John Madden once said, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.” While that seems to ring true many times on the football field, the West Virginia Mountaineers are hoping to avoid that with their current QB battle. Read more: WVU’s Quarterback Battle: Who Will Win the Starting Job?
In this first edition of reviewing the positional groups for the WVU football team, we will start with the question on everyone’s mind: Who is going to be leading the Mountaineers under center?
The Young Bucks
WVU currently has six quarterbacks on their roster, with Khalil Wilkins and Scotty Fox Jr. being the youngest and most inexperienced of the group.
The redshirt freshman Wilkins enters this season after taking his redshirt year with the Mountaineers last season. The 6’3, 203-pound QB hails from Washington, D.C., where he proved to be a threat through the air and on the ground.
A 3-star recruit coming out of high school, Wilkins threw for 1100 yards and 15 passing touchdowns to go along with four rushing touchdowns.
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Fox is a product of the 2025 recruiting class, where Rivals ranked him a 4-star recruit. Coming into Morgantown at 6’2, 210 pounds, Fox has already garnered praise from head coach Rich Rodriguez.
“I’ve been really impressed with Scotty Fox. I think he’s got a great future,” Rodriguez said.
Both Fox and Wilkins have demonstrated their potential to be the future signal-caller for the Mountaineers; however, their lack of experience will delay those goals for now. As they continue to grow and develop over the years, they will start to enter their names in that discussion.
The Unlikely Candidates
The next two QBs on WVU’s roster are a pair of redshirt juniors: Max Brown and Scott Kean.
Of the two, Kean is the most unlikely to fight for the starting job. He has spent his whole career in Morgantown and has yet to step on the field for the Mountaineers.
Brown, on the other hand, has already been battle-tested in his college career. The Charlotte transfer appeared in five games for the 49ers before a thumb injury derailed his season.
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While on the field, Brown compiled 561 passing yards, three touchdown passes and added 72 rushing yards. He showed flashes in his short stint with the 49ers—recording nine big-time throws—but a completion percentage of just 46.2% doesn’t bode well for his chances at earning the starting role at WVU.
The Two Contenders
At last, we have made it to the two QBs on West Virginia’s roster who are fighting for the coveted starting job: Jaylen Henderson and Nicco Marchiol.
Henderson, the new kid on the block, is looking to take what seems to be Marchiol’s rightful place as the starter. Before transferring to WVU, Henderson played the past two years at Texas A&M.
Henderson did not see the field last season, but in 2023, he earned an opportunity and took full advantage of it. He was handed the keys to lead the Aggies in the final four games of the season. In those starts, he threw for 715 passing yards and six TDs with a serviceable 68% completion rate.
With his 6’3, 225-pound frame, Henderson brings a big arm with a surprising, above-average running ability. This is exactly the type of QB that can thrive under Rodriguez’s system.
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Henderson may be talented, but he’s going to have to contend with Marchiol’s experience at WVU.
The redshirt junior appeared in eight games for the Mountaineers last season, including two starts. Marchiol, a former 4-star recruit, burst onto the scene when he threw for 198 yards and two TDs in a winning effort against Arizona. His second start, while not as memorable, led to a win as well after throwing for 156 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati.
Overall, Marchiol has played in 20 games throughout his career at WVU, accumulating 742 yards and eight TDs. Though his 58% completion percentage will have to improve if he is the full-time starter for the Mountaineers.
The Final Verdict
With the season approaching, it’s important that Rodriguez and his staff determine the starting quarterback. While rotating QBs isn’t unusual in college football, having a clear starter is typically better in the long run.
Henderson and Marchiol both have experience at the highest level. Henderson demonstrated his talents in the difficult SEC conference, while Marchiol has already shown the Mountaineer staff what he is capable of when given the opportunity.
As of right now, I would have to give the slight edge to Marchiol. His ability to extend plays and run outside the pocket fits Rodriguez’s vision. He also has more experience and already understands what it takes to win Big 12 games.
The Mountaineers don’t start their season until Aug. 30 when they face Robert Morris. Until then, it’s up to Rodriguez to decide who he opts to lead the Mountaineers and when he publicly announces his decision.
WVU’s Quarterback Battle: Who Will Win the Starting Job?
