Colton McKivitz earns WVU scout team honor

He may not be a household name with West Virginia fans just yet, offensive lineman Colton McKivitz has gained big attention already as a Mountaineer.

And, that’s not just because of his large, 6-foot-7, 275-pound frame.

McKivitz, a native of Jacobsburg, OH, just outside of Wheeling, was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year. It’s certainly a unique honor for an offensive lineman to receive, but McKivitz earned it because of his ability to adapt to live game simulations.

He worked hard in the weight room and training room to grow into his body and become stronger. That’s especially important for a true freshman coming into the Division I level where the game is much faster than what players had to deal with in high school.

McKivitz was prepared for this level, though, as he was rated as the No. 47 player in Ohio in 2014. For much of his high school career, though, he was seen as a basketball player first. He helped Union Local win a district title in basketball and was an all-state honoree on the hardwood.

That’s actually where WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen first noticed McKivitz.

"“He was a 6-ft-7 , 225-pound basketball player in high school,” Holgorsen said in October. “He’s already up to 265 pounds, just works his tail off. He’s been, without a doubt, our best offensive lineman on our scout team. “Our coaches came in and said this guy has a chance to be our right tackle next year. He’s going to be 6-7, 300 pounds by the time spring happens. I’m excited about him.”"

With the way Holgorsen has praised McKivitz, already, receiving the scout team honor was just icing on the cake for his first year as a collegiate student-athlete.

WVU fans should expect big things from this big kid, next year. He will be a key component as the Mountaineers offense continues to evolve in the next few years.