Entering the 2024 season, West Virginia offensive lineman Wyatt Milum might be the most talked about player on the roster, receiving multiple preseason honors.
However, Milum is looking past that and just wants to help his team compete. The senior from Kenova, West Virginia has been a starter on the Mountaineers’ line since he was a freshman and now will be considered a leader in that position group with the graduation of Doug Nester and Zach Frazier.
“I don’t pay attention to that stuff (hype and preseason honors), preseason is preseason. So, I’m just focusing on helping this team win a Big 12 championship right now,” Milum said after WVU’s second day of Fall Camp Thursday. “I’m just focused on football right now, trying to get better.”
Last year, West Virginia was picked to finish last in the Big 12 conference at No. 14, something they used for motivation throughout the season. Now, the expectations are much higher with many of the players and staff aiming at a Big 12 title. Milum looks to be a big part of helping the team compete and being a leader week-in and week-out.
“That’s our main focus (winning a conference title). We want to win the Big 12 championship this year and that’s our only mindset. We want to make that game, we want to win it. I think if you don’t have that mindset, there’s something wrong there,” Milum said.
Milum had the privilege of being mentored by Frazier, who was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers back in April. As another instate talent at the offensive line position, their stories are very similar besides the fact that Frazier was a center/interior offensive lineman and Milum a tackle. Nevertheless, Milum will now look to be that leader and mentor for other o-lineman.
“The biggest thing Frazier taught me was routine. Just coming in early, doing the body maintenance you need, doing the recovery,” Milum said. “I’d like to leave (influence on teammates), ‘You got to work hard, you got to love the game, you got to love the game of football’ and also ‘just taking care of your body’.”
As mentioned previously, Milum is a native of West Virginia and has gotten an opportunity in the spotlight of the state’s most-loved team. From starting as a freshman to now being a senior leader, he was asked about his experience and if it’s been what he thought it would be.
“It’s awesome and if I had to redo it all over again I would come here. I love that I’m playing for West Virginia. I love playing for my home state,” Milum said. “There isn’t anywhere else I’d rather be than here.”
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