Owen Schmitt Shares Simple Message About Rick Trickett Back at WVU

A recent report has a WVU legend excited about the future of the Mountaineers. In fact, Owen Schmitt offered a response to the news about Rick Trickett returning to Morgantown that may serve as foreshadowing what’s to come in 2026 and beyond.

“The prophecy has begun…,” posted Schmitt on social media on top of WV Sports Now’s story about Trickett.

The prophecy has begun… https://t.co/ZyPIluVS9R

— Owen Schmitt (@OwenSchmitt35) December 29, 2025

It may be coming a year later than some expected, but Rich Rodriguez will be reuniting with Rick Trickett after all. According to a Sunday night report by Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Trickett is expected to join the WVU staff.

Trickett has been at Jacksonville State since 2022, arriving when Rodriguez was hired by the Gamecocks. He, of course, was Rodriguez’s associate head coach and offensive line coach from 2001-2006.

Trickett also worked for another West Virginia native coaching legend, Jimbo Fisher, for 10 years at Florida State, which included being part of the 2013 national championship team.

With Jack Bicknell still on the staff as offensive line coach, it’s unclear what Trickett’s title will be. Rick Trickett’s son, Travis, made his own West Virginia return last year to serve as a senior offensive assistant.

Maybe Trickett’s return will even further signal Rodriguez resurrecting the fullback position, something that tight ends coach Michael Nysewander brought up ahead of the 2025 season in August.

Will Rich Rodriguez Bring the Fullback Position Back to WVU, College Football?

“Coach has always been really good at utilizing the type of players you have on the team, and obviously, that goes to how we recruit and stuff like that,” Nysewander explained.

Maybe if there’s a bad SOB (like Schmitt) that is nothing but a fullback and he’s really good and can’t afford to not be out on the field, then coach will use him,” he joked. Nysewander then cited the first touchdown Jacksonville State ever scored in an FBS bowl game was from a fullback lined up in an “I” Formation.

Playing the fullback role on some of the greatest teams in program history, Schmitt totaled 1,003 yards on the ground, 288 more as a receiver and scored 15 touchdowns.

Find more coverage of the WVU Football program at WV Sports Now.