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

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU fans will always look back fondly on the role Owen Schmitt played on some of the best teams in program history. And now with the coach who unleashed Schmitt as a star fullback two decades ago back at helm, there’s one question on everyone’s mind – will the fullback position make a return to college football under Rich Rodriguez?

West Virginia tight ends coach Michael Nysewander had a few interesting responses to questions about the fullback position after fall camp practice on Monday.

“It’s funny the title fullback… A lot of our plays are like an old school fullback. We kinda play in the “sniffer” position or the “wing” position or whatever you want to call it. So there’s a lot of schemes where those guys are doing what you’d call fullback type plays,” said Nysewander when asked if he has any players who could possibly serve as a fullback.

“They’re really kinda one in the same position. There are some schemes where we’ll be off the ball more and some schemes we’ll be in line,” he added.

But for as much as WVU MIGHT run some plays with a tight end in a fullback type role, the position has become mostly extinct across the country. Fullback is rarely a position listed on a roster anymore. The closest thing to seeing the position as a label is a “TE/FB” sign outside the tight end room at the WVU facility.

However, Nysewander knows if any coach could bring back any form of the fullback position it’s Rodriguez.

“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.

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