Every fall camp features position battles, but none carries more significance than quarterback. As West Virginia prepares for the 2026 season, Rich Rodriguez has repeatedly emphasized that no decision has been made between returning sophomore Scotty Fox Jr. and Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins Jr. Read more: More than an arm: what Rich Rodriguez is looking for in WVU’s next starting quarterback.
The competition is not simply about who throws the better football. Instead, it is about which quarterback can best execute Rodriguez’s offense and provide the consistency needed to lead the Mountaineers into Week 1.
Entering the second season of Rodriguez’s return to Morgantown, expectations have only grown since installing his system. While the coaching staff will keep an eye on both quarterbacks now and throughout fall camp, the battle extends beyond arm strength and athleticism. Decision-making, ball security, leadership, and command of the offense could ultimately determine who takes the first snap of the season.
Rodriguez’s quarterback philosophy
Throughout his coaching career, Rodriguez has built his offenses around quarterbacks capable of making plays both through the air and on the ground. From Pat White at West Virginia to Denard Robinson at Michigan and Khalil Tate at Arizona, each quarterback brought a dynamic rushing element that forced defenses to account for them on every snap.
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While the offensive scheme has evolved, the ability to extend plays and create yards with their legs remains one of the defining characteristics Rodriguez looks for in a quarterback.
Scotty Fox Jr.
After injuries depleted West Virginia’s quarterback room during the 2025 season, true freshman Scotty Fox Jr. was thrown into a starting role earlier than expected. The Mentor, Ohio, native became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Mountaineers since 1952, quickly taking on the responsibility of leading the offense.
Fox brought a different element to the offense with his ability as a passer. His performance against Arizona showed the potential that made him one of the more intriguing young quarterbacks in the program. In that outing, he completed 19 of 31 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns. The performance marked the most passing yards in a single game by a freshman quarterback in West Virginia history.
While Fox is still early in his development, his 2025 season showed the potential of a quarterback with significant upside. Despite being thrown into difficult situations, he helped guide the Mountaineers through adversity and showed the ability to make plays when the team needed them most.
As he enters his sophomore season, Fox’s growth, familiarity with the offense, and experience from a year ago could become important factors in the quarterback competition.
Michael Hawkins Jr.
Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins Jr. brings a different element to West Virginia’s quarterback competition: experience. Having already played meaningful snaps at the Power Four level, Hawkins enters the Mountaineer quarterback room with game experience that few young quarterbacks have.
During his freshman season at Oklahoma, Hawkins appeared in seven games and made four starts, including matchups against Auburn and Texas. He completed 63% of his passes while navigating the challenges of playing in one of college football’s most competitive environments.
In his sophomore season, Hawkins saw action in two games, completing 15 of 27 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns. While the sample size was limited, his ability to make plays both through the air and on the ground has remained one of his biggest strengths.
That athleticism could make Hawkins an intriguing fit in Rodriguez’s offense. His ability to extend plays with his legs while still creating opportunities as a passer gives the Mountaineers another dynamic option at quarterback.
The combination of experience, mobility and playmaking ability gives Hawkins a strong foundation as he competes for the starting job.
What will be the deciding factor?
While Fox and Hawkins bring different strengths to the competition, the question facing West Virginia is not simply who is the more talented quarterback. Instead, it is which quarterback can best operate the offense and give the Mountaineers the consistency they need in 2026.
For Rodriguez, the answer will come down to how each quarterback performs when given the opportunity. Decision-making, execution, and the ability to consistently run the offense will be key factors as the coaching staff evaluates both players throughout fall camp.
Rodriguez has also not ruled out the possibility of utilizing both quarterbacks. That is, if they prove they can help the Mountaineers win.
“If I have two quarterbacks being good enough, then I’ll play both,” Rodriguez said during Big 12 Media Days.
As the competition heats up, Rodriguez’s message to both quarterbacks clear. It has been less about competing against each other and more about improving themselves.
“I don’t want them so much worried about what the other guy’s doing,” Rodriguez said. “I just want them getting better themselves each and every day.”
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