WVU Football
Clay Ash, Early Walk-On Contributor | WVU Football All 105
All 105 is a West Virginia Sports Now series profiling each member of the 2025 WVU Football Roster.
Despite billing as a three-star recruit in high school out of football powerhouse IMG Academy, Clay Ash came to the Mountaineers as a preferred walk-on. Ash also spent time at Independence High School in Northern Virginia.
A rising sophomore who managed to carve out a role for himself on special teams during his first college season, Ash stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 196 pounds. He also runs a 4.62 second 40-yard dash.
Some walk-ons struggle to get on the field, but they can also provide roster flexibility for coaches looking to preserve the eligibility of highly-ranked young athletes. Ash appeared in nine games as a true freshman and appears to have maintained a role for himself despite the Mountaineers’ coaching change.
He put on a strong showing during the Mountaineers’ 2025 spring practice period, earning the Tommy Nickolich Memorial Award as the team’s top walk-on player.
27 • Clay Ash, sophomore running back
Last year: After joining WVU Football as a preferred walk-on, Clay Ash enrolled in January 2024, appearing in nine games and for 37 plays, most of them on special teams.
Stats: Ash attempted one kickoff return last season, gaining ten yards in doing so.
Camp outlook: Ash earned high praise from the Mountaineers’ new coaching staff during the spring practice period. During the spring showcase, he took reps both as a ball carrier and as a receiver.
WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose
Projected role: With Jahiem White atop the depth chart at running back, expect Ash to occupy a similar role to last year on special teams.
Accolades, highlights: IMG Academy ranked Ash as their top offensive player during the 2023 season, when he rushed for more than 2,000 yards. He also won the Tommy Nickolich Award this offseason and earned a three-star ranking as a recruit.
Coverage links:
WVU Football Announces Winner of 2025 Walk-On Award
