Growing up in Morgantown, it is safe to assume that wide receiver Preston Fox has always dreamt about playing for the Mountaineers.
Coming out of Morgantown High, Fox didn’t receive a scholarship offer at WVU, but was offered to be a preferred walk-on. He took the opportunity and just went to work. Now, Fox is on scholarship and is a starter for his hometown team as a receiver and punt returner.
“I honestly didn’t think I would get this far,” Fox said. “My first goal was to just earn a scholarship, but being a key role, that was something I’ve worked up to and worked hard for.”
Fox enrolled at WVU in 2020 (Covid Year) and as a freshman, he redshirted in 2021, seeing action in four games. Heading into the 2022 season, he earned that scholarship in the spring, completing his number one goal. During his first season on scholarship, Fox saw action in all 12 games, adding depth at receiver and on special teams.
“You always appreciate it more when you have to work for something and not just (have it) handed to you,” Fox said.
As a redshirt sophomore last season, Fox became a key player for WVU, not just on special teams but also on offense. He finished his 2023 campaign with 26 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns before getting injured in the regular season finale against Baylor, unable to play in the bowl game.
“I really appreciate it (journey as a walk-on). I mean, in the moment, it was really hard for me, personally. But now that I look back, I really appreciate going through all that hardness of it,” Fox said. “It’s made me the man I am today, so.”
Fox’s path is similar to that of teammate Hudson Clement. Both are wide receivers who grew up in West Virginia, were preferred walk-ons and earned scholarships after redshirting by making a difference for the Mountaineers.
“We’ve got very similar paths. He got on scholarship a little bit earlier than I did, but we have very similar paths, both guys that have to work for everything we’ve got,” Fox said on Clement.
Fox was West Virginia’s leading receiver in terms of yards against Penn State, hauling in two passes for 41 yards. He also was the most targeted wideout. In 2024, as a redshirt junior Fox should be a difference-maker on offense for the Mountaineers by continuing to work hard with his walk-on mentality.
