Mountaineer running back Clay Ash receives Nickolich Award
By Mike Montoro, WVU Sports
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University running back Clay Ash, a sophomore from Leesburg, Virginia, is the winner of the 2025 Tommy Nickolich Memorial Award, presented by the Blue & Gold News.
Each spring, the Blue & Gold News awards the Tommy Nickolich Memorial Award and it 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.
Ash is in his second year as a member of the football team and has made his mark as a valuable member of the special teams. He played in nine games in 2024 and saw action on 37 special teams snaps, including a season-high 10 at Texas Tech. Because of his hard work, he saw his playing time increase last season.
Ash also earned spots on WVU’s Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll and the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
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
