WVU Expecting Recently Injured Players to Play with One Possible Exception

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia will be back to as full strength as possible this week at Oklahoma State. WVU head coach Neal Brown said he expects most of the players who went down during the Kansas game, including Aubrey Burks, to play against the Cowboys.

Defensive back TJ Crandall remains the only player Brown is concerned could miss the game. Expecting Burks to return is the most surprising just for the odd nature of what happened to him. Burks collapsed on the sideline in the middle of the game, causing many to wonder if it had anything to do with the injury he sustained in 2023 against TCU.

WVU HC Neal Brown on Aubrey Burks: “We fully expect him to play.”

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) September 30, 2024

A couple days after the incident, Brown said Burks was fine and in good spirits, but couldn’t speak about his game status at that time. Burks was even back with the team towards the end of the game after being taken to the hospital. Brown also said that Burks’ test results were negative.

In addition to Burks, linebacker Josiah Trotter, offensive lineman Wyatt Milum, defensive backs Garnett Hollis and Crandall and safety Anthony Wilson were also attained to at some point in the comeback win over Kansas.

While Trotter would quickly re-enter the game, Hollis and Burks were both carted off the field. Crandall experienced what appears to be a concussion.

For a related story, Rodney Gallagher talked to WV Sports Now about his recent donation to WVU Children’s Hospital.