West Virginia’s Jaden Bray on Watch List for Leadership Award

On the heels of his first game back fully healthy after missing most of the past two years, Jaden Bray is being recognized for his work, both on and off the field.

Bray is one of the 89 players placed on the watch list for the 10th annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. The award is presented to the college player demonstrating exceptional leadership, courage and integrity.

“Proud to announce the watch list for the 10th annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, a group that includes 89 of the nation’s top leaders in college football. The members of the watch list have all demonstrated a record of leadership on and off the field,” posted the X account of the award on Thursday.

Plagued by injuries throughout his college career, Bray still believes he can make an impact as a Mountaineer.

In an upbeat mood after a spring practice, the redshirt senior spoke candidly about having his season cut short in each of his first two years at WVU and why he feels 2026 will be different.

“I was frustrated about what had happened, but once I realized it was broken, my mindset really went to what can I do to get back and ready for next season,” said Bray about enduring a season-ending injury at Ohio in 2025, going down in the second game of the season for the second year in a row.

“Of course, it is annoying to go through injuries like that, but keeping the main thing the main thing and working hard to get ready to come back for next season was really my main goal.”

For Bray, he uses every setback as more motivation in his goal to be even stronger and show he can be a productive player on a contending team again.

He caught four passed for 29 yards in West Virginia’s season opening win against Coastal Carolina.

Find more coverage of Jaden Bray and the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.