West Virginia QB Nicco Marchiol expected to medically redshirt, enter transfer portal

West Virginia starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol is expected to medically redshirt, multiple sources tell On3. The current expectation is that Marchiol will enter the portal and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Marchiol started the first four games of the season but has been sidelined with a foot injury since the Kansas game in September. He’s played in 23 career games for the Mountaineers and opted to return for a fourth season when Rich Rodriguez was hired this offseason.

The Chandler, Arizona, native and former four-star recruit has thrown for 1,462 career yards with a 62.3% completion percentage. He’s thrown for 10 touchdowns to seven interceptions and has rushed for 341 yards and four scores.

“He called me yesterday,” Rodriguez said earlier this week. “He’s out in Arizona, I believe. He’s seeing some doctors out there, and he told me that the one or two doctors that he talked to said that he had a foot problem and that he’s going to be out for several weeks. What I told him is we’ve got great doctors and trainers, so I want our doctors and trainers to communicate with his doctors so they get on the same page and know exactly what it is.

“He’s definitely out in the short-term, and then once their doctors talk to our doctors and trainers, we can figure out how long it’s going to be, I guess.”

The son of Ken Marchiol, who was a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers, Nicco Marchiol was 19 of 25 for 192 yards and a touchdown in a 31-24 overtime win over Pitt earlier this season.

In Marchiol’s absence, the Mountaineers started former Fresno State and Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson against Utah. After starting the game 3 of 7, he was benched for Khalil Wilkins. West Virginia visits No. 23 BYU on Friday, followed by games at UCF, vs. TCU, at Houston, vs. Colorado, at No. 25 Arizona State and vs. No. 11 Texas Tech.

On3’s Brett McMurphy and Chris Low contributed to this report