MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia freshman tight end Mike O’Laughlin has undergone surgery after suffering a torn ACL, likely sidelining him for the year, sources told WVMetroNews.com.
A 6-foot-5, three-star prospect from Oak Park, Ill., O’Laughlin was back home this week for the surgery and plans to return to Morgantown by the start of fall semester classes Wednesday. Coaches were high on O’Laughlin’s chances of seeing playing time this season.
He committed to WVU in April 2017 and signed last December despite a late offer from Ohio State. He compiled 108 catches for 1,895 yards and 19 touchdowns over his final two high school seasons and was among two tight ends WVU brought in for the 2018 class, along with T.J. Banks.
Sophomore Jovani Haskins figures to be the field-stretching tight end this fall with 274-pound senior Trevon Wesco projected as an H-back blocker. West Virginia also has an intriguing prospect in 6-foot-6 Jesse Beal, who’s giving college football a try at age 28 after minor-league baseball stints with the Orioles and Phillies.
Head coach Dana Holgorsen, while subsequently addressing O’Laughlin’s injury at Sunday’s practice, also announced that freshman receiver Dillon Spalding underwent ankle surgery and is out for the year.
“Those two guys, we didn’t know what we were getting with them. They are good kids,” Holgorsen said. “Other than that, we’re in pretty good shape.”