Between The Eers: West Virginia Has Major Issues at Quarterback

Originally posted on West Virginia Mountaineers on SI
By Schuyler Callihan | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 11:27 AM ET

West Virginia quarterback Nicco Marchiol really struggled in the loss to the Ohio Bobcats, and yes, there's enough blame to go around, but the Mountaineers must have more mobility at quarterback.

Just about every time things were covered up by Ohio in pass coverage, the play was dead. Marchiol wasn't going to beat the Bobcats with his legs. The Ohio defense also sent numbers toward the back in read option plays, inviting Marchiol to pull it and keep it.

Marchiol can be successful in this offense. It's not a square peg in a round hole type of deal. He just needs the pieces around him to do their part for him to even have a chance. If the offensive line continues to be subpar and there is no run game, continuing to roll Marchiol out there is not going to work.

WVU needs to have a quarterback that can escape out of the pocket and extend plays or tuck it and pick up some yardage with their legs. Is that Jaylen Henderson? Max Brown? Scotty Fox Jr.? Khalil Wilkins? I'm not going to pretend as if I know the answer, but you simply cannot have a pocket passer when there is no clean pocket to work from.

On this morning's episode of Between The Eers, I discuss what I believe head coach Rich Rodriguez needs to consider at the quarterback position, along with what we may see him do starting this week against Pitt in the Backyard Brawl.

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