WVU Football’s offense is on an upward trajectory, both statistically and according to a player who has been around to see its formation.
Redshirt-junior tight end Treylan Davis is entering his fourth season as a Mountaineer, meaning he has certainly seen high and low points alike for the team.
After back-to-back losing seasons to start his collegiate career, though, WVU jumped to a 9-4 record and Duke’s Mayo Bowl title in 2023, something Davis attributes primarily to growing comfort and experience across the offense.
“(Experience) allows for so much more versatility now,” Davis said. “All guys have so much experience in different areas of what they do well We’ve got a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things now just from simply being in the meetings, taking the reps, and getting a lot of time and reps under their belt.”
Davis emphasized this type of growth in two portions of the offense in particular, those being in his own tight end room and with quarterback Garrett Greene.
For the tight ends, Davis said position coach Blaine Stewart has grown more comfortable and built valuable bonds with his personnel.
“I think (Stewart’s) grown so much confidence wise,” Davis said. “Last year he brought it up a few times, you know, it was his first time being a leader of an actual position, of like a unit, and he was super excited for the opportunity. And this year it’s shown. He’s been enjoying it every day.”
In regard to Greene, Davis said he ‘couldn’t speak higher’ of the senior quarterback. One of few players who has been around the team longer than Davis, Greene has seen his role increase to the highest degree as an offensive leader, and Davis has seen the work that goes with that.
“Every single year I’ve been here, he’s done nothing but get better in each area of his game,” Davis said. “He’s seriously calm in the pocket, stepping up, making big time throws… He’s being confident and taking that leadership role.”
“He is a field general right now, and I love seeing him grow,” Davis said. “He brings everybody up with him, and he just continues to get better.”
High-level progression is not exclusive to just the offense, though, Davis pointed out. Davis and his offense has seen plenty of defensive skill firsthand in 11-on-11 drills so far this spring, and he made sure to shout out a few players who have given him issues in practice.
“We’ve got Tyrin Bradley over there; has played a lot of football. Sean Martin, all these guys, especially for the tight end room, they’re giving us such good pointers, learning tips. We’ve got a super solid linebacker core right now too, that we’re dealing with every day, and those guys are going to be a headache for other offenses.”
“It’s awesome to see how we’re coming together,” Davis said.
As for Davis specifically, his experience has allowed his impact to grow as well. Remaining the number two tight end option behind Kole Taylor, Davis will continue to polish his skills, something he has learned to do at WVU.
“When I first got here I was very raw, very young. Footwork lacked heavily,” Davis said.
Nowadays, the Jackson, Ohio native is, “learning the actual game of football,” he said.
“I’ve always played physical, I’ve always played kind of rough, and I’ve been able to fine-tune that along the last four years here, change my body, my speed, agility, endurance, especially with coach Mike Joseph, and it’s been the best attribute from being here for the last four years.”
Putting in the long-term effort he has obviously allows Davis to grow on the field, whether that be as a blocker or as an eventual receiving option. Perhaps most importantly, though, Davis’s experience will let him shine as a leader.
Early in the spring, Davis has already built good bonds with the younger guys on the team.
“Anything they need, they know, if it’s the middle of practice they can come up, talk to me, ask me whatever, but if it’s outside of here, I’ll show up to whatever they need.”
That team-based mindset follows Davis in every part of his game. With increased experience, Davis said he has reached a point where he wants to help out in any way possible.
“I’m willing to expand my role now, however I can,” Davis said. “I just want to be a good football player as a whole.”
Playing behind Taylor, Davis mainly gets opportunities as a blocker as opposed to being a receiving option, but he is happy to do exactly whatever the team needs.
“I like to do as much as I can for whatever (the coaches) need me to do. If coach (Neal) Brown sends me into block, or coach Stewart sends me into block, I’ll go block. If I need to go catch a flat route I will,” Davis said.
“It doesn’t matter to me. Whatever I can do to help.”
Photo by Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports
