MORGANTOWN —
It was naturally assumed, when Don Nehlen ended his coaching career at West Virginia University after the 2000 season and took his rightful seat among the greats in the College Football Hall of Fame that the Nehlen Era at the school was over.
As the man says, not so fast, my friend.
Oh, Nehlen is content in his retirement, working as Friend of Coal, playing more golf than Ernie Els, although not quite as well, and putting in cameo appearances at the Puskar Center to visit with old friends like Donnie Young, Bill Kirelawich, Dave McMichael and head coach Bill Stewart.
But there’s a legacy patrolling the halls now and trying to make his mark as a player in grandson Ryan Nehlen, a slot receiver who is gradually moving toward getting playing time on the field.
What makes it such a nice story is that he’s doing it with his play and not because of his name and that he is grateful for the opportunity he has.
“My grandfather has meant a lot to me,” he admits, but notes that it hasn’t been because of any favors he has done him or any meddling he has done. In fact, it’s quite to contrary.
“He tries to stay out of it,” the younger Nehlen said, meaning getting involved in decisions about his grandson.
They do, however, talk often, and Don Nehlen offers some opinions and advice, but understands that it is Stewart coaching Ryan now and that he can’t involve himself in that without creating a difficult situation, one he would not want to face when he was coaching.
That Nehlen is making stides is obvious. This past January, after a redshirt season, he injured his knee in a pickup basketball game.
“They couldn’t keep me out of the gym,” the former University High star receiver and, yes, basketball player said. “No more of that.”
The torn meniscus that he suffered was in need of surgery and it cost him this spring, which was not exactly the way he had laid things out in his mind.
“It was a long off season,” Nehlan said.
When you are injured and rehabilitating, you wear a red jersey at practice, which makes you stand out from the players in the blue and white jerseys and all during practice you walk or exercise or ride the bike. It’s lonely and it’s boring.
It also keeps you from showing the coaches what you can do, meaning you can’t climb the depth chart.
Last year was a get-to-know the game year for Nehlen, adjusting to college football.
“The speed of the game is the big difference,” he said. “It’s a lot different than high school You are playing with the top athletes in the country. You’ve got to be on top of your game every minute.”
Nehlen came into summer camp something of a forgotten man. By then his knee was healed and he had been moved to a new position, put in the slot from his normal spot at wide receiver.
At 6-2, he is not the normal slot receiver that WVU employs, having gone with the likes of Jock Sanders and Tavon Austin, both well under 6-feet. But the Mountaineers also used 6-8 Wes Lyons there some last year.
The move to slot seems to have helped him as there he isn’t usually trying to get away from a fleeter cornerback, who are tied up on the wide receivers. So he’s dealing with safeties or linebackers, which is to his advantage.
He also isn’t trying to wrestle a job away from the likes of Steadman Bailey, Bradley Starks, Ivan McCarney and J.D. Woods, all big-time prospects and world class athletes.
“Being in the slot gives me my best opportunity to play,” he said.
Nehlen has benefitted from the move. He’s been running with the second unit a lot and in Saturday’s final scrimmage in camp caught a 10-yard pass from freshman quarterback Jeremy Johnson on third-and-7 to keep a drive alive.
The next step is get on the field and get some experience under his belt.
“I know it’s coming,” Nehlen said.
E-mail Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com.
WVU Sports
Ryan Nehlen working for playing time
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