MORGANTOWN — For the first time in a long time, a tight end played a critical role in West Virginia’s passing game in 2023.
Kole Taylor, who transferred in from LSU last summer, led the Mountaineers with 35 receptions last season, finishing third with 444 receiving yards and tied for the team lead with four touchdowns. Taylor singlehandedly more than doubled the position’s production from the previous season, in which three tight ends combined for just 16 receptions and 153 yards with no touchdowns.
Now entering his senior season, the goal for Taylor is to continue what he’s done as a receiver while also improving at the more-physical aspects of the position.
“Kole and I are on a very individualized plan,” WVU tight ends coach Blaine Stewart said this spring. “I think the big thing for him is maximizing his physical development as much as he can push himself.”
Taylor was limited during spring practices due to an injury, but that just opened up more time for him to spend in the film room.
“We are studying what he did last year and we are studying what we want to take to the next level,” Stewart said. “We’re studying former tight ends who have come out and been successful early in their NFL career.”
Part of that early NFL success, according to Stewart, is not being a one-dimensional tight end. That also applies to Taylor’s backup, albeit in reverse.
While Taylor is trying to add a blocking element to his receiving game, senior Treylan Davis is trying to add a receiving element to his blocking skills.
Davis has only caught seven passes in 30 career games with the Mountaineers. Like Taylor, he’s looking to expand his game in his final season in Morgantown.
“The first thing I noticed coming off the bowl game was his development with his body, physically,” Stewart said of Davis. “If he wants to take that next step, there’s a re-composition process of his body and he did that. He didn’t lose any weight, but his body fat went down.”
Taylor and Davis were WVU’s primary tight end options last season, so there are some question marks behind them on the depth chart.
Junior college transfer Gregory Genross was a late addition to the roster this offseason, but the 6-6 junior profiles as a capable pass-catcher. He caught 26 balls for 265 yards and three touchdowns while at Dodge City Community College.
True freshman Jack Sammarco, from Cincinnati, Ohio, caught coaches’ eyes during spring camp with his early physicality as an early enrollee. Will Dixon is entering his third year at WVU and the coaches want to see a step up from him as a redshirt sophomore.
There’s also redshirt freshman Noah Braham, a University High Graduate.
“Will, Jack, Noah, they’ve made such big strides, even in just a year,” Davis said of the underclassmen. “Noah is coming and taking meaningful reps, Jack Sammarco has impressed me a ton as a young guy.”
Davis will also be WVU’s main fullback when needed, although Stewart is high on redshirt sophomore Colin McBee, another UHS graduate.
“Treylan will still have some fullback in his game, but Colin McBee has done an excellent job,” Stewart said. “He’s done an excellent job really knowing three positions. I think he’s going to find a role similar to (former WVU fullback) Luke Hamilton.”
Projected Depth Chart
Tight End
Kole Taylor, Sr.
Treylan Davis, R-Jr.
Gregory Genross, Jr. (JUCO)
Jack Sammarco, Fr.
Will Dixon, R-So.
Noah Braham, R-Fr.
Victor Wikstrom, R-Jr.
Fullback
Colin McBee, R-So.
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