Rich Rodriguez Offers Early Thoughts on WVU’s QB Competition

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – While most positions are up for garbs at WVU, Rich Rodriguez knows the one that matters more than any other is quarterback. And even with several new quarterbacks on the current roster, most believe the battle for the starting spot will come down to the returning Nicco Marchiol vs. the talented transfer Jaylen Henderson.

So what will Rodriguez be looking for in West Virginia’s quarterback battle? What does he want to see in who will be under center when the ball is kicked off on the 2025 season?

Rodriguez feels comfortable and with the talent and depth he has at quarterback.

“We think we’ve got good competition in that room. I think we’re in good shape at the quarterback position with the guys that we got. There’s some really good skill in that room,” offered Rodriguez as his early evaluation of the quarterbacks during a press conference to open the spring session on Thursday.

WVU HC Rich Rodriguez says he feels comfortable with the talent and depth at QB. He said he really liked what he saw when he watched Nicco Marchiol in games last season. He also called his offense “a quarterback centric” system and feels it will protect whoever is under center.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) February 20, 2025

Of course, Rodriguez wouldn’t announce that the competition for QB1 is only between Marchiol and Henderson or even go into much detail on what he’s seen from anyone so far. He noted that it’s not truly possible to provide analysis in that regard yet.

“Nicco, in his opportunities he played, played really really well,” added Rodriguez about what he saw from Mrachiol while watching some film from the 2024 season.

Rodriguez is confident that whoever plays will have success, mostly because his offense is “quarterback centric” and designed to put the quarterback in a position to succeed.

For a related story, WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti explained his early thoughts about what Rich Rodriguez is doing at quarterback last month.