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Evan Staley receives opportunity to lead WVU football on kickoffs

By Matthew Peaslee

MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 22: The West Virginia Mountaineers mascot The Mountaineer during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountaineer Field on October 22, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - OCTOBER 22: The West Virginia Mountaineers mascot The Mountaineer during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountaineer Field on October 22, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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Every child in West Virginia likely has a dream to grow up and play football for the WVU football team. Evan Staley has seen his dreams come true.

The WVU football team kicks off a new season on Sunday, facing the Virginia Tech Hokies. The one doing the kickoffs is Evan Staley, a native of Romney, West Virginia.

Staley is a redshirt freshman who was recently handed the opportunity to handle the kickoff duties for the Mountaineers this season.

Mike Molina, also a native of West Virginia, handled the kickoff duties a year ago. Molina is a redshirt senior who will be the WVU football team’s field goal kicker this season.

According to WV MetroNews, Staley won the kickoff job because he proved “to be the most consistent on directional kicking and hang time.”

Special team coach Mark Scott delivered the decision and said the competition really came down to the last 10 days in camp.

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Evan Staley was the best special teams player in the state of West Virginia when he was at Hampshire High School. According to WVUsports.com, Staley connected on seven field goals, including a season-long 54 yarder and averaged 42.5 yards per punt as a senior.

For his efforts, he was awarded the Fulton Walker Award as the top special teams player in the state. Staley has already made a name for himself in West Virginia because of his great high school play.

In his current role with the WVU football team, Staley may not be all that renowned. People don’t show up to the stadium on gameday just to see the kickoff. However, a couple of kicks that go through the end zone will be remembered. But, too, will the kicks that are fielded on the 20-yard line.

Staley has proven that he possesses the power of distance and accuracy to be a kicker at the Division I level. Being a homegrown kid makes this job even more worthwhile.

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Evan Staley is one of five kickers or punters on the team. The list also includes Molina, Luke Hogan, Billy Kinney and John Young. Kinney was recently tabbed as the starting punter and holder on field goal attempts.

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