It wasn’t exactly the greatest of bowl games for West Virginia University’s football team. The Mountaineers recently headed south to Orlando with high expectations against Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl, but headed home on the wrong end of a 34-14 setback.

 

There wasn’t a whole lot of great offense. And there also wasn’t a whole lot of great defense or even special teams to be seen during the game.

 

For those with a keen eye, however, they may have seen something they weren’t necessarily expecting. If you saw some players on the sidelines that looked like Bridgeport High School alums and WVU football freshmen Dylan Tonkery, Dante Bonamico and Elijah Drummond you weren’t mistaken.

 

The trio, all of whom were redshirted this past year, were part of the Mountaineer travel party that got to go to the bowl. It was a reward, which is common, for being successful members of the WVU Scout Team that goes up against the regular unit prior to each week.

 

There’s not necessarily a lot of glamour in scout team work. It’s often toiling in anonymity, but the payoff isn’t just a trip to a bowl game. The payoff comes in the form of a chance to play as you move up a year in school.

 

As of now, all three players – Tonkery a scholarship player and Bonamico and Drummond both walk-ons – will be back in 2017. However, they were pleased to get a chance to support their team with the best view in the house on Dec. 28.

 

“I knew that I would be traveling with the team when one of the other scout players that played last year was talking to me about how much fun the bowl trip was and that the scout players travelled as well, and got to experience everything the normal travel players did,” said Drummond on when he found out. “The bowl trip was very nice. We got a lot of freedom the first few nights after practice, and a few of the other players and I went to Universal. That was an experience I will never forget. We also got an insane amount of clothing and bowl gifts. I can't complain about the consistent 80 degree weather either.”

 

Tonkery found out much the same way. One of the older players on the team let him know about the Scout players traveling. However, it wasn’t the first road trip for Tonkery.

 

“I got to travel for the BYU game,” said Tonkery about the game in Baltimore. “ …  (The bowl) was a fun trip. It was a good learning experience and hung out with team.”

 

At the time of the BYU game in September, Coach Dana Holgorsen had said there was a possibility that Tonkery would have his redshirt burned. It didn’t prove to be the case, but Tonkery is fine with the decision and plans on making the most of the days and years ahead with a fresh outlook.

 

“They redshirted me after the BYU game. (It) definitely changed my perspective on how to prepare for the upcoming off season and what I need to do to be able to get playing time,” said Tonkery.

 

For Bonamico, the script for learning about the trip was the same.

 

“I kind of knew that I was going to be traveling with the team from a lot of the older guys telling me, and I was pretty excited when I did find out,” said Bonamico. “It was my first road trip, and it was definitely a reward for the successful season that we had as a team ... It was rewarding, and even though the outcome of the game wasn't what we wanted, it was still a great time.”

 

So what was the season like for all three? Here’s what they had to say.

 

“I was on the scout offensive team every week, which tries to portray the opposing offense as well as we can to best prepare the defense,” said Drummond. “I usually played a fullback, but when the opposing team had a bigger running back I filled that role. I also played a part in many of the scout special teams.”

 

Drummond, who made his first road trip of the year to the bowl, is hoping to see time on special teams and perhaps play in the backfield.

 

“I will play wherever the coaches need me to,” said Drummond.

 

Tonkery’s role on the Scout team was a bit different. In fact, it was similar to that of his brother Wes who played for the Mountaineers.

 

“I was a scout linebacker. Scouts run the special teams, offense, and defense of the teams we were playing that week,” said Tonkery.

 

Tonkery is hoping to see starting time next year on special teams. He also wouldn’t mind getting some snaps in on the defensive side of the ball.

 

As for Bonamico, he believes the redshirt year was a beneficial one. He plans on carrying the same attitude into preparing for 2017 in the offseason.

 

“Being a part of the scout team defense you have meetings on Sunday to get familiar with the defensive scheme that the opposing team is running, and then you go out and run that defense against the first and second team offense. It was kind of neat to see what all of these different teams are running, and I definitely learned something from all of it,” said Bonamico. “I plan on having a great offseason, and playing a role on special teams, and just contributing any way I can.”

 

Bonamico believes his role will be on the defensive side of the ball as he moves up. The former all-stater at BHS believes his position will be bandit safety.

 

While participation on the contact front was limited to practice, they participated elsewhere. Most notably as part of WVU’s strength and conditioning program and all three believe time there is already paying off.

 

Drummond is at 6’0 and weighs in at 225, which is a little higher than his BHS weight. He’s hoping to add 10 more pounds during the offseason.

 

“The strength program there is unrivaled. I came in weighing 210 and have put on 15 pounds since. My body fat has also dropped a good bit,” said Drummond. “The workouts are extremely rigorous and they push your body to the absolute limit each day. I love the strength staff. They push you and are hard on you during the workout, but at the end of the day they would do anything for you.”

 

Count Tonkery as someone that has really put on weight and muscle. The 6’1 all-stater for Bridgeport is up to 215 pounds, which is way up from his playing weight of 195 for the Indians. He also had glowing words about the program.

 

“Their program is the best in the country. (Strength Coach) Mike Joseph spends so much time with us in the weight room and getting us in shape,” said Tonkery. “It would be really hard to change my body the way they have.”

 

Bonamico, who comes in just a shade under 5’9, has also packed some pounds onto his frame. Heading into the offseason, he’s already added 12 pounds of weight – most of which is muscle. And like his prep partners, he’s got nothing but praise for the strength program.

 

“Our strength program is definitely one of the best in the country and you have to come to work every day because they will challenge you past your limits,” said Bonamico. “It has helped me tremendously this year to get faster and stronger.” 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows, from left, Elijah Drummond, Dante Bonamico and Dylan Tonkery on the sidelines at the Russell Athletic Bowl. Photo by Phil Nicewarner; photo submitted by Cynthia Swiger Drummond. Bottom three photos, in order, of Bonamico, Tonkery and Drummond, courtesy of WVU Sports Communications.