Multiple former Mountaineers vying to make NFL rosters
The NFL Preseason officially kicks off on Thursday night, and with that comes the semi-official start to the NFL season.
West Virginia has had many former players turned pro, but this year, there are multiple guys trying to find ways to stick onto an NFL roster.
Beanie Bishop
Bishop is entering his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, after he was able to make a name for himself after going undrafted. Last year, Bishop played in 17 games, starting six of them. He had 45 total tackles, seven pass breakups, and four interceptions on the season.
Austin Brinkman
Brinkman seems destined to make the Houston Texans roster after he went undrafted and signed with them this past offseason. Brinkman is entering his rookie season and is the only long snapper currently on the Texans’ roster.
Tony Fields
Fields was injured in the first game of the 2024 season, leading him to be put on injured reserve, before he was eventually cut from there. He then signed with the Los Angeles Rams last October to their practice squad. Fields is still with the Rams, participating in training camp.
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Ford-Wheaton had some unfortunate news come his way last week, when his season would be ended prematurely with a torn achilles. This is the second significant injury of his career, in just what would’ve been his third season in the league. Ford-Wheaton made a name for himself on special teams last season and will now have to recover this year.
Zach Frazier
Frazier is set to enter his second year with the Steelers, as he’s going to be snapping to future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers this year. Rodgers is in his first season with Pittsburgh, and Frazier is entering his second season. Earlier this week, Rodgers had a lot of good things to say about the former Mountaineer.
Garrett Greene
After being WVU’s starting quarterback each of the last two seasons, Greene is now trying to make it onto an NFL roster as a wide receiver. Greene is back in his home state with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, trying to find a way to stick as a rookie.
Will Grier
Grier is entering year seven in the NFL, after spending a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, he returned to the Dallas Cowboys, where he has spent a lot of his time so far in the league. Grier will likely see time on the field during the NFL Preseason this next month.
Colton McKivitz
McKivitz is still with the San Francisco 49ers as they look to rebound after a poor showing in 2024. McKivitz is likely going to once again be a starter on the o-line for the 49ers, as he is entering his sixth season in the NFL. He has started 39 games in his NFL career, playing in 62.
Wyatt Milum
Milum is entering his rookie season with the Jaguars after he was a third-round selection in this past year’s NFL Draft. Milum played left tackle for the Mountaineers, but has been put into different situations so far during camp, including seeing some time at right guard as he looks to work himself into the fold for Jacksonville.
Fatorma Mulbah
Mulbah is trying to stick on an NFL roster, as he was signed by the New York Jets this offseason. Mulbah is entering his first season after he played in all 13 games for the Mountaineers in each of the past two seasons.
Doug Nester
Another former Mountaineer offensive lineman in Pittsburgh, Nester, is entering year two in the pros. Nester spent last season on the practice squad, and his versatility to play either tackle or guard is attractive to teams.
David Sills
Sills has been able to hang around each of the last few seasons and has now found his way into camp with the Atlanta Falcons. Sills has turned heads both on the coaching staff and by players throughout the early part of camp for the Falcons as the next month will decide his fate for this upcoming season.
Geno Smith
Smith is no longer a Seahawk, having been traded to the Las Vegas Raiders this past offseason, reunited with his former coach, Pete Carroll. Smith is still one of the best passers in the NFL, throwing for over 4,300 yards last season. Smith is entering his 12th season in the NFL and will be starting his 84th career game to open up the season.
Dante Stills
Stills is with the Arizona Cardinals, after he played in 16 games for them last season. Stills finished with 4.5 sacks in 2024 as well as a forced fumble. Stills is entering his third season in the league, having played in 31 career games.
Rex Sunahara
Sunahara is with the Cleveland Browns and is one of two long snappers the Browns have in camp. Sunahara played 12 games for the Browns last season and is a native of Bay Village, Oh., a western suburb of Cleveland.
Kole Taylor
Taylor was with the Cincinnati Bengals, but was waived on Thursday morning. He signed as a free agent with them in May.
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