Coach Neal Brown Deserves More Credit for In-State Recruiting at WVU

Nov 27, 2023

West Virginia University’s football program has a rich history, and one man has been quietly making waves in revitalizing the Mountaineers’ in-state recruiting efforts. Coach Neal Brown, since taking the helm in 2019, has demonstrated a keen focus on building relationships within the state and tapping into its football talent. Despite the challenges, Coach Brown deserves more credit for his efforts in elevating in-state recruiting at WVU.

After the Baylor game, Coach Brown said, “We’ve been pretty good on offense, especially in our league, and look at the number of West Virginia guys that are heavy contributors,” Brown pointed out. “I’d bet you’d be hard-pressed to find this many West Virginia guys making such a significant contribution like they are now.”

When Dana Holgorsen was hired as West Virginia’s head football coach he was quoted as saying, “We weren’t going to get high school kids at West Virginia that we were going to win the Big 12 with.” Apparently Holgorsen’s philosophy on recruiting didn’t work at Houston either. He was fired as the Cougar head coach after five seasons.

Coach Neal Brown has prioritized establishing a strong connection with the local community. He recognizes the importance of building relationships not only with high school coaches but also with the families of potential recruits. His genuine approach and commitment to understanding the local culture have played a crucial role in gaining trust and respect. This not only motivates current high school players but also resonates with fans who appreciate seeing homegrown talent on the field.

Let’s take a look at the 2023 roster of in-state players:

Caden Biser, Linebacker, Redshirt Sophomore, Keyser, WV

Noah Braham, Tight End, Freshman, Morgantown, WV

Donald Brandel, Linebacker, Redshirt Freshman, Morgantown, WV

Hudson Clement, Wide Receiver, Redshirt Freshman, Martinsburg, WV

Grant Cochran, Quarterback, Freshman, Princeton, WV

Quayvon Cyrus, Cornerback, Freshman, Parkersburg, WV

Taran Fitzpatrick, Wide Receiver, Redshirt Freshman, Charleston, WV

Nate Flower, Kicker, Freshman, Fairmont, WV

Preston Fox, Wide Receiver, Redshirt Sophomore, Morgantown, WV

Zach Frazier, Offensive Line, Junior, Fairmont, WV

Zeiqui Lawton, Defensive Line, Redshirt Sophomore, Charleston, WV

Grayson Malashevich, Wide Receiver, Redshirt Junior, Ceredo, WV

Nick Malone, Offensive Line, Redshirt Junior, Morgantown, WV

Sean Martin, Defensive Line, Junior, Bluefield, WV

Colin McBee, Fullback, Redshirt Freshman, Morgantown, WV

Wyatt Milum, Offensive Line, Junior, Kenova, WV

Doug Nester, Offensive Line, Senior, Kenova, WV

Judah Price, Running Back, Freshman, Sophia, WV

Kam Shallis, Linebacker, Freshman, Inwood, WV

Let’s take a closer look at 6 players on this squad that made a huge difference this season.

Hudson Clement: 6’1”, 199 lbs, Martinsburg High School

2022 (Sophomore)

Went from walk-on to scholarship player
17 receptions
391 yards
4 Touchdowns
50 yard touchdown pass with .13 seconds left against Houston
Made two huge plays on last drive against Baylor to get the win including a 36 yard reception

2022 (Fr.)

Redshirted
WVU Scout Team Offensive Champion: Oklahoma State

High School

Started at outside linebacker and wide receiver for coach Britt Sherman at Martinsburg High
Randy Moss Award as the state’s best receiver
Earned All-State First Team honors (Captain)
Maxpreps West Virginia Player of the Year
MetroNews State Player of the Year
As a senior, had 87 catches for 1,709 yards and 23 touchdowns
Helped Martinsburg to a 14-1 record; had four touchdowns in 62-21 victory over Huntington in the Class AAA title game, and four rushing scores
Also had 65 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries, including a pick in the championship game
Set the Super Six scoring record to lead the Bulldogs claim their ninth championship since 2010

2. Preston Fox: 5’10”, 187 lbs, Morgantown High School

2023 (Sophomore)

Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy for players that started as walk-ons.
26 receptions
368 yards
2 touchdowns
18 punt returns for 145 yards and most importantly never fumbled a return
Injured shoulder against Baylor

2022 (r-Fr.)

Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
Played in all 12 games
Added depth at wide receiver; used extensively on special teams
Finished with four catches for 41 yards for the season, a touchdown and a long reception of 26 yards
Had a season-high two catches against Towson and Baylor
WVU Special Teams Champion: Oklahoma State
Finished with three punt returns at Oklahoma State for 10 yards with a long of eight yards
Two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown against Towson
Season-best punt return of 27 yards against the Tigers

2021 (Fr.)

Redshirted
Added depth at receiver; used on special teams
Saw action in four games
Earned his first collegiate start against Long Island
Saw action on a season-high eight offensive plays against Long Island
WVU Special Teams Scout Champion: Iowa State

2020 (COVID)

WVU Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week (TCU)

High School

Played wide receiver and defensive back for coach Matt Lacy at Morgantown High
Earned West Virginia All-State AAA First Team honors as a senior (defense utility) after posting nearly 1,500 all-purpose yards as a senior
Named All-Two Rivers Conference First-Team Defense and Second-Team Offense
Finished with 1,300 career receiving yards and eight touchdowns
Also had 452 rushing yards and five touchdowns, 504 career kickoff return yards and 144 punt return yards
Registered 120 career tackles, five tackles for loss, four interceptions and three pass breakups

3. Zach Frazier: 6’3”, 310, Fairmont Senior High School

Preseason All-American First Team (Athlon Sports)
Preseason All-American Second Team (Walter Camp, Phil Steele)
Preseason All-Big 12 Conference First Team (Big 12 Media, Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Lindy’s)
Has played in 35 career games, including 34 starts
Has 25 straight starts at center

2023 (Jr.)

Accepted invite to Reese’s Senior Bowl
Likely headed to NFL next year
Frazier is considered one of the top three centers in the nation
One of eight players being considered for the Wuerffel Trophy (exemplary community service and leadership)
One of 16 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy (a.k.a. the Academic Heisman)
Finalist for the Rimington Award for the nation’s top center

2022 (So.)

Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
Earned All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors (coaches, Phil Steele)
All-Big 12 Conference Second Team (AP)
Started all 12 games at center
WVU Offensive Lineman of the Game: Towson, VT, Baylor, Oklahoma State
Allowed one sack in 2022; 11 games without allowing a sack
Registered 51 knockdowns and had 38 great blocks
Had 9 knockdowns against Virginia Tech, 8 vs. Kansas, 7 vs. Oklahoma, 5 vs. Oklahoma State, 4 knockdowns vs. TCU, 3 knockdowns against Pitt, Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech
Had 11 games without missing an assignment
2022 Iron Mountaineer Award

2021 (Fr.)

Earned All-America Second Team honors (AFCA, Walter Camp)Started all 13 games at center
Academic All-Big 12 First Team
All-Big 12 Conference Second Team (PFF College)
All-Big 12 Conference Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Started all 13 games; saw action on 895 offensive snaps, including a season-high 90 against Texas
Registered 63 knockdown blocks and 30 great blocks
Allowed only three sacks all season; registering 10 games without allowing a sack
Had 10 games without having a missed assignment
WVU Offensive Lineman of the Game: LIU, VT, TCU, Kansas
Moved to center in the offseason
2021 Iron Mountaineer Award winner

2020 (COVID)

Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
Started nine of 10 games at left guard
Dating back to 1980, first true freshman to start on the offensive line
247Sports True Freshman All-American First Team
ESPN True Freshman All-American First Team
FWAA Freshman All-American Semifinalist
All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention (Coaches)
Saw action on 630 offensive plays, including 50 or more plays in eight games
Used on a season-high 85 offensive plays against BaylorLed the Mountaineer offensive line with 26 knockdown blocks
Did not allow a sack in nine games
WVU Offensive Lineman of the Week (Kansas State, TCU)

High School

Played on the offensive line for coach Nick Bartic at Fairmont Senior High
Captained the Polar Bears to a 12-1 record and an appearance in the Class AA state semifinals
Did not allow a sack in his senior season
Helped the Fairmont Senior offense record 239.5 (rushing) and 205.9 (passing) averages as a senior, with 75 total touchdowns
Also recorded a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2019
Captained the Class AA All-State First Team offense in 2019
Led the Polar Bears to the Class AA state championship as a junior, earning an undefeated record of 14-0
Paved the way for the FSHS offense to rush for 140.4 yards per game and 24 touchdowns, as well as pass for 258.7 yards per game and 44 touchdowns
Class AA All-State First Team and All-USA West Virginia First Team Offense in 2018
Led school to state championship and 12-2 record as a sophomore, while earning all-state first team and All-USA West Virginia Second Team Offense honors
Also named Class AA All-State Special Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2016
Four-time heavyweight wrestling state champion (2017-20)
Only lost two matches his entire high school career
Had the highest winning percentage of any high school wrestler in the history of Marion County, West Virginia
Three-star rating by ESPN, rivals and 247Sports
Ranked the No. 2 prospect in West Virginia and No. 7 center in the country by rivals
Rated as the No. 3 in-state prospect by ESPN
247Sports ranked him as the No. 1 West Virginia prospect and No. 12 center nationally

Personal

Son of Ray and Heather Frazier
Married to the former Stephanie Vincent in May 2023
Father played football at Fairmont State
One of two children (1 brother)
Majoring in sport management
President’s List with a 4.0 GPA
Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

4. Wyatt Milum: 6’6”, 312 lbs, Spring Valley High School

Has played in 24 career games, including 20 starts
2023 Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Second Team (Athlon Sports, Lindy’s)
2023 Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Fourth Team (Phil Steele)

2023 (Jr.)

Considered a possible first round NFL draft for 2024
Three offensive lineman of the week awards and offensive player of the week from coaching staff
9 sacks allowed by O-line tied for 12th fewest in power 5 this year
Missed one game this season due to injury against Houston

2022 (So.)

Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
Started all 12 games at left tackle
WVU Offensive Lineman of the Game: Oklahoma
Saw action on 849 plays, including being used on 70 or more in eight games
Season-high 91 plays against Oklahoma
Finished second with 36 knockdowns, including a season-high seven against Kansas State
Had 47 great blocks, including 10 or more against Oklahoma (12) and Kansas State (10)
Registered eight games without allowing a sack or having a missed assignment

2021 (Fr.)

Played in 12 games and started eight at right tackle
FWAA Freshman All-America Team
The Athletic Freshman All-America Team
On3 True Freshman All-America Team
Saw action on 628 offensive plays, including a season-high 90 against Texas
Used on 50 or more offensive plays in seven games
Helped pave the way for Leddie Brown to rush for 1,000 yards
WVU Offensive Lineman of the Game: Iowa State
Finished with 32 knockdowns, including a season-high eight against Iowa State
Registered 19 great blocks, including a season-high five at Kansas
Did not surrender a sack in eight contests

High School

Played offensive and defensive tackle for coach Brad Dingess at Spring Valley High
Sports Illustrated -All-American, No. 1 right tackle in the nation and top-10 tackle overall
Named 2020 All-American and was invited to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game before it was canceled in October
Named the 2020 recipient of the Joe Stydahar Award by the West Virginia Sportswriters Association, given to the state’s top lineman
Three-time West Virginia All-State honoree, earning first-team honors as a junior and senior and second team as a sophomore
For his career, saw action on 1,480 plays, finishing with 198 knockdowns, did not allow a sack and graded out to 92.7%
Was a three-time All-Mountain State Athletic Conference selection, twice on the first team (2020, 2019) and once on the second team (2018)
Helped Spring Valley to finish 7-2 his senior season and second round of the state playoffs
Saw action on 274 plays on offense
Registered 36 knockdowns and did not allow a sack
Graded out to 94.8% for the season
Also had 23 tackles on defense, including 1.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one blocked kick
As a junior, helped lead Spring Valley to an 11-3 overall record, 7-1 in the Mountain State Region and No. 3 in the state
Rated a four-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports
An ESPN300 prospect, ranked No. 97-best player nationally and No. 15-best player in the region, No. 101 by 247Sports and No. 187 by Rivals ranked No. 10-best tackle prospect nationally by ESPN, No. 16 by 247Sports and No. 20 by Rivals
No. 1 tackle prospect overall in West Virginia by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports

5. Doug Nester: 6’7”, 319 lbs, Spring Valley High School

Has played in 43 career games, including 41 starts
2023 Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Third Team (Athlon Sports, Phil Steele)
2022 and 2023 Iron Mountaineer Award Winner
Moved to right tackle this spring

2023 (Sr.)

5th year player, seasoned veteran
Likely a first round draft in 2024
Will likely be on all Big 12 conference team at end of season
9 sacks allowed by O-line tied for 12th fewest in power 5 this year

2022 (Jr.)

Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team
Started all 11 games in which he played at right guard
Saw action on 811 plays, including a season-high 91 at Oklahoma
Missed the TCU game with a leg injury
Registered 27 knockdowns, including a season-high six at Pitt
Had 16 great blocks, including a season-high four at Virginia Tech, and at Texas Tech and against Oklahoma
Recorded eight games without allowing a sack
Had seven games without missing an assignment
2022 Iron Mountaineer Award Winner

2021 (So.)

Started all 13 games at right guard
All-Big 12 Conference Second Team (PFF College)
Saw action on 816 offensive snaps, including a season-high 90 plays against Texas
Used on 50 or more plays in nine games
Helped pave the way for Leddie Brown to rush for 1,000 yards
Hampered by a broken bone in his right hand for the first half of the season
Finished with 33 knockdowns, including a season-high five at TCU
Also had 36 great blocks, including a season-high six at Kansas
Enrolled at WVU in January 2021 after transferring from Virginia Tech

2020 (COVID) – Virginia Tech

Played for coach Justin Fuente at Virginia Tech
Saw action in eight games and started seven at right guard
Helped lead Virginia Tech to No. 4 among Power 5 in rushing yards (240.1), No. 6 national ranking in rushing touchdowns (27) and No. 14 in total offense (440.7)
Hokies ran for 200 or more yards in eight games, 250 or more yards in six games and 300 or more yards in three games, including 350 against Boston College, 324 at Duke and 314 against NC State
Part of a line that helped produce 400 or more yards of total offense in nine games, including 495 yards against NC State and North Carolina
PFF College National Team of the Week against Boston College
PFF College ACC OL of the Week against Boston College

2019 (Fr.) – Virginia Tech

Played in 11 games and started 10 at right guard
PFF College All-Freshman Honorable Mention
Helped lead Virginia Tech to No. 23 among Power 5 in rushing yards (176.1)
Saw his first collegiate duty with a start at right guard vs. Old Dominion
Started the next five games in that role
Sat out contests at Notre Dame and vs. Wake Forest ue to injury before returning to the starting lineup at Georgia Tech for the remainder of the year
Helped pave the way for the Hokies to run for 200 or more yards in six games, including a season high 254 yards against North Carolina
Part of offensive line that blocked for the offense to finish with 400 or more yards of total offense in seven games, including a season-high 490 yards against North Carolina and 483 yards against Virginia

High School

Played for head coach Brad Dingess at Spring Valley High
Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
2018 Stydahar Award winner, signifying West Virginia’s top offensive lineman
West Virginia All-State three-time selection
Helped lead Spring Valley to the 3A state championship game three straight years
Also played basketball and participated in track and field (shot put, discus)
Rated as a four-star recruit according to 247Sports’ composite ranking
Ranked as a Top 10 guard nationally and Top 125 prospect by 247Sports

Personal

Married the former Bryn Osburn in April 2023
Son of Reggie and Cindy Nester
One of three children (2 sisters)
Graduated with his degree in general business in December 2022
Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

6. Nick Malone: 6’5″, 298 lbs, Morgantown High School

2022 (r-So.)

Played in all 12 games
Added depth at tackle and used primarily on special teams
Season-high 22 offensive snaps against Towson
Used on 10 or more special teams plays three times, including a season-high 12 at Oklahoma State
2022 Tommy Nickolich Award winner, signifying WVU’s most outstanding walk-on

2021 (r-Fr.)

Played in all 13 games
Added depth at tackle and inserted as additional lineman for power situations
Saw action on 95 snaps, including a season-high 37 against Long Island
Two knockdowns against Long Island

2020 (COVID)

Saw action against Eastern Kentucky and Kansas
Used on 34 offensive plays, including a season-high 32 against Eastern Kentucky
Did not allow a sack against the Colonels

2019 (Fr.)

Redshirted

High School

Played offensive and defensive line and tight end for coach Matt Lacy at Morgantown High
Earned 3A All-State Second Team honors as a senior
All-USA Today West Virginia All-State Second Team
Finished with 25 tackles, including six tackles for loss
Also lettered in basketball

It has also been reported that WVU now ranks Number One in rushing offense among all the Power 5 schools. The last time that happened at West Virginia a trio made of Pat White, Steve Slaton, and Owen Schmidt to name a few.

Coach Neal Brown does not get enough credit for what he has done with in state recruiting. I realize WVU fans were frustrated with his record over the first four seasons. It amazes me that even though WVU went 8-4 this season and finished fourth in the Big 12 instead of 14th, that there are still a huge chunk of the fan base that wants him fired.

Neal Brown, more than any coach over the past 40 plus years, has been dedicated to building in-state relationships, promoting local talent, and fostering a positive culture that not only strengthened the team but has also elevated the program’s standing in the eyes of recruits. As the Mountaineers continue to rise, it is essential to acknowledge Coach Brown’s significant role in reinvigorating in-state recruiting efforts and giving deserving credit where it is due. The future looks bright!