MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — From the Applemen to the Big Apple, Trevon Wesco made quite a climb.
The Musselman High product, who broke out last season at West Virginia, was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round with the 121st overall selection in the NFL Draft. Remarkably, Wesco was drafted one spot after Mountaineers teammate Gary Jennings — a scenario that also played out with WVU products Will Grier (100th pick) and Yodny Cajuste (101st) the previous night.
Wesco’s rise in the last year has been even more remarkable.
The tight end entered his senior season with only two career receptions, but evolved into a focal point of West Virginia’s offense as the year progressed. Wesco became the most targeted Mountaineer tight end since the Don Nehlen era, finishing with 26 catches for 366 yards.
The Jets through to the tight end often last year as they broke in rookie quarterback Sam Darnold. Chris Herndon had 39 catches, Jordan Leggett 14 receptions and Eric Tomlinson eight grabs for New York last season. New Jets coach Adam Gase targeted his tight ends 53 times in Miami last season.
Regardless of tight end targets, Wesco’s ability as a blocker figures to give him the best chance at getting early playing time.
ESPN analyst and former Jets offensive lineman Damien Woody said that a Big 12 coach texted him and said “[Wesco] is a junkyard dawg, just scratching the surface & wasn’t featured at WVU…legit talent.”
Wesco is just the third West Virginia native to be drafted out of WVU since 1990, joining Quincy Wilson and Rich Braham.
