Several WVU Players Set to Take Part in Tropical Bowl This Week

As we inch closer to the upcoming NFL Draft, the first of the showcase event will include several former Mountaineers. WVU players Anthony Wilson, Nick Malone, Ty French will take part in the Tropical Bowl this Sunday.

Malone is on the Team American roster while Wilson and French will play for Team National. The 10th Annual Trillion Tropical Bowl, scheduled for January 19, 2025 in Daytona, Florida at Daytona Stadium.

More background on these WVU players: 

Wilson, who officially declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 19, finished his West Virginia career after two season after transferring from Georgia Southern. He recorded 102 total tackles, three pass deflections and two picks in 2024.

UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) is brought down by West Virginia Mountaineers safety Anthony Wilson Jr. (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. WVSN photo by William Wotring

Overall at WVU, Wilson registered 181 combined tackles, three interceptions and a couple tackles for a loss. Wilson was named Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his work during West Virginia’s road on the win at Cincinnati.

Malone thanked West Virginia in a long message to announce his plans to pursue hi NFL dream on Dec. 26. After earning All-State honors as a senior, Malone was a redshirt for West Virginia in 2019 and then played in a couple games during the shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

Malone then started seeing significant time in 2021, playing in all 12 games in 2022 and 13 with four starts in 2023. Malone then became one of WVU’s top offensive lineman and a leader of the unit during his final season in 2024.

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

French was only able to spend one year at WVU after transferring from the FCS level in January of 2024. At that time, French picked the Mountaineers over Western Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Tech and Appalachian State.

He recorded 22 total tackles and a pass deflection throughout the 2024 season.