Milum Represents WVU Football on True Freshman Watch List

Earlier today, 247Sports.com published its 2021 Preseason True Freshman All-American Watch List. To no one on the WVU Football staff’s surprise, O-lineman Wyatt Milum made the list.

At a position as up for grabs as the West Virginia starting right guard spot is, joining this watch list is a huge step toward proper recognition for Milum. Offensive line coach Matt Moore has repeatedly alluded to the battle for that position as a “dogfight” between Milum and redshirt sophomore Parker Moorer. Yesterday at practice, Moorer was getting significant attention, but according to Moore, nothing is set in stone.

“They’re in a dogfight right now,” Moore said after the first scrimmage of fall camp. “They’re splitting reps. They split the scrimmage.

“Up until the scrimmage, Wyatt had been getting all of the second team reps and Parker had been getting the first team reps. Parker has gotten way better and he’s continuing to work. He’s had a great offseason, but it’s going to be a dogfight to see who is going to start at that right tackle spot.”

Milum, a top 2021 recruit, fended off offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, NC State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and a handful of others in lieu of staying in-state. At 6’6”, 291, the Kenova, W.Va. native is a brick wall. ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports ranked that brick wall the no. 1 tackle prospect in West Virginia coming out of high school and less than a year later, the accolades are beginning to flow.

Wyatt Milum has been named to the 2021 247Sports Preseason True Freshman All-American Watch List. #TrustTheClimb pic.twitter.com/7fsD7JfYdC

— WVU Football (@WVUfootball) August 20, 2021

Milum has a perfect mentor on his quest to True Freshman All-America First Team honors: two slots to his left. He joins fellow West Virginian, sophomore center Zach Frazier on the list of recent WVU O-linemen to find themselves on this Preseason Watch List. Across from him on defense is yet another mentor: Dante Stills. In 2018, Stills found himself on both The Athletic and ESPN.com’s Freshman All-American lists.