Storylines to Keep an Eye on During WVU Football Camp

With so much uncertainty surrounding the WVU football roster, there’s no shortage of storylines heading into camp. So since the Mountaineers are getting ready to ramp up their intensity with the season about a month away, it’s time to look at a few major storylines to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Quarterback Competition Wraps Up

Rodriguez is still far from ready to name a starting quarterback, but he was at least willing to offer an update at Big 12 Media Days.

When talking about his most important position, one he’s found success coaching throughout his career, Rodriguez emphasized his confidence in the entire room.

“That’s probably the room I’m least worried about from an athleticism and talent standpoint. I hope I can win with all three of them,” said West Virginia’s head coach on Wednesday while talking on ESPN.

With Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson battling it out to be the starter, Rodriguez’s most recent comments harken back to something he said during the spring practice period. Already believing in the depth of the position back then, which also includes Charlotte transfer Max Brown and other recruits, Rodriguez mentioned the idea of playing multiple quarterbacks.

“Some coaches say if you have two, you have none; if you have three, you have none. I don’t believe that I say if you’re good enough to win, just play with them, that’s for any position including quarterback,” said Rodriguez.

WVU quarterbacks Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson lead the Mountaineers on the field ahead of the 2025 Gold-Blue Spring Showcase event. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)

Rodriguez seems open to the idea of giving both quarterbacks time throughout the upcoming 2025 season. So instead of a typical QB1 and QB2 situation, it could be possible Marchiol and Henderson, the two quarterbacks believed to be battling for the starting job, are more of 1A and 1B.

To clarify, this doesn’t mean they will share equal time or rotate every other series, but that the backup could play far more often than just in the FCS game or if the game is decided. Maybe specific packages would be designed to use frequently for the backup.

Rodriguez has continuously emphasized that he will try to get any player good enough to help the team on the field as much as possible. Even though there can only be one starting quarterback, that mentality doesn’t exclude his quarterbacks, especially since he’s confident in his system and the group as a whole.

Rodriguez believes his system is “quarterback centric” and he’s intentionally made it “freshman proof” and easy to learn. He’s done this intentionally in case he loses a player to the transfer portal or an injury.

Did WVU find new stars for the secondary?

PFF has two West Virginia cornerbacks graded among their best returning players in the Big 12. So after the secondary was one of WVU’s weakest units in 2024, the additions of Jordan Scruggs and Michael Coats Jr. could be game changers based on their grades.

Tied with Iowa State’s Jontez Williams for the highest grade, Scruggs is at 81.1 while Coats is just behind at 80.8.

Scruggs, who entered the transfer portal on the first day it opened on Dec. 1, 2024, committed to WVU before the close of the year. He recorded had 69 tackles, four tackles for a loss, a pair of pass breakups and an interception in 11 games during the 2024 season. He transferred to South Alabama after spending the 2023 season at Central Missouri, where he registered 37 total tackles. Prior to CMU, Scruggs played at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.

West Virginia beat out fellow Big 12 member Colorado and rival Virginia Tech for Scruggs.

Pair of WVU Corners Gain National Recognition as Among Best in Big 12

An early recruiting win for Rich Rodriguez and his staff, Coats had visits to West Virginia and Ole Miss scheduled in early January. After visiting Morgantown, however, Coats knew he was home, committing to WVU before checking out his other options.

A 5-foot-10, 180 pound cornerback who snagged four interceptions and broke up another 17 passes in 2024, Coats solidified himself as one of the top transfers on the market. He began his college career with three JUCO seasons before transferring to Nevada in 2022, and will retain a year of eligibility thanks to a new NCAA rule designed to help former junior college athletes get a chance at the upper echelons of the sport.

How Will Rodney Gallagher Fit Into Offense?

Now healthy, Jaden Bray is expected to be an important part of the offense and receiver room. Transfer Cam Vaugh, who followed Rodriguez from Jacksonville State, will be relied upon to take his game to the next level. But how will Rodney Gallagher fit into the equation?

Gallagher joined the WVU as the sixth-highest rated recruit in program history, a four-star prospect with two-way potential at both wide receiver and cornerback. College programs also recruited him as a point guard, a testament to his athletic ability.

Gallagher spent most of his snaps at wide receiver during his first two seasons with West Virginia, playing in all 26 games with ten starts. Now under the tutelage of new head coach Rich Rodriguez, he’ll devote his time and energy exclusively to the offensive side of the ball, which could help him unlock his full potential on the gridiron.

While he only made three starts, Rodney Gallagher took the field for 497 snaps during his sophomore season, all but 80 of them on offense. He also scored the first three touchdowns of his college career.

Gallagher picked up 339 yards in 2024 (288 receiving and 51 rushing). He rushed for 87 yards as a true freshman, picking up 7.4 yards per tote.

West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III (24) pulls down a touchdown catch against the UCF Knights during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va. (WVSN photo by William Wotring)

At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Gallagher fits the Mountaineers’ offense best as a slot receiver, although he does have the ability to line up outside. Focusing solely on playing receiver could help him live up to his four-star billing.

As with previous seasons, Gallagher will start some games depending on what sort of personnel the Mountaineers want to employ: three receiver sets versus more traditional formations.

Other storylines to watch: Jahiem White taking his game to another level, linebacker depth, chemistry among the offensive line and even special teams roles – starting kicker.

Find more coverage of WVU Football at WV Sports Now.

For a related story, Mike Asti detailed three reasons to be optimistic about WVU in 2025.

For more related content, Mike Asti previewed the 2025 WVU football season with Phil Steele on a recent episode of his “Mike Drop” show.