2024 3-Star TE Gavin Grover Believes in WVU’s Plan to Showcase Tight Ends

If WVU is really going to keep up with their plan to get more offensive production out of the tight end position, Gavin Grover could be the perfect fit for the Mountaineers.

The class of 2024 three-star recruit seems to agree with that sentiment too. WVSN reached out to Grover after he revealed West Virginia is one of only three schools still in contention for his services.

Grover, an Ohio native out of Olentangy High School, explained what he loves about the WVU program, how he fits into the West Virginia offense and if Neal Brown’s new mentality when it comes to tight ends is a factor for him.

Since it’s obvious why WVU would be interested in a player like the 6-foot-6 and 235-pound Grover, what’s caused West Virginia to beat out so many other schools who offered him? “From the beginning, I have felt connected to the people there and they love football and want to develop me as a player,” said Grover.

But as much as the culture and environment are factors in WVU’s favor, Grover is a player truly focused on being at the right place to develop his game.

“I want to be able to showcase my talents as best as possible,” he said repeatedly about what’s the most important thing he gets out of playing college football. It’s what any player with big dreams of becoming the next Rob Gronkowski or Pat Freiermuth would want. Grover is looking to be coached and put in an offense that will allow him to be a receding threat.

While West Virginia has been putting in work to demonstrate their desire to utilize the tight end as a pass catcher this offseason, recent history does not support that being an emphasis of the Brown era at WVU. However, adding LSU transfer Kole Taylor and heavily pursuing other top tight end recruits is making Grover believe Brown’s actions are backing up his words and that he is now willing to put time into the tight end position as more than just a blocker.

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Grover then made that crystal clear by saying “that is 100% a factor that is helpful for me” when asked directly if the recent trend of WVU is a factor in the Mountaineers being among his final three. He also said he’s clicked with tight ends coach Blaine Stewart, who has been his recruiter and worked with Freiermuth for years with the Steelers.

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With all of that said, Grover is well aware he is not being recruited as a wide receiver, but as a tight end. That means he will have to be able to block in order to make a Power 5 roster, especially one like WVU that plans for the running game to be a bulk of their success offensively. He did admit blocking is the area he needs to work on the most and that’s his main focus throughout the rest of his high school career.

So when will Grover pick a winning school from his list of three? It’s actually possible the Mountaineers could learn their fate as far as Grover goes by the end of the month, granted it may benefit him to wait until after official visits too. “I’m playing around with waiting for official visits but I may just commit in late April,” he said.