MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Fresh off the final home game of his college career, Wyatt Milum spent this week preparing for his final road and regular season contest at this level, which comes at noon Saturday when the Mountaineers play at Texas Tech.
For the 6-foot-6, 317-pound senior, it will mark the 47th career contest and 43rd start of his illustrious career for the Mountaineers.
“Last week, playing the last home game and the emotions, my college career is like a blur,” Milum said. “It’s gone extremely fast. I’m extremely grateful to be able to play college football here. It seems like just the other day that I was arriving on camps. It’s crazy. We have two more games and I’m excited to finish the season strong. It’s going to be sad to play the last down of college.”
As referenced in his aforementioned statement, Milum confirmed he plays to extend his WVU career beyond Saturday for whatever bowl game the Mountaineers (6-5, 5-3) play in.
At some point over the next five weeks, however, Milum will don a Mountaineer jersey for the final time and turn his full football attention toward what’s next — a professional career likely to start in the spring as Milum is a projected top 100 pick in the 2025 National Football League Draft..
The senior left tackle was the Mountaineers’ lone selection to the 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 team and is widely considered West Virginia’s top overall player and pro prospect.
“A lot of hard work, preparation, growing up and maturing and learning the game of football,” Milum said of his progress over the last few years. “The biggest thing I reflect on is how much I’ve grown, matured and learned about the game of football since I’ve been here.”
He is currently tasked with protecting the blind side of WVU quarterback Garrett Greene and helping to provide push for an offense whose success is largely predicated off its ability to establish the run.
Milum is part of a veteran unit assured of losing at least four starters next season. Center Brandon Yates, right guard Ja’Quay Hubbard and right tackle Nick Malone will also have exhausted their eligibility at the conclusion of this season.
“I’ve been with these guys for four years now, so the relationship and chemistry that we’ve built is really exciting,” Milum said. “I’m proud of all those guys and I love all those guys. Really proud of how we all stuck together and how we’re playing together.”
Last week, Milum was named one of seven semifinalists for the Outland Trophy, annually presented to the nation’s best interior lineman on offense or defense. Milum was not among the three finalists named for the award earlier this week, though his play has put the Kenova native in position to have a lengthy professional career after his days in Morgantown.
“I’ve talked to [former WVU offensive linemen Doug Nester and Zach Frazier], so I know of know what I’m getting into with that. Those guys helped me out a lot,” Milum said. “Right now, I’m not really worried about that stuff and I’m worried about this season. They’ve helped me with the process and told me what’s to come and everything.”