After the first three rounds of drafting, there have been three quarterbacks, five running backs, three wide receivers, and one tight end have been selected. Quite a few big names came off the board like Cobourne, Slaton, Saunders, etc came off the board.
Probably the most famous player to not be called in the first three rounds would be Pat White. Will he get picked up today? Let’s find out.
Round 4:
13. Patrick Pishko Selects: K Paul Woodside (1981-1984)
Far and away the greatest placekicker WVU has ever had. The stats and accolades speak for themselves:
*Longest field goal, 55 yards against Louisville (1984)
*Single season field goals made, 28 (1982)
*Single season field goals attempted, 31 (1982)
*Career field goals made, 74
*Career field goals attempted, 93
*Consecutive field goals made, 15 (1981–82)
Woodside also still holds the records for most times kicking two or more field goals in a game and single season highest percentage of field goals made under 40 yards, with a minimum of 16.
Why not take a kicker? The state of the position in the world of NCAA seems as though it’s been in constant flux the past few years, especially at WVU. I want that guarantee on my team.
14. Alan Searles Selects: WR Chris Henry (2003-2004)
I feel like I got a steal here with Chris Henry. Number 4 all time in receiving touchdowns, Number 11 in yards, Number 4 and 9 seasons in yards, and number 2 and 6 years in touchdowns. Remember that he only played two seasons. Aside from his offseason troubles and exploits, Chris was a receiving machine that dominated in the early Rich Rod years, which were heavily run oriented teams.
From a fantasy points standpoint this is a no brainer. Team him up with the Maj and Tavon attracting defenses from a speed standpoint, the large, deep threat is a perfect compliment. Henry is another player on my squad that backed up his NCAA performance with a good and promising, but very short lived Pro career.
15. Brandon Miller Selects: QB Jeff Hostetler (1982-1983)
Everyone else took a QB in the first round.. guess I pick one up. Lots of good choices on the board still- Oliver Luck, Chad Johnston, Brad Lewis, Pat White to name a few… but I’m going to go with Jeff Hostetler. Hostetler was the starting QB in 1982 and 1983 after transferring from Penn State. In his two years, he compiled over 4,000 passing yards and touchdown passes while boasting an all-time WVU best intercept avoidance number of 0.279. His most famous game was probably his first- one of WVU’s all time great victories, a 41-27 road win against #9 Oklahoma to kick off the 1982 season.
16. Ken Durbin Selects: QB Pat White (2005-2008)
Pat White. Photo Credit: si.com
I could not let my boy Pat White fall any further down this list. He was not a prototypical drop-back passer, but was one of the best quarterbacks to ever play college football. He was an amazing runner who could slice any defense apart with both his legs and his arm. Rich Rod never let him flex the gun much though.
Round 5:
17. Ken Durbin Selects: WR Khori Ivy (1997-2000)
Ok, starting Round 5 I need to go for another top wide receiver. So many great options on the board, but I’m going to take Khori Ivy with this pick. Ivy is 5th in career receptions, 3rd in career yards, and 5th career touchdown receptions. Good pick up this late in the draft, I think.
18. Brandon Miller Selects: WR Danny Buggs (1972-1974)
Next up I’m taking WR Danny Buggs, who played for the Mountaineers under Bobby Bowden from 1972 – 1974. He compiled 1,796 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career, and boasts and impressive 20.9 yards per catch average (all time WVU record). Buggs also contributed 10 kick+punt return touchdowns in his career and boasts the longest pass reception in WVU history (96 yards).
19. Alan Searles Selects: RB Quincy Wilson (1999-2003)
Quincy Wilson; The Weirton Steel Train doesn’t have the career numbers that others have, but hey, unless you are in a keeper league you don’t draft on a career. In 2003 Q had 12 touchdowns, which of the running backs available, only Kerry Marbury had a better single season. In that same 2003 season (this guy’s freshman year), he notched the sixth best rushing season in terms of yards, which is the best of the available quarterbacks. Looking for sentimental value? How about the Gatorade Play of the Year against the Hurricances, where he trucked future pro Brandon Merriweather and took it to the house against what at the time was still a dominant Miami defense.
While beaten by others in career marks, Quincy still ranks as the 8th best running back by yards in history and ninth in touchdowns. Key thing to remember here is that he was stuck behind Cobourne until his senior season.
20. Patrick Pishko Selects: WR Cedric Thomas (1976-1980)
Cedric Thomas, a PA native. Third all time in receiving TD’s at WVU with 23; only seven behind current leader Stedman Bailey…and we all know they didn’t air it out quite as often back in 1976-1980.
Round 6:
21. Patrick Pishko Selects: WR Rahsaan Vanterpool (1993-1996)
Rashaan Vanterpool; does not have the same gaudy stats as some, but the North Babylon, NY native was a solid player for the ‘eers between 93-96. He was crucial to both offense and special teams; in this day and age of fantasy drafting, you always want that wild card that you can unexpectedly bury someone with.
22. Alan Searles Selects: 1996 Defense
Aaron Beasley. Photo Credit: WVMetroNews.com
Easily the most dominant defense in the modern history of WVU football, the 1996 unit gave up just under 9 points per game, including two shutouts through the first seven games of the season before a devastating 10-7 last second loss to miami threw the entire team into a funk for the remainder of the season. Future pros on this defense include Gary Stills, Canute Curtis, Barrett Green, John Thorton, Henry Slay and Mike Logan.
23. Brandon Miller Selects: WR Shawn Foreman (1995-1998)
I’m going to go with another WR and select Shawn Foreman. Foreman donned the old gold and blue from 1995 – 1998, the same time as David Saunders. Foreman contributed 169 receptions (4th all time), 2,347 receiving yards (5th all time), and 16 TDs (9th all time) over his four year career. You could definitely argue that Saunders and Foreman are the best WR combo in Mountaineer history, right up there with Austin and Bailey, making this the perfect pick to go along with my earlier pick of David Saunders.
24. Ken Durbin Selects: RB Artie Owens (1972-1975)
Well, I find myself in desperate need for another starting rusher. To fill the need, I’m going with a player from the 1970s, Artie Owens. He ran for more than 2,600 yards and scored 18 total touchdowns. He was a great rusher for the Bowden era teams.
With today’s picks, that brings the total selections to 5 quarterbacks, 7 running backs, 9 wide receivers, 1 tight end, 1 kicker, and 1 defense.