MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Today was the very first day of Fall Camp for the West Virginia Mountaineers under new head coach Rich Rodriguez. With Fall camp now underway, West Virginia fans are bracing for one of the most pivotal quarterback battles under Rich Rodriguez’s return to the Mountain State: presumed starter Nicco Marchiol versus transfer Jaylen Henderson.
However, according to Rich Rodriguez, he is willing to use multiple starters this season Rodriguez, who met with the media today, said the following about the quarterback situation at West Virginia: “I hope that there is more than one quarterback that we can win with. If we have three quarterbacks we can win with, I’ll play all three. It won’t bother me at all to play all three. Over the next three weeks, if all of the quarterbacks keep getting better and we have three quarterbacks we feel we can win with, we’ll have to figure out what each of those quarterbacks do best.”
Asked when the starting quarterback will be announced, Rodriguez said, “Look, I get it. If I follow a program, I want to know who the starting quarterback is going to be, too. I don’t mind being asked every day, but really there’s a process we have to go through. There are five quarterbacks out there who need to get reps and get an opportunity.
So when will I announce the starter? We play Robert Morris in the season opener at 2:00PM, I think. If we get the ball first, you’ll know at about 2:02PM.”
Marchiol: The Presumed Starter
Nicco Marchiol, the lone returning quarterback with playing experience, redshirted in 2022 and took meaningful snaps last season. He threw for 434 yards and five touchdowns in eight appearances (37‑of‑56) and starred in WVU’s 31–26 road win at Arizona with 198 yards and two scores. He announced he’d return for 2025, declaring he was “ready to finish what I came here to do.” Marchiol brings continuity, poise, and proven chemistry with the Mountaineer offense.
Henderson: The Transfer with Dual-Threat Upside
At 6’3″ and 223 pounds, Jaylen Henderson arrives from Texas A&M after stops at Fresno State. Over his college career, he’s passed for 764 yards and six touchdowns (67.4% completion rate) and added 170 rushing yards with two scores.
Although Marchiol and Henderson will “compete” during the Fall Camp, I whole-heartedly believe that Nicco Marchiol will be the starting quarterback for the Mountaineers in exactly one month against Robert Morris. Marchiol is a proven winner and an ideal quarterback to run Rodriguez’s offense; he’s not only a born leader and winner, he is an outstanding athlete who is capable of throwing the ball downfield when needed.
