By Mickey Furfari
MORGANTOWN — Tyler Urban has developed into an outstanding tight end for West Virginia ’s football team.
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound sophomore from North Huntingdon, Pa., became a solid starter this year after appearing in all 13 games in 2008, including three starts.
“I get motivated and try to do my best,” Urban said recently. “I love to catch passes and I like to block.”
He also stands ready for all end around plays which WVU uses on occasion.
Going into the regular-season finale at Rutgers, Urban had 10 receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown. It came in the victory over Connecticut.
Last year his very first collegiate catch was for a touchdown against Rutgers. His second score was in the win over South Florida.
Urban also caught two passes in the Meineke Car Care Bowl victory against favored North Carolina. He had just four catches for 79 yards.
No one could have been happier over WVU’s 19-16 upset of No. 8-ranked Pitt this year than this Pittsburgh area youngster.
“A lot of my high school teammates went to Pitt,” Urban said. “I decided to come to West Virginia because I love the atmosphere down here.”
He noted that Pitt is in the middle of a large city but Morgantown is much smaller and that’s what he preferred. It’s more to his liking.
Urban believes the “off-week” helped get injured players back. He thinks the return of hurt starters made the team stronger for the Cincinnati game as well the one against Pitt.
He knows a lot of the Panthers, having played with and against some in high school.
Urban took a ribbing after WVU loss to Pitt last year. But it will be his turn to brag on his next trip home.
While pleased with his progress, he readily admitted that “I always can get better.”
Urban was chosen by the coaches as winner of the Danny Etten award in 2008. That goes annually to the squad’s “Rookie of the Year.”
He is majoring in finance and is a member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
A job in New York City’s Wall Street is not in the back of his mind, though. “I’m thinking more of becoming an athletic director (with a financial background),” Urban explained. “I’d like a career in sports administration.”
