense is all about being in the right spot. You don't necessarily have to be the fastest. It's about getting in the right spot and hoping the quarterback finds you. And if you're open, he will get you the football.
"And I don't think anybody underestimates me. I think I've proven through the spring and the summer that I'm a good athlete and I'm ready to step on the field and play.''
In order to do that when it counts, though, is different than doing it in the spring.
"Just keep making plays,'' Nehlen said when asked what he needs to do to avoid being lost in the shuffle. "The biggest thing about this offense is if you make plays, you'll be on the field and if you don't, you'll be on the sidelines. I just have to keep making plays, keep working hard, keep doing all the little things like blocking.
"I can only judge myself and what I'm capable of doing. And I feel I'm capable of making plays in this offense and really helping this team out. I really feel like there's a position for me out there.''
Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.
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