Mountaineers in the Pros
Keeping Track of the WVU Players Granted an NFL Opportunity
Even though Wyatt Milum was the only former Mountaineer drafted, he’s far from the only WVU player to receive an opportunity at the NFL.
In an effort to make it easy for WVU fans to continue to follow these players as they embark on professional careers, here’s a recap of the most recent Mountaineers who have earned a chance with an NFL team to this point.
Wyatt Milum, Jaguars (Drafted in the 3rd round)
It took until the second day of the NFL Draft for West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum to hear his name called. Milum was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 89th overall selection of the third round.
Milum is viewed as one of the top interior offensive lineman available. Based on the PFF metrics, Milum stands out due to his skills in one particular category.
After playing tackle at an elite level throughout his college career at West Virginia, NFL teams started testing Milum at guard, where he’s expected to play for Jacksonville.
Wyatt Milum Makes Bold Proclamation to Jacksonville About Trevor Lawrence
WV Sports Now caught up with Milum in Mobile at the Senior Bowl and he explained what the adjustment to guard has been like.
“It’s different, it’s definitely a learning experience. It happens a lot quicker. The space is closed down. You ain’t on an island. So that’s really the biggest difference. And really, just getting used to it. I’ve never taken any live reps at guard. I played tackle my whole college career so just being able to come here and show I can play it, I feel like that’s important,” said Milum.
He wrapped up his college career at the conclusion of the 2024 season as one of the highest graded offensive lineman in the country. According to Pro Football Focus, Milum earned a 91.7 pass blocking grade and a 89.7 as a run blocker, the fourth-highest in the country.
Milum’s overall mark of 91.0 was the third best. And for his work, Milum was honored as a consensus All-American.
Milum earned first-team honors on four of the five teams — Walter Camp, AFCA, FWAA and Sporting News — and was a second-team All-American on the fifth team, Associated Press.
Find more coverage of Wyatt Milum at WV Sports Now.
Fatorma Mulbah, Jets
West Virginia’s Fatorma Mulbah has signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent right after the NFL Draft ended.
Mulbah made his final college season his most productive. He totaled 50 tackles, exactly double what he registered in 2023, and even recorded a sack during the 2024 season, his second with WVU.
The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native received a redshirt in 2020 and then appeared in six games in 2021, registering two solo tackles. He played in 13 games for the Nittany Lions during the 2022 season, but his work was primarily on special teams.
Garnett Hollis, Titans
Despite a rough final season of college football as a Mountaineer, Garnett Hollis will receive a chance to make an NFL roster nonetheless. The Tennessee Titans have signed Hollis as an undrafted free agent.
Hollis had a poor 2024 season with WVU after transferring from Northwestern. He did not record an interception, broke up just six passes in 13 games and gave up multiple deep passes throughout the year while committing several penalties.
At 6-foot-1 and 201 pounds, however, Hollis has always possessed the superior size that NFL teams covet in cornerbacks.
TJ Jackson, Seahawks
TJ Jackson is being rewarded for his strong play as a Mountaineer with a contract from the Seattle Seahawks. Jackson signed with Seattle following the conclusion of the NFL Draft.
Jackson was a driving force for WVU’s pass rush in 2024. In his lone season as a Mountaineer after transferring from Troy, Jackson recorded 40 total tackles and 6.5 sacks, actually increasing his production after jumping from the Group of 5 level to the Power Four.
Jackson even led the nation in quarterback pressures early in the 2024 season.
WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose
Garrett Greene, Buccaneers
Former WVU quarterback Garrett Greene has earned a chance to show what he can do as a receiver in the NFL. Greene signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the NFL Draft.
After finishing his WVU career, Greene made the decision to declare for the NFL as a wide receiver instead of a quarterback. At 5-11 and 201 pounds, Greene would be severely undersized as a pro quarterback.
The Tallahassee, Fla. native played a little bit of receiver at the beginning of his Mountaineer career just to get on the field, last doing so in 2022. He caught four passes in 2022 for 32 yards. He also carried the ball a handful of times as a skill player.
In 2023 and 2024, Greene was WVU’s full-time starting quarterback, throwing for 2,706 yards and 31 touchdowns with 16 interceptions.
Greene’s greatest weapon, and the reason he could transition to receiver, has always been his legs. He topped 700 rushing yards in both of his seasons as WVU’s starter, scoring 19 rushing touchdowns in that time.
In total, Greene’s career stats with the Mountaineers are 5,370 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, 19 interceptions, 2,145 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns.
Greene participated in Pro Days for multiple NFL teams as he tried to convince them he could translate to the NFL as a wide receiver.
Kole Taylor, Bengals
Kole Taylor came to West Virginia with the goal to develop into an NFL player. And while he didn’t achieve his lofty personal goals, he did do enough to impress the Bengals, who signed the tight end as an undrafted free agent.
Taylor transferred to WVU from LSU prior to the 2023 season and put up near-historic tight end production in two seasons with the Mountaineers. In 2023, the 6-foot-7 Taylor caught 35 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns. As a senior in 2024, he made 43 receptions for 448 yards and three scores.
In the WVU record books, Taylor’s 43 receptions in 2024 were the second-most ever by a tight end in one season and his 448 yards were the fifth-most. His 444 yards in 2023 are the sixth-most ever by a tight end.
WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose
Austin Brinkman, Texans
Austin Brinkman now has a path to join former Mountaineer Rex Sunahara in the NFL. The Houston Texans have awarded Brinkman an opportunity following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft.
A Patrick Mannelly Award Semifinalist and third-team All-American, Brinkman was one of the best specialists in the country during his time at WVU.
He played in all 50 games during his four-year career as the Mountaineers’ long snapper.
Brinkman, a Maryland native, was invited to the Reeses Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine specialist showcase. He also won the 2024 Iron Mountaineer award.
WV Sports Now caught up with Brinkman at the Senior Bowl in February.
Ty French, 49ers (Rookie camp invite)
After only one season of Division I football, Ty French will now try to elevate his game to make an NFL roster. The San Francisco 49ers are the ream providing that opportunity for French, inviting him to rookie minicamp.
French spent one season at the Division I level, posting 22 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss last season as a Mountaineer.
Nick Malone, Dolphins (Rookie camp invite)
Nick Malone accepted an invite to rookie minicamp from the Miami Dolphins, granting an NFL opportunity to another WVU product and West Virginia native.
After earning All-State honors as a senior at Morgantown High School, Malone was a redshirt for West Virginia in 2019 and then played in a couple games during the shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Find more coverage of ex WVU stars in the pros at WV Sports Now.
For a related story, WV Sports Now did a look back at WVU’s history in the NFL Draft before the 2024 draft.
