Oklahoma State To Face Familiar Face in Jaden Bray on Saturday
STILLWATER – In this era of transfer portal and NIL, you’re bound to run into a former player who transferred out of your program. Ironically enough, West Virginia had it happen with Josh Sills when they played Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys had it happen with Oklahoma and Trace Ford last year and then later this year with TCU and John Paul Richardson.
Well, it’s going to happen yet again for Kasey Dunn and Co. as receiver Jaden Bray and West Virginia are coming to town this Saturday.
Bray entered the portal following the season last year and committed to the Mountaineers back on Dec. 18. As with most receivers who transfer out, they want to feel more important to the game plan. With how deep Kasey Dunn’s room has been over the years, it’s tough for even really talented receivers to find significant playing time. Bray, Richardson and Stephon ‘Boogie’ Johnson at Houston come to mind.
But it’s got to be weird going up against a former teammate. Just ask linebacker Jeff Roberson.
“You come in, you grind together, you’re brothers and they go to a different team. Good for them, you gotta do what you gotta do, but it’s just different playing against your old teammate. Obviously, he’s a good ballplayer. Came here and was good and he’s someone we’re gonna have to go against.”
The redshirt junior out of Norman, OK, has played in four games this season for the Mountaineers, recording just two catches for 88 yards.
Prior to transferring, Bray had 30 catches for 382 yards and two touchdowns in 2023, including four catches for 53 yards and a score against WVU. In two seasons with the Pokes, Bray recorded 48 catches for 686 yards and four touchdowns.
WVU head coach Neal Brown was asked about Bray returning back home and if he’s asked him about the OSU offensive game plan at all.
“I try not to put [Jaden Bray] in a tough situation. These are tough games for those guys; that wasn’t a bad split [from OSU], I don’t believe, and so I try not to put him in a bad place there because that was a place that was good for him. He’s from the state of Oklahoma. So, I’ll ask him a few questions, but I try not to put any more pressure on him going back to his home state, going back to his former team then he already feels.”
It'll be weird seeing Bray in colors other than orange and black, but we’ll get that chance this Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.