Parkersburg South star, Cyrus Traugh, working hard to carve out role in WVU football’s offense
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MORGANTOWN -- Rich Rodriguez and the position coaches have floated a couple of names around the first two weeks of camp of some of the players who have really impressed them. It's hard to get Rodriguez, specifically, to single out a player, because he said, "It's like picking a favorite kid." So when he does mention someone, they must be really flashing. One of them is Parkersburg, West Virginia, native, wide receiver Cyrus Traugh.
"Cyrus has been balling," inside receivers coach Logan Bradley said. "Love, love, love Cyrus."
Traugh's path to WVU was an uphill battle.
He was an impressive high school player at Parkersburg South High School. Through the air, Traugh hauled in 84 passes for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns, and totaled 25 total touchdowns and amassed 2,186 all-purpose yards. He could do it just as well on defense. Traugh intercepted eight passes, returning two for touchdowns, and had 10 pass breakups. His performance earned him the Randy Moss Award, which is given to the best receiver in the state, and led his squad to the Class AAA state championship game.
Even with the big numbers in high school, Traugh couldn't land on an FBS roster and committed to Youngstown State. He didn't let that stop him from reaching his state's university one day. After a season of not playing much, Traugh worked his way into being the second-best receiver on the Penguins, having 36 catches for 409 yards and a team-high five receiving touchdowns.
The season allowed him to transfer to the Mountaineers.
"Everybody in the state knows who he was in high school, right?" outside receiver coach Ryan Garrett said. "Obviously, he had a good career at his last place, but he came here to play, and he hasn’t looked for any easy ways out."
He didn't play much in 2025. Traugh played in just two games last season, and the most plays he played in those two games was 10. Most players in this era of college athletics who don't get playing time transfer, but Traugh put his head down and got to work. He arrived last season around 160 pounds and is now hovering around 200 pounds, grinding in the weight room. Traugh brought the work ethic onto the field as well.
"Cyrus Traugh, he's an in-state guy, that's showing us a lot," Rodriguez said. "He's had some good practices."
He really started catching the staff’s attention this spring. Traugh received the 2026 Tommy Nickolich Memorial Award after the spring game, which is given to a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic.
Rodriguez, who played with the late Tommy Nickolich, thought Traugh was the perfect candidate for the award.
Now into the summer and two weeks into fall practices, he's started to carve out a role in the offense. It helps that Traugh has had a year now in the system, unlike a lot of the transfer receivers Rodriguez brought in. Traugh's been playing outside and inside receiver so far.
"He’s a guy we feel like has a lot of position flexibility," Garrett said. "I’m super proud of Cyrus. He’s always been a kid that's been fun to work with."
Rodriguez and the staff preach an earned success motto, alongside the hard edge. Traugh is a great example for the younger players, who might not be playing much, that if you work hard enough, you'll play. It doesn't matter if you were a 4-star recruit or a no-star recruit, like Traugh.
"That’s the mark you need to kind of chase," Bradley said. "Whether you play or don’t play, you want to get that work in, and I think that’s a guy who knows what’s at stake for him, and it means something to him. I love him as a kid, as a young man, but he’s been growing on the field.”