MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  – West Virginia University safety Avery Wilcox, a redshirt junior from Fort Mill, South Carolina, is the winner of the 2024 Tommy Nickolich Memorial Award, presented by the Blue & Gold News.

This marks the first time since the award has been presented that a father (Ray Wilcox, 1992) and a son have been honored with the award.

Each spring, the Blue & Gold News awards the Tommy Nickolich Memorial Award. 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 (1979-82) who died of cancer in 1983.

Wilcox is in his fourth year as a member of the football team and has made his mark as a valuable member of the special teams. He played in all 13 games in 2023 and saw action on 120 snaps, including 97 on special teams. Because of his hard work, he saw his playing time increase last season. He played on a season-high 23 snaps against Duquense, registering a 34-yard interception return and a season-best 17 special teams snaps at Houston.

He was named the WVU special teams scout player of the week for the Oklahoma State game in 2022 and the special teams scout player of the week for the Kansas game in 2021.

Wilcox earned All-Academic Big 12 Second Team honors im 2023 and has earned spots on WVU's Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll and the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
  
Past Nickolich Award winners:
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