The next generation of NFL players will find their new home within the next week, including several former West Virginia University players.
Here are nine former Mountaineers who have entered their names into the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday night at 8pm ET.
OL Zack Frazier
Zach Frazier, a mainstay on the 2023 WVU team, is the only surefire candidate to be taken in this year's draft. Draft analysts project Frazier to be taken somewhere between the 24th overall pick and the third day of the draft.
The Fairmont, West Virginia, native started nearly every game during his four-year career as a Mountaineer. He has allowed only four total sacks over that stretch, including one sack in the past two seasons.
He earned first-team All-America honors from the Action Network last fall and was named to the second team by Sporting News, USA Today and The Athletic. He was also named to the College Sports Communicators' (CSC) 2023 Football Academic All-American team and a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.
He is the only Mountaineer invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
If he is selected in the first round, he would be the first Mountaineer to be selected in the top 32 since Karl Joseph, who was taken 14th overall by the Raiders in 2016. Geno Smith (39th overall – New York Jets) is WVU's most recent second round pick.
CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
Beanie Bishop Jr. only played one season in Morgantown, but his name will be held high when fans look back on the 2023 season. Bishop Jr. was WVU's starting outside cornerback and led the nation in passes defensed (24) and pass breakups (20), while also recording four interceptions.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Minnesota transfer became the second cornerback in school history to earn NCAA consensus All-American honors and was also named to the All-Big 12 First Team. He capped off his stellar career as a Mountaineer by scoring a touchdown on a punt return in the Dukes-Mayo Bowl.
During college football's All-Star season, he competed in the East-West Shrine Game with WVU teammate Doug Nester. He also made national headlines at the inaugural Big 12 Scouting Combine when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds, the fastest of any participant.
OL Doug Nester
Nester, also from West Virginia, started 52 of the 57 games he played snaps at Virginia Tech and WVU.
After playing most of his college career at right guard, he transitioned to right tackle during his redshirt senior season with the Mountaineers. He didn't allow a sack this fall.
He attended both the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game this offseason.
WR Devin Carter
Fellow first-year Mountaineer Devin Carter came to WVU last offseason from North Carolina State to increase his draft stock. Despite missing one game, Carter led WVU in receptions with 27 receptions for 501 yards and also scored two touchdowns.
In five seasons at NC State, he had 118 receptions for 1,906 yards (16.15 yards per reception) and 10 touchdowns.
LB Lee Kpogba
Lee Kpogba has become a master at handling the WVU defense's dirty work protecting the run game as the team's primary inside linebacker. Kpogba has been the Mountaineers' leading tackler in each of the past two seasons and was second on the team in tackles for loss (7.5) in 2023.
He came to WVU as a junior in 2022 after spending two seasons at Syracuse and one year at East Mississippi Community College. In his five collegiate seasons, he recorded 10 or more tackles in seven games.
DB Marcis Floyd
Marcis Floyd joined the Mountaineers as a redshirt junior in 2022 after spending four years at Murray State and earning two Ohio Valley Conference honors.
Floyd started 18 games at safety over two seasons at WVU. He totaled 113 tackles, eight passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one interception over the past two seasons.
In Duke's last game against WVU in the Mayo Bowl, he had seven tackles, including a sack and a fumble recovery.
DB Malachi Ruffin
If Malachi Ruffin makes an NFL roster, it will be one of the most inspiring stories in WVU athletics this year.
Ruffin, who was passed over by recruiting services after high school, showed up at Milan's Puscal Stadium in August 2018 without any prior communication with the WVU coaching staff. He competed along with 40 to 50 other players in a walk-on tryout and was one of five players invited to the team by the time it ended.
Back in August 2021, Ruffin officially earned his scholarship, and by the end of the following season, he earned a starting role in Jordan Leslie's defense. He recorded 77 tackles, three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, and a forced fumble in 45 games during his Mountaineer career.
DL Daboan Hawkins
Davoan Hawkins spent the first two seasons of his college career at Kentucky before playing three years at Tennessee State from 2020-2022. Hawkins spent his final year of eligibility at WVU, recording seven total tackles, including two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits. He also blocked a field goal.
WR Noah Massey
Noah Massey played two seasons at Bowling Green before transferring to D-II Angelo State University, where he had a strong redshirt junior season. Massey had a team-high 52 receptions for 684 yards and four touchdowns and was named second-team All-Lone Star Conference second-team selection.
He got limited playing time at WVU in 2023.
