The state of West Virginia is small on representation among Division I athletics: Only five states have fewer than its two schools — Marshall and West Virginia.
What the Mountain State has produced, however, is some of the greatest college athletes in their respective sports.
There are five members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and multiple members of the Basketball Hall of Fame who attended the two schools.
A couple are two of the best-known in their sport, including one who has his silhouette on his league's logo. There are also other standouts across the Olympic sports who are deserving of acknowledgement when compiling our list of the 10 greatest college athletes in the state's history.
Here's a look at the best of the bunch — many of whom are best of the best:
10 greatest college athletes from West Virginia
Jerry West, West Virginia
West stayed in state after a distinguished high school career and took the Mountaineers to three NCAA men's basketball tournaments in his three varsity seasons. His sophomore year, West was a first-team All-American and the most outstanding player of the Final Four after West Virginia reached the title game. His senior season, West averaged 29.3 points per game and again was an All-American.
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Randy Moss, Marshall
A native of Rand, Moss redshirted at Florida State before returning to the state to play at Marshall. In his first season with the Thundering Herd, the wide receiver tied a I-AA record with 28 touchdown catches as the school won the 1996 NCAA I-AA national title. Moving up to the I-A level didn't slow down Moss as a sophomore: He was a unanimous first-team All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award after 26 more touchdown catches. He turned pro after the season and would have a standout career that led to his induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Pat White, West Virginia
White was selected in the MLB draft coming out of high school in Alabama, but opted to play quarterback for the Mountaineers. The choice paid off as he became one of the top dual threats in the country. His 4,480 rushing yards are still the third-most in FBS history by a quarterback, and he threw for more than 6,000 passing yards and 56 touchdowns. White finished seventh and sixth in Heisman voting in 2007 and 2008, respectively. He went 42-9 as a starter and was the first starting quarterback in college football history to win bowl games in four seasons.
Hal Greer, Marshall
Greer made history as the first Black scholarship athlete in the state of West Virginia, but he made a bigger name for himself on the basketball court for the Thundering Herd. Only allowed to play three varsity seasons, he helped lead Marshall to its first NCAA Tournament berth as a sophomore. He finished his time in Huntington with an average of 19.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game before a standout professional career that led to his selection into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Major Harris, West Virginia
The Mountaineers played for the football national title in the 1988 season against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl with Harris leading the way as a sophomore. After finishing fifth in the Heisman race that year, the dual-threat quarterback would finish third in 1989 and finish his career throwing for more than 5,000 yards and running for more than 2,000 yards.
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Sam Huff, West Virginia
Huff played both offense and defense in the 1950s as the Mountaineers were included in the major national polls for the first time. The Mountaineers won three Southern Conference championships with Huff and made the 1954 Sugar Bowl. As a senior, he would be named All-American before moving to the NFL and becoming a standout linebacker and earning selection in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hot Rod Hundley, West Virginia
A starter in the 1950s, Hundley helped the Mountaineers to their first three men's basketball tournament appearances in his three varsity seasons. Known for his flair with ball handling and shooting, he finished his career as a two-time All-American with career 2,180 points. Hundley was then selected No. 1 overall in the 1957 NBA draft.
James Jett, West Virginia
Jett was a four-year starter at wide receiver for the Mountaineers and finished his career fifth in career all-purpose yards before a long career with the Raiders in the NFL. But his greatest success at West Virginia came on the track: Jett was a seven-time All-America sprinter and finished second in the 100 and 200 during his senior year in 1992. That summer, he would qualify for the U.S. Olympic team and win gold in the 4x100 relay.
Greg Jones, West Virginia
Just seven men have won four individual wrestling titles, putting Jones in elite company with his three championships won during his career. His first came as a freshman in 2002 at 174 pounds before two more in 2004 and 2005 at 184 pounds. He won all of his 51 matches in his final two seasons and capped his time with Mountaineers by being named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA tournament.
Vitor Dias, Marshall
The only men's soccer national championship in school history was won in the spring of 2021 after COVID-19 wiped out the fall season. Dias was one of the team's standout players, earning All-America honors and being named on the all-tournament team after six goals and seven assists in 17 matches. He would return for his senior season and add five goals and five more assists.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA250: 10 greatest college athletes from West Virginia rankings
