photo by: Benjamin Powell

WVU receiver Cam Vaughn, pictured Saturday vs. Robert Morris, had seven receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown in the Mountaineers’ season-opening win.

In 2023, Rich Rodriguez signed Cam Vaughn to Jacksonville State as a quarterback. He didn’t have any stars out of Temple High School in Georgia, but he thought quarterback was where he’d see action.

Rodriguez saw something in him and took a chance.

“We thought we signed him; he was a Power Four talent,” Rodriguez said.

The talent wasn’t as a passer, though. Vaughn had his sights on playing QB, so Rodriguez let him try it in the preseason before 2023.

“That lasted about an hour,” Rodriguez said. ” Listen, ‘You can learn the offense while you’re playing wide out.'”

Vaughn switched to receiver and redshirted in 2023, as he learned the position. In 2024, he made an immediate impact at wide out. Vaughn led with 48 catches, 803 yards and five touchdowns.

Vaughn said playing quarterback helped him make the transition easier.

“Just knowing when you’re going to get the ball, and you’re not,” Vaughn said. “The coverage reading is a lot easier. Playing quarterback taught me a lot.”

Then, when Rodriguez moved over to West Virginia, Vaughn came with. Against Robert Morris, he had an up-and-down day, but emerged as WVU’s No. 1 receiver very quickly.

Vaughn hauled in seven catches for 127 yards and had the highlight of the day, hauling in a quarterback Nicco Marchiol deep pass for a 46-yard touchdown.

“He’s obviously a great athlete, and he’s a great competitor,” Rodriguez said. “Cam really loves to compete. He always feels he can get open and can get by somebody. I’m glad we took a deep shot. We weren’t going deep balls today much, and it was good. He ran a great route, and Nicco made a great throw. Cam’s one of the most explosive guys, I think, in the country. I’m glad he got some plays today.”

Vaughn was Marchiol’s favorite target against Robert Morris. Of Marchiol’s 17 throws, Vaughn caught seven and bailed Marchiol out when he was in trouble.

Marchiol said the two have developed a connection as soon as Vaughn arrived in Morgantown in the winter.

“As you can see, there is a lot of potential there,” Vaughn said. “It’s just a big trust factor. Just executing.”

Vaughn’s day wasn’t perfect, though. Vaughn reeled in a catch inside the red zone, hurdled a defender, but after, coughed up the football, which rolled into the end zone for a touchback.

Vaughn cleared up that it was a one-time thing and said he’d never fumbled before.

“I know it’s a big part of Rich Rod’s chemistry or whatever,” Vaughn said. “That’s our program, and that can’t happen.”

Even with the fumbles, it was clear that Vaughn is the clear WR1 for WVU, like he was for Rodriguez at Jacksonville State. It was the first game, so it could change, but the second closest in receptions was tight end Grayson Barnes, who had three catches, and had almost 100 yards more than any other receiver.

He has the swagger of a WR1, too. Vaughn said he’s not afraid to show up a defensive back if they’re talking trash, and even after the game, he jokingly joined in when the Robert Morris coach was getting on his players.

As a redshirt sophomore, and only playing receiver full-time for a couple of years, Vaughn’s still learning and has room to improve throughout the season, and in the future.

“He’s still learning the position,” Rodriguez said. “But he’s a competitive guy. It’s important to him.”