West Virginia QB battle: Rich Rodriguez giving five players practice reps

West Virginia has apparently been routinely giving four to five quarterbacks practice reps during the week. That has been a plan to prepare for the weekend, as Nicco Marchiol is set to be out this weekend against Utah.

Rich Rodriguez addressed those rep counts during his press conference this week. He said that is just the way that the Mountaineers are able to practice in a given week, with Marchiol’s questionable status at that time making it even more necessary.

“Yeah, like – you know, the fourth and fifth guys weren’t getting as many reps but they were getting some. Typically, you would only give three guys reps but you know, again, the way we practice and we get so many plays in that they’re still able to get that,” Rodriguez said. “Again, we don’t know how long Nico is going to be out but, for those other four, it’s going to be an opportunity for them. And, you know, they’ve done a good job in practice staying engaged and getting their opportunities, and I think all knowing that they have a chance to play helps them stay engaged.”

Four quarterbacks have already seen action this season for the Mountaineers. Marchiol has been their starter through four games as he is 66-98 (67.4%) for 720 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while also having rushed for 56 yards and another score.

Scotty Fox Jr. (40% for 64 yards, 2 INTs with 65 rushing yards, TD), Jaylen Henderson (36.4% for 28 yards with 118 rushing yards, TD), and Khalil Watkins (67 rushing yards) have also taken snaps for WVU. Max Brown is also on the depth chart behind Marchiol and Henderson.

However, West Virginia’s starter for this week — or moving forward, pending Marchiol’s recovery — is currently unknown. Marchiol was labeled as questionable the day prior with a foot injury, per the Big 12 Injury Report released on Thursday.

It might feel like a lot to be repping that many quarterbacks during a game week. The Mountaineers may be happy that they had been, though, with a quarterback question left unanswered again, going further into conference play against the Utes on Saturday.

Utah vs. West Virginia: Thursday Big 12 Injury Report (9/25)

Utah will be coming cross-country to Morgantown on Saturday for a matchup with West Virginia. With that, the Big 12 has posted the latest update to the injury report for this game between the Utes and the Mountaineers

West Virginia

OUT

• RB Jahiem White
• WR Jaden Bray
• QB Nicco Marchiol
• S Julien Horton
• OL Cooper Young

DOUBTFUL

• RB Cyncir Bowers

QUESTIONABLE

• RB Tye Edwards
• OL Landen Livingston

PROBABLE

• WR Preston Fox
• LB Ben Bogle
• TE Jacob Barrick

Utah

OUT

• S Rabbit Evans
• WR Daidren Zipperer
• S Josh Sovereign
• DE Paul Fitzgerald
• OL Isaiah Garcia
• DT Aliki Vimahi