Football, Sports, WVU Sports

WVU receiver Sean Ryan deemed immediately eligible by NCAA

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Sean Ryan is finally free to play this season.

After enduring an elongated wait for an NCAA waiver that nearly went to the brink of the season, the wide receiver was ruled immediately eligible to play for West Virginia on Friday.

The 6-foot-4, 198-pound sophomore transferred to WVU from Temple in May. He left Temple after the Owls underwent two coaching changes this winter — first Geoff Collins for Manny Diaz when Collins was hired by Georgia Tech, then Diaz for Rod Carey when Miami hired Diaz.

Ryan won’t just be playing, but potentially making a huge impact on a very young receiving corps. Despite having just one season under his belt, he is one of the more experienced wideouts on the roster. Ryan’s 12 receptions for 162 yards rank third on the team in career output behind T.J. Simmons and Tevin Bush.

“He can make plays,” co-offensive coordinator Matt Moore said of Ryan early in training camp.

Ryan is originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., where he attended Erasmus Hall.

The Mountaineers open their season next Saturday, hosting James Madison at 2 p.m.