WVU Football could soon find out if one of its most experienced defenders will have another opportunity to take the field for the Mountaineers.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez said Friday that he expects more clarity next week on the eligibility status of several players. This Jason Chambers, who started for West Virginia a season ago and could provide an experienced addition to the roster if he is cleared to play. Read more: WVU Football awaits clarity on Chambers, adds to staff.
Rodriguez made it clear that Jason’s potential return would not simply be another body added to the roster.
“He’s been good,” Rodriguez said. “He’s slowly getting into shape.”
Setting the scene
Chambers has been away from the program’s strength staff for several months. This leaves him with some physical work to do before he would be ready to compete in the season opener less than a month away. Still, Rodriguez said that the veteran has already begun working his way back into football form.
The biggest advantage, however, could be what Jason already brings from a football standpoint.
“Jason was a starter last year for us, and he’s a good football player,” Rodriguez said.
That familiarity could be especially valuable for a West Virginia roster that has undergone significant turnover entering Rodriguez’s second season.
Rather than having to learn the system from scratch, Chambers has experience within the program. He has played meaningful snaps at the Power conference level with WVU, but also touts Division I experience with stops at Appalachian State and North Carolina Central.
Rodriguez pointed to his intelligence and competitiveness as components that could allow him to make an immediate impact.
“He’s a smart, competitive guy, and he’s played a lot of football,” Rodriguez said.
The question now is whether Chambers will get the opportunity to do so.
Rodriguez said he does not know yet when a final decision will come, but indicated that the program could have more answers in the coming days.
“I hope everybody gets some clarity on the eligibility of all those guys, but we’ll find out next week,” Rodriguez said.
If Chambers is ultimately ruled eligible, Rodriguez believes there is little question about whether he can help the Mountaineers.
“He’s something that can help us, I bet, if the ruling comes out,” Rodriguez said.
Chambers’ eligibility tied to ongoing Five-for-Five fight
Chambers’ potential return comes as the NCAA navigates the fallout from the ongoing “Five-for-Five” eligibility dispute.
The situation stems from a recent ruling by a Colorado judge that temporarily blocked the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility restrictions against athletes who are part of the class of 2022.
Related: WVU has the resources, but now comes the test of retaining its best players
The ruling right now allows players who entered college in 2022 to pursue a fifth season of eligibility. That allows Chambers to remain on the field beyond the traditional four-year window.
Barrick’s future takes a different path
While Chambers is waiting to learn whether he can return to the field, former WVU tight end Jacob Barrick has already made a decision about his future with the program.
Rodriguez said that Barrick has decided to end his playing career and transition to coaching, joining the Mountaineers’ staff while also pursuing his master’s degree.
“Well, Jacob is just, he decided he just wants to be a coach,” Rodriguez said. “He’s going to be a coach now, so he’s not going to be the first player-coach since Dusty Rutledge. But he’s also, part of the decision was, you know, being able to pursue his master’s degree and go that way, so it’s going to be good to have him on the staff.”
Barrick’s decision gives him an opportunity to begin his coaching career within a program he already knows while continuing his education.
Rodriguez also believes Barrick’s presence will benefit the Mountaineers moving forward, particularly within the tight end room.
“I think our tight end room is going to be pretty solid once we get everybody healthy,” Rodriguez said.
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