Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-When Cam Vaughn stepped onto the field at Milan Puskar Stadium for his West Virginia debut, it wasn’t just another game. For the wide receiver, it was proof of hours of work, resilience, and the belief that he belonged on one of college football’s biggest stages.
In the Mountaineers season-opener against Robert Morris on Saturday, the redshirt sophomore had seven catches for 126 yards and one touchdown.
It was evident that Vaughn and starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol had a special connection and the success didn’t happen by accident.
“I mean this connection, it’s not something that just happened this morning,” Marchiol said. “It’s been the day he got on campus. It’s the things we do when no one’s looking. It’s the extra hours we’ve put in. And things like this just build trust. And just having a connection with a guy like that is so huge, just in big moments and big third downs. Man, yeah, really, really, really proud of him. Really proud of him.”
That trust turned into results as Vaughn scored his first touchdown in front of a roaring home crowd and that is something that he won’t forget.
“It just takes me back to the conference championship game against West Kentucky last year,” he said about what was going through his mind. “And the fans here, man, they’re amazing. I love it. I love the atmosphere. I just — I love it.”
But the 6-foot-2, 185-pound wide receiver’s first outing wasn’t all highlights. In a moment that tested his composure, he fumbled the ball in the first half. Instead of frustration or letting it get in his head, he showed resilience and shook it off.
“That was my first fumble and I’ve never fumbled football before and I know it’s a big part of Rich Rod’s I would say chemistry or whatever, but that’s our program and that can’t happen,” Vaughn said. ” It’s just next play mentality like I said before.”
Even when asked if harder practices might prevent turnovers, his answer showed maturity.
“We just can’t let one bad thing lead to another, ” Vaughn responded.
That mindset is what brought the Villa Rica, Georgia native to Morgantown. Last year he played for Jacksonville State and now he is showcasing his talents at a Power 4 program. Vaughn embraces that challenge and is determined to succeed and help his team win.
“I would say a person coming from a G5 school, trying to put an exclamation point on Big 12, I would say just keep going,” he said. “Fight the mental battles that you go through because you go through them every day. Just keep your head up and keep pushing. I mean, if it’s for you, it’ll work out.”
For the Temple High School, alum, the transition is about more than adapting to speed and physicality. It’s about building timing, trust, and execution with his new quarterback.
Marchiol and Vaughn are trying to build something special.
“As you can see, there’s a lot of potential there,” he said. “It’s just a big trust factor, you know, just executing, I would say.”
Through the ups and downs of his first game in gold and blue, Vaughn showed what kind of player he intends to be: explosive, accountable, and driven. One touchdown, one fumble, and countless lessons later, he left the field already thinking about what comes next.
WVU travels to Athens on Saturday to take on Ohio University.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
