Rich Rodriguez reveals the most unique part of West Virginia's QB room

As West Virginia heads into the Rich Rodriguez era for the second time, it will do so with fans itching to see his dual-threat offense in action. Long Rodriguez has been known for producing an electric ground game.

He’s not as often associated with elite passing offenses, though when things are humming right, that aspect of the game is plenty dangerous. But if this year’s crop of players at West Virginia is any indication, Rodriguez’s offense could be a bit more air-it-out than normal.

“The one thing that, to your point, all of our quarterbacks can really throw the ball,” Rodriguez told a reporter recently. “I mean, we’re repping five guys. All five can really throw it, I’m talking about.”

Nicco Marchiol might be the odds-on favorite to win the West Virginia job after playing some last year. He threw for 434 yards and five touchdowns, against just two interceptions, while he also added 120 yards and two touchdowns rushing.

He’s not the only dual-threat prospect in the room, though. Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson can also run, though he did not see action for the Aggies last year.

There’s also former Florida and Charlotte transfer Max Brown, who played some at a lower level last year. He has seven career interceptions to just three touchdowns. Still, Rodriguez came away raving about those three and his two true freshmen at West Virginia.

“I’ve never had that many that can throw it that well, as far as arm strength goes and all that,” he said. “There’s not really a pass play that’s out there or route package that is out there that we’re like, ‘Well, we can’t do that because we don’t have the arm strength to make that throw.'”

Could that make the West Virginia offense harder to corral this fall? It certainly could. If nothing else, it provides some options if one guy isn’t getting the job done.

“That’s kind of a neat deal to have every quarterback, for every route package, can make every throw,” Rodriguez said. “Now we just have to see which ones we can be the most accurate with. That’s kind of a fun thing to have.”