Khalil Wilkins (14) began at quarterback for WVU this previous Saturday in a loss to Utah. (Photograph by David Pennick)
MORGANTOWN — That is the second-straight week the place there’s the query of who West Virginia’s beginning quarterback goes to be going ahead. The damaged document remains to be on the participant.
It’s been enjoying for the reason that spring, via summer time, earlier than the primary sport, after Ohio, then somebody took it off after Nicco Marchiol’s comeback efficiency towards Pitt, however then somebody performed it once more after a blowout loss to Kansas.
Now, after one other embarrassing loss, this time towards Utah 48-14, it’s enjoying once more.
Marchiol had began the primary 4 video games of the season, and he was benched in three of these video games. Most not too long ago, Marchiol was benched after he couldn’t get the offense going towards Kansas. Texas A&M switch Jaylen Henderson got here in for him.
This week, the starter query took a flip. Tuesday, earlier than Utah, Wealthy Rodriguez informed the media Marchiol was in Colorado seeing a specialist for a mid-foot damage that he’d been coping with the previous couple of weeks. Rodriguez listed him as questionable and mentioned any of the opposite quarterbacks, Henderson, freshman Scottie Fox, Charlotte switch Max Brown, or redshirt freshman Khalil Wilkins are battling to begin.
A few days later, Marchiol was dominated out, and Henderson was anticipated to begin. Saturday towards Utah, Henderson marched out because the starter.
Henderson had performed in each sport sooner or later, and thru the small pattern measurement, he confirmed his strengths and weaknesses. Nonetheless, it grew to become clearer towards Utah when he obtained the nod.
Henderson is a greater runner than Marchiol, however he can’t throw. Some passes have been behind the receiver, and a few of them ought to have been intercepted. Rodriguez shortly discovered passing wasn’t his power and stopped dialing up passing performs, even after being down by a number of touchdowns.
The one constructive yardage below Henderson was on the bottom when he took off. He rushed 13 instances for 28 yards. He threw the ball seven instances and accomplished simply three passes for 22 yards. Henderson’s not the longer term at quarterback for WVU.
WVU was down 35-0, so Rodriguez made the change at QB. Redshirt freshman Khalil Wiklins began the second half.
Wilkins confirmed flashes. He’s positively sooner than Marchiol and Henderson, and the offense began to indicate some indicators of life. Though this was when Utah just about received the sport, so maintain that in thoughts.
Wilkins was far more environment friendly on the bottom. He was extra elusive and rushed 9 instances for 39 yards. Wilkins’ passing remains to be a piece in progress. He made some throws on the run and linked with extensive receiver Cam Vaughn on an enormous 39-yard landing. There was promise.
However, Wilkins missed a few wide-open throws that might’ve been touchdowns, so he’s nonetheless removed from excellent.
At this level, with WVU 2-3 and coming off back-to-back huge losses, it may be time to show it over to a youthful man like Wilkins, so he can get extra expertise. To assist the change, Rodriguez thought he performed arduous for a teen, too.
“He competed nicely for a younger man in his first motion,” Rodriguez mentioned. “Thought he ran arduous. A few the throws he’d most likely prefer to have again. We missed a few straightforward ones.”
WVU lands two commitments
It’d’ve appeared unhealthy for West Virginia over the weekend after a 48-14 loss to Utah, nevertheless it didn’t deter away the recruits.
The Mountaineers picked up two commitments, one on Sunday and one on Monday morning, each for the category of 2026.
Sunday afternoon, 3-star quarterback Wyatt Brown introduced his dedication to WVU from Notre Dame Excessive College in Sherman Oaks, California.
Brown ranked because the 163rd-rated quarterback within the class and 277th participant in California. He had presents from Cal, Arkansas, UCF and Cornell, however finally determined to move throughout the nation to Morgantown.
Just lately, the 6-foot-3, 196-pound quarterback threw for 301 yards and 5 touchdowns towards Culver Metropolis. He additionally ran for one more. Brown’s efficiency landed him on the Los Angeles Instances’ Excessive College prime performers for the week.
Brown is the primary quarterback rating for Wealthy Rodriguez within the class.
Monday morning, three-star go rusher Carter Kessler introduced his dedication to WVU. He’s from Shelby, Ohio, and is forty fourth within the state and ranked because the 88th go rusher within the nation. He’s additionally performed some tight finish and had a landing catch towards Highland, together with three tackles for loss.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder was on the sphere earlier than the sport towards Utah, taking his official go to. Simply two days later, Kessler loved what he noticed and picked WVU. He had different Division 1 presents, together with Ohio State.
He’s the second go rusher in WVU’s 2026 class. Kessler joined 3-star Noah Tishendorf.
With Brown and Kessler, WVU’s 2026 class now has 26 commitments.
