WVU’s Wesco Readies For Final Game
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia senior tight end/fullback Trevon Wesco has one wish only for Christmas -- win the Camping World Bowl.
"I've had a chance to play in two bowl games and I'm 0-for-2," Wesco explained. "So, that's what I, and the rest of the seniors, want for Christmas.
"No one wants to finish the season on another three-game losing streak."
The former Musselman Appleman was referring to the Mountaineers' late-season collapse a year ago when they not only lost to Texas (28-14) and Oklahoma (59-31) to close out the regular and Big 12 season, but then traveled to the Zaxby Heart of Dallas Bowl only to be sent back to the Mountain State with a 30-14 setback against Utah.
"We (the seniors) have been talking about that since returning to campus," Wesco said. "We saw how bad those seniors felt after that final loss. It hurt, and we could see it in their faces.
"Especially when we were so close to going to a much bigger bowl if we don't drop those games (to Texas and OU)."
Not to mention losing starting quarterback Will Grier to a season-ending hand injury in the loss to the Longhorns.
"That was hard to overcome," the Martinsburg native said. "We had a lot of faith in Chugs (Chris Chugunov), but he wasn't Will (Grier)."
Now, Wesco and fellow senior wideout David Sills V will have to overcome the loss of their Heisman Trophy candidate signalcaller again as they prepare to take on a Syracuse team that finished the season at 9-3 with two of those setbacks coming at the hands of CFP participants Notre Dame and Clemson.
Grier, who finished with 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns through the air, as well as starting left tackle Yodny Cajuste and senior wideout Gary Jennings Jr. (54-917, 13 TDs) have elected to forego playing one final game with the Mountaineers to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft.
"I know those guys, they are my brothers out there on the field," said Wesco, who has quickly made himself a name in the draft and is projected as a second- or third-round choice. "That wasn't an easy decision for any of them. But, we are all adults here and we each had to look at our situation and make that call.
"I respect all three of them. I will miss them, the whole team will miss them, but Coach (Dana Holgorsen) is always talking about the 'next guy up' and that just means that some of our younger guys are going to have to grow up and make plays."
Something that Wesco has been doing all season long.
Coming into his final season in Morgantown, he had amassed two catches for 7 yards and one touchdown in limited play during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
That changed this past season as the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder became one of Grier's favorite targets -- latching onto 24 passes for 352 yards and one score.
"A lot of hard work," Wesco explained when asked about the change. "A lot of work earning Will's trust and the trust of my other teammates."
Now, it's back to the drawing board as he attempts to earn that same trust with redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Allison, who completed 6 of 10 passes for 75 yards with one touchdown and one interception in limited time this season, as well as true freshman Trey Lowe III.
"Jack (Allison) has a very strong arm and I don't see any problems with earning his trust," Wesco said. "We've practiced all season long, so it's not like he hasn't thrown to me all year."
As far as Lowe, "I can't wait to see what he can do out there. He gives us another runner in the backfield and he has a strong arm as well."