With the 2024 college football season beginning less than a month away, let’s analyze the wide-outs that will define the Mountaineers’ offense.
Hudson Clement
Clement is a redshirt sophomore who established himself as a valuable piece in West Virginia’s passing attack. In 11 games, he caught 22 passes for 480 yards and four touchdowns. His best game of the season came early against Duquesne, catching 5 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns. Clement also tied his season high in catches during the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against North Carolina, totaling 89 yards. Overall, he tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns, placed second in receiving yards, and ranked fourth in receptions. Prior to joining the Mountaineers, Clement won the Randy Moss Award, given to West Virginia’s best high school receiver in the state. He also earned All-State First Team honors, being named the captain. Whether he wins the starting battle against Jaden Bray or not, look for Clement to take another leap forward in his second full season in the old gold and blue.
Rodney Gallagher III
Gallagher is a true sophomore who had a quiet freshman season as a whole. The former four-star athlete prospect compiled more rushing yards than receiving yards in his first season, getting 15 carries for 87 yards compared to 10 receptions for 74 yards. While the ball didn’t come his way too often, Gallagher appeared in every game last season. He played in 259 offensive snaps and saw the most amount of playtime, 45 snaps, against Baylor. In high school, Gallagher was named the 2022-23 Pennsylvania Male Athlete of the Year. He played quarterback as a senior, throwing for 1,272 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushing for 690 yards and 11 touchdowns. The expectation for Gallagher is for him to be in a bigger role this season, as he has already been named the starting slot receiver in West Virginia’s preseason depth chart.
Preston Fox
Fox is a redshirt junior that stepped into his biggest role yet with the team in 2023. Playing in every regular season game, Fox turned 26 receptions into 368 yards and two touchdowns. That yardage ranked Fox third amongst receivers last season. He also eight kick returns that went for 172 yards, averaging 21.5 yards per return with his longest return being 33 yards. Fox’s role on special teams looks to be secure as he’s listed as the starting punt returner and backup kick returner on West Virginia’s preseason depth chart. For his efforts, Fox was anAll-Big 12 Conference Honorable-Mention Honoree as a kick and punt returner. Offensively, Fox will be battling for the starting job to line up across from Clement or Jaden Bray against Traylon Ray. Whether or not that battle is won, Fox will make his presence known on game days in multiple roles.
Jaden Bray
Bray is a redshirt junior who transferred to West Virginia from Oklahoma State over this past off-season. Last season with the Cowboys, Bray had 30 receptions for 382 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a season-high 77 receiving yards against Kansas State. Bray’s redshirt came during his sophomore season, where he only played in three games and was injured, allowing him to use his redshirt for the remainder of the year. The 6’2″ wide-out looks to have an increased role on the Mountaineers and is in direct competition with Hudson Clement for a starting role. Regardless, look for Bray to make an immediate impact this fall.
Ric’Darious “DayDay” Farmer
Farmer is a true freshman who was ranked as a four-star prospect by ESPN and 247Sports. The wide-out is a two-time All-Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State team member and a three-time FACA All-District 12 performer. During his time in high school, Farmer split time between wide receiver and corner back. During DayDay’s recruitment process, he originally committed to Pittsburgh in December of 2022. However, Farmer visited both UCF and West Virginia after committing. On August 1st, 2023, DayDay flipped his commitment, de-committing from Pittsburgh and committing to UCF. But come December 20th, the first day collegiate athletes can sign with their schools, Farmer made another swerve by flipping his commitment and signing with the West Virginia Mountaineers. 247Sports ranked DayDay as the no. 36 receiver in his class. Expect to see him begin his collegiate career as a slot receiver behind Gallagher.
Traylon Ray
Ray is a true sophomore that showed promise for the future last season, with the Duke’s Mayo Bowl being his best performance. Against North Carolina, Ray had a season high 91 yards and a 75-yard touchdown to open the bowl game. He was the fifth-leading West Virginia receiver with 18 catches for 321 yards and three touchdowns in 2023. Entering his sophomore season, Ray is in a starting battle against Preston Fox. The 6’1″ Ray outsizes the 5’10” Fox, and only Fox has seen special teams snaps. It’s plausible that Ray has a real chance to starting Week 1 against Penn State, but the battle has yet to be decided. Regardless of if he starts, look for Ray to capitalize on each and every ball thrown his way in 2024.
The Reserves
The rest of the wide-out room is comprised of Justin Robinson, Jarel Williams, Brandon Rehmann, Tyler Evans, Andrew Phares, T.J. Johnson, C.J. Cole, and Dom Collins.
Justin Robinson is a redshirt senior transfer from Mississippi State. The 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl MVP appeared in 10 games last season, totaling 21 receptions for 257 yards. This upcoming season will be his final year of eligibility.
Jarel Williams is a redshirt sophomore who was a depth piece and special teams regular in 2023. The former three-star prospect as ranked by 247Sports played in all 13 games last season and saw a career-high 17 snaps last season against UCF. Williams will likely continue to provide depth to the Mountaineers.
Brandon Rehmann is a true freshman who was ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Rivals. In his senior season, Rehmann had 28 receptions for 502 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned the opening kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown in the state semifinals. Rehmann chose West Virginia over 11 other offers which were Boston College, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Tyler Evans is a redshirt sophomore who added depth to the team in 2023 after a redshirt freshman year. Last season, Evans was named the WVU Scout Team Offensive Champion twice for Texas Tech and UCF. Evans made appearances in four games in 2023, and will continue to be a depth piece.
Andrew Phares is a true freshman who played at Morgantown High School. He accepted a preferred walk-on offer in January for the Mountaineers. Phares is listed as 5’9″, but is said to have a 37-inch vertical jump. Phares also played cornerback in high school. While undersized, Phares is just one inch shorter than Preston Fox who has found a consistent role with West Virginia.
T.J. Johnson is a redshirt freshman that was ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. The 6’3″ wideout was also offered by East Carolina, Maryland, Pittsburgh and Virginia. Johnson’s father, Tory Johnson Sr., was a tight end for the Mountaineers from 2000 to 2003. He had 14 career receptions for 145 yards and five touchdowns.
C.J. Cole is a redshirt junior who was used primarily on special teams throughout his collegiate career. He saw action on 10 or more special teams snaps in five games last season, and played in 12 games total. For his efforts, Cole was the 2023 Tommy Nickolich Award winner, signifying West Virginia’s most outstanding walk-on.
Dom Collins is a true freshman from Princeton, West Virginia. In his senior season, he finished with 83 catches for 1,897 yards and 27 touchdowns. For his efforts, Collins was named captain of the 2023 Class AAA West Virginia Sportswriters’ Association All-State First-Team and MetroNews High School Player of the Year. The 5’10 receiver was also a three-time West Virginia All-State performer and two-time All-Coalfield Conference First Team honoree.
