MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — West Virginia’s quarterback room may be in for major fireworks.
Multiple pieces of social media evidence strongly indicate that West Virginia is heavily pursuing Colton Joseph, the Sun Belt Player of the Year who exploded this season at Old Dominion. And while WVU is expected to return talented freshman Scotty Fox, the Mountaineers may suddenly have access to a quarterback who fits Rich Rodriguez’s offense better than anyone in the nation.
And here’s the kicker:
Joseph will not play in Old Dominion’s bowl game, per his family, a sign that major movement could be coming. In addition to that, Joseph has been followed by multiple people close to the West Virginia program, which is always a clear indication that there is major interest.
Lots of social media evidence to support that West Virginia is heavily pursuing the Sun Belt Player of the Year, COLTON JOSEPH, who threw for 2,624 yards & rushed for 1,007 yards at Old Dominion this season. #WVU pic.twitter.com/3cHLrL2g6I
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) December 4, 2025
A Statistical Monster
Colton Joseph was, quite simply, one of the most dynamic and electric quarterbacks in college football this season.
In 2024 at ODU, Joseph posted:
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2,624 passing yards
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1,007 rushing yards
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Sun Belt Player of the Year honors
Over the course of 20 career starts, Joseph has totaled:
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4,251 passing yards
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32 passing touchdowns
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1,654 rushing yards
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24 rushing touchdowns
𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗧𝗢𝗡.@ODUFootball redshirt sophomore quarterback @_ColtonJoseph1 is the @SunBeltFB Offensive Player of the Year, after throwing for 2,624 yards & rushing for 1,007 yards in an offense that ranks 16th in the country at 460.8 yards per game. ☀️🏈
📰 »… pic.twitter.com/migv134hFQ
— Sun Belt (@SunBelt) December 4, 2025
Very few quarterbacks in the country can match that level of dual-threat production. Even fewer are built for a Rich Rodriguez system the way Joseph is.
Why Joseph Is the Ideal Rich Rodriguez Quarterback
Rich Rod’s offense thrives with a quarterback who is:
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Explosive in the run game
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Comfortable in zone-read and RPO concepts
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Fast enough to punish defenses on broken plays
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Confident throwing on the move
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Physically tough and durable
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Experienced in high-tempo systems
Joseph checks every single box.
Meet Colton Joseph: would be my top choice for the Badgers out of the portal that seems pretty realistic. Pretty solid arm and an excellent runner. Would be a match made in heaven with OC Jeff Grimes’ system. pic.twitter.com/JNEEous9fQ
— Connor Whelan (@its_connor_w) November 30, 2025
He is a true dual-threat quarterback, not a passer who can run, not a runner who can pass, but a complete, balanced weapon who forces defenses to defend every square inch of the field.
In many ways, he resembles the prototypical Rodriguez quarterback:
Pat White’s legs with more developed passing traits.
It’s no surprise WVU is pushing hard.
What About Scotty Fox?
Even with Joseph’s potential availability, WVU fans shouldn’t panic about the future of freshman standout Scotty Fox.
Fox is expected to return next season and has shown all the signs of being the long-term face of the program. But he is still young, still learning, and still adjusting to the speed and demands of college football.
Joseph, meanwhile, brings:
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Two years of eligibility
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20 career starts
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Proven production against FBS defenses
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A dynamic, ready-made skillset for Rich Rod’s system
Fox represents the future.
Joseph may represent the right now.
Having both would be a luxury WVU has rarely enjoyed at the most important position on the field.
Portal Timing
One key detail:
Joseph cannot officially enter the transfer portal until January 2026, based on NCAA eligibility rules.
But his decision to skip the bowl game — combined with the recent social media smoke linking him to WVU — strongly suggests that preparations are already underway for a massive recruitment.
Make no mistake:
If Joseph becomes available, he will be one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the nation.
WVU Is Going to Swing Big
With Rich Rodriguez reinvigorating the program and WVU showing renewed aggression in recruiting and NIL, the Mountaineers are positioning themselves to land difference-makers.
And there may not be a bigger potential difference-maker than Colton Joseph.
He is:
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The most experienced dual-threat WVU could realistically land
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A plug-and-play weapon in Rodriguez’s scheme
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A proven game-changer who forces defenses to cheat
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The type of QB who can win you Big 12 games immediately
Even with Scotty Fox expected back, the message is clear:
If you can get a quarterback like Joseph, you go get him.
This is a story to watch closely because if WVU lands the perfect Rich Rodriguez quarterback, the Mountaineers’ offense could become one of the most dangerous in the country overnight.
