Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver/Running Back – Jersey No. 1 (2009-2012)
Maybe the most polarizing player on this list, Tavon Austin did something spectacular every time he stepped on the field. He was used as both a running back and receiver in Dana Holgorsen’s offense, and compiled 4,446 yards from scrimmage and 35 touchdowns as a Mountaineer.
Those are just offensive numbers, though – which don’t include his many kick and punt return yards. As a special teams player, Austin scored on four kickoffs and returned one punt while accruing 2,840 total yards. That’s over 7,000 yards in his career.
Austin and Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith got off to a hot start their senior season, hooking up for 58 catches and eight touchdowns, all of which happened in the first five games.
He finished the season with 1,289 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, and rushed for 643 and three more scores. This versatility caught the eye of the then-St. Louis Rams and they selected the Mountaineer 8th overall in the 2013 Draft. Austin holds two receiving records at WVU: most career yards (3,413) and most catches (288). He’s also 7th on the NCAA’s career all-purpose yards with 7,284 yards.