Traugh Receives Nickolich Award
April 18, 2026 11:48 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University wide receiver Cyrus Traugh, a redshirt junior from Parkersburg, West Virginia, is the winner of the 2026 Tommy Nickolich Memorial Award, presented each spring by the Blue & Gold News.
While the award does not automatically guarantee a scholarship, it recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who died of cancer in 1983.
Traugh is in his second year as a member of the football team and played in two games in 2025 with a season-high 10 plays at Kansas.
Traugh redshirted his first year at Youngstown State in 2023, seeing action in two games. In his second season, he was the second-leading receiver with 36 catches for 409 yards and a team-high five receiving touchdowns, earning NCAA FCS Freshman All-American honors.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025 Clay Ash, RB
2024 Avery Wilcox, S
2023 C.J. Cole, WR
2022 Nick Malone, OL
2021 Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020 Osman Kamara, S
2019 Jake Abbott, LB
2018 Evan Staley, K
2017 Nick Meadows, LS
2016 Jon Lewis, DL
2015 Justin Arndt, LB
2014 Michael Calicchio, OL
2013 Connor Arlia, WR
2012 Tyler Anderson, DE
2011 Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010 Matt Lindamood, FB
2009 Josh Taylor, DL
2008 Adam Hughes, LS
2007 Andy Emery, LB
2006 Tim Lindsey, LS
2005 George Shehl, H/DB
2004 Jeff Noechel, LB
2003 John Pennington, WR
2002 Moe Fofana, RB
2001 Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000 Ben Collins, LB
1999 Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998 Mark Corman, TE
1997 David Lightcap, DB
1996 Matt Ceresa, OL
1995 Rob Keys, DB
1994 Randy Fulmore, DB
1993 Matt McCulty, WR
1992 Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991 Keith Taparausky, RB
While the award does not automatically guarantee a scholarship, it recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who died of cancer in 1983.
Traugh is in his second year as a member of the football team and played in two games in 2025 with a season-high 10 plays at Kansas.
Traugh redshirted his first year at Youngstown State in 2023, seeing action in two games. In his second season, he was the second-leading receiver with 36 catches for 409 yards and a team-high five receiving touchdowns, earning NCAA FCS Freshman All-American honors.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025 Clay Ash, RB
2024 Avery Wilcox, S
2023 C.J. Cole, WR
2022 Nick Malone, OL
2021 Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020 Osman Kamara, S
2019 Jake Abbott, LB
2018 Evan Staley, K
2017 Nick Meadows, LS
2016 Jon Lewis, DL
2015 Justin Arndt, LB
2014 Michael Calicchio, OL
2013 Connor Arlia, WR
2012 Tyler Anderson, DE
2011 Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010 Matt Lindamood, FB
2009 Josh Taylor, DL
2008 Adam Hughes, LS
2007 Andy Emery, LB
2006 Tim Lindsey, LS
2005 George Shehl, H/DB
2004 Jeff Noechel, LB
2003 John Pennington, WR
2002 Moe Fofana, RB
2001 Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000 Ben Collins, LB
1999 Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998 Mark Corman, TE
1997 David Lightcap, DB
1996 Matt Ceresa, OL
1995 Rob Keys, DB
1994 Randy Fulmore, DB
1993 Matt McCulty, WR
1992 Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991 Keith Taparausky, RB
Players Mentioned
WR
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