MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One quick glance at Kyle Poland’s last year would prove he’s had a stroke of good fortune.
He graduated from WVU with a bachelor’s degree in sports management last December and is pursuing a master’s in the same field. He got married in June, and he and his now wife, Katie, announced a baby was on the way in August.
Poland, a former walk-on for the Mountaineers, earned a surprise scholarship after four years, announced in late August in front of his teammates on a video montage featuring his father, Steve, mother, Jen, sister, Kiersten, and Katie.
Finally, on Sept. 12 against Eastern Kentucky, Poland made his first career start at long-snapper, and even had his name called when he downed a Tyler Sumpter punt at the EKU 1-yard line.
As a Morgantown native, Poland is living a dream and fulfilling a story that may seem cliche if it were written in Hollywood — a hometown walk-on earning a scholarship for the hometown favorite.
“The family are all true Mountaineers,” WVU head coach Neal Brown said. “I think he’s a great representative of our program. I think it’s tremendous that he’s from right here in Morgantown. I think he gives a lot of kids (hope) who are my son’s age and older that grow up here and play in the youth leagues, and then play in the big stadium.
“It’s the dream for a lot of people in this community and in this state.”
Going even further back, the evolution of Poland as a football player is something many young players can model themselves after, according to his former head coach at Morgantown High, John Bowers, now the athletic director at the school.
As a redshirt-senior in college, Poland is currently listed at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, but he didn’t always have that size. When he walked through the doors at MHS for the first time in 2012, Poland had athleticism, but size wasn’t his strong suit, according to several of his former coaches.
He played quarterback in youth league, but as he started to grow in high school, moved to tight end. But hard work and dedication allowed him to mold into the size and shape to play on the offensive line.
“There is not one in our program who invested in his body and improving his speed, agility and strength more than Kyle,” Bowers said. “He changed everything — changed his eating habits, changed his workouts. He worked out at MHS and Pro Performance.”
Once his body caught up to his will, Poland began to master the art of long-snapping. It isn’t a celebrated position, but is critical on special teams. With his former quarterback skills, he had an innate ability to throw the ball, but needed to do it through his legs.
Finally, as a senior at MHS, Poland not only handled the long-snapping duties, but he was the starting center for the Mohigans in 2015.
“He is a testament to what it takes,” Bowers said. “He was measured, precise and diligent in berthing what he did. Kyle invested time to be a baker. Baking takes time, effort, patience and precision. We have too many kids who want to drive through or microwave. Kyle invested time and tremendous effort into the player he is.
“No one is more deserving.”
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