We are officially just two days away from the opening game for the West Virginia Mountaineers. And as we close in on gameday with over 70 new players on the roster, there are a couple more familiar names to fans who suffered from injuries last year but could be poised for a big season.
Recently, a pair of Mountaineers were selected to the College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List. Redshirt senior wide receiver Jaden Bray and redshirt senior defensive lineman Edward βEddieβ Vesterinen wereΒ the two players to receive the honor.
Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List selections, πππππ§ ππ«ππ² & ππππ’π πππ¬πππ«π’π§ππ§
β West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) August 20, 2025
βοΈ @thejadenbray @vesEdward pic.twitter.com/7rKoYYEBQa
Brayβs first season at WVU was cut short due to a season-ending lower-body injury against his former team, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Bray appeared in five games but only hauled in two catches for an impressive 88 yards.Β
VesterinenΒ only appeared in two games last season before sustaining a lower-leg injury against Albany. The redshirt senior defensive lineman only recorded one tackle before being injured and missing the rest of the 2025 season.
Bray and Vesterinen will be key components for WVU if healthy
If the combo of Bray on the offensive side of the ball and Vesterinen on the defensive side of the ball can remain healthy for the entire season, expectations are high for these two players. Not only were they named Comeback Player of the Year candidates, but head coach Rich Rodriguez will be relying on their experience to help guide the plethora of transfers on this 2025 WVU football roster.
The Oklahoma State transfer is expected to be a leader this season in the wide receiver room. During his three years in Stillwater, Oklahoma, playing for Oklahoma State, Bray racked up 48 catches, 686 receiving yards, and four touchdowns in 24 games. WVU fans should expect to see Bray featured more in this WVU offense this season, with Nicco Marchiol being the projected starting quarterback to begin the season.
As for the 6β3β 285-pound defensive lineman Vesterinen, he looks to build on his success while wearing a WVU uniform. In his 35 appearances for WVU, Vesterinen has compiled 47 total tackles (16 solo tackles), eight tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Vesterinen will aim to be a disruptor up in the middle at the defense tackle position. Vesterinen brings a veteran leadership presence, especially experience at WVU, to a position group that has a lot of transfers on the roster.
Bray and Vesterinen might not make headlines in the national media, but make no mistake, they are pivotal pieces on their respective sides of the ball for Rich Rod. With the beginning of the season kicking off Saturday against Robert Morris, it is time to see what a full season of Bray and Vesterinen might bring.