VIENNA-The NFL Scouting Combine came to a close on Tuesday and a pair of names familiar to every Mountaineer fans-Bruce Irvin and Najee Goode-were among the 300 participants that put their talents on display in an attempt to improve their stock when the NFL Draft comes around in late April.
One name that was not on the list was former-Parkersburg South standout Cody Nutter.
The starting long snapper for West Virginia University for the past three seasons has not given up on his dream of one day playing in the NFL, but the Parkersburg native has elected to display his talents when NFL scouts are invited to Morgantown for the Mountaineers' Pro Day on March 16.
"Right now, I've just been up in Morgantown training with Mike (Joseph) and a couple of other players," explained Nutter, who was back in the Mid-Ohio Valley as part of the Mountaineers' 18-player entourage that attended the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg's Steak and Burger Dinner at the Grand Pointe Conference and Reception Center. "I'm working on stuff for the combine and getting ready for Pro Day."
A three-year letterwinner as a tight end and long snapper for the Patriots, Nutter earned second team (Class AAA) all state honors and participated in both the North-South and BACF All-Star football games. The 238-pounder then elected to accept an invitation to walk-on at WVU and was redshirted during the 2007 campaign.
His second season with the old gold and blue saw Nutter added to the depth chart at both the long snapper and tight end positions and as a redshirt sophomore he saw action in all 13 of the Mountaineers' games-earning the Special Teams Champion award following the South Florida game.
So prolific was Nutter with his snaps that WVU did not have a punt, field goal or extra point blocked. A statistic which earned Nutter a full scholarship following the 2009 season.
The Parkersburg South product continued his stranglehold on the starting long snapping job during both his junior and senior seasons and played an integral part as WVU posted a 9-3 mark in 2010 and then posted a 10-3 record this past season-winning the Big East title and defeating Clemson by a 70-33 score in the Orange Bowl.
"I don't think I will ever forget this past season," said Nutter. "We had some low moments, but we were able to stick together and the win over Clemson showed everybody just how good our team was."
But that is the past.
The future has the Mountaineer senior, who is majoring in physical education teaching, training every day in preparation for Pro Day and keeping his eyes peeled on possible sites to further his long snapping talents.
"I just know that there are a few (teams) interested right now," continued the player. "Right now, they (the teams) don't know a whole lot until March 3, special teams wise.
"I'll get more feedback after Pro Day. But there are a few interested."
Interested enough to make the Mountaineer long snapper one of their selections on draft day?
"There is a very, very slim chance that I will hear my name on draft day. Most likely, I will receive a priority free agent contract and some team will pick me up and take me to a tryout or something like that."
Until then, Nutter, a multiple recipient of the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll and Dean's List and a three-time Big East Academic All-Star, will continue working with Joseph as he prepares the Mountaineers for Spring Drills next month.
"I might try and get in one of the regional combines, but if I don't, I will show what I can do on Pro Day."
If it is anything like what he has shown Mountaineer fans over the past three seasons, then Nutter can expect only good things to come out of the NFL draft.
