With Nicco Marchiol taking a medical redshirt and expected to hit the transfer portal at the end of the season, and Jaylen Henderson listed as out of action for the upcoming BYU game, the West Virginia Mountaineers will send out their third different starting quarterback in three weeks on Friday night in Provo. And now, we know who that will be.
Khalil Wilkins, a redshirt freshman quarterback who played the second half against Utah after Henderson was benched following a lackluster performance, is the man set to get the starting nod for WVU football at signal caller this week. The news was first reported by Mike Asti of WV Sports Now, with the reports quickly confirmed by Quinn Robie of U92 The Moose, the WVU student-run radio station. Wilkins has went 3-of-6 passing for 63 yards and one touchdown and has also rushed for 106 yards this season.
BREAKING: Sources tell me WVU R-Fr QB Khalil Wilkins will make his first career start Friday at #23 BYU.
— Quinn Robie (@QuinnRobie1) October 2, 2025
The D.C. native fits Rich Rod’s scheme as WVU looks for its first Big 12 win. He’s 3/6 for 63 yds & 1 TD, plus 106 rush yds this season.
Also reported by @WVSportsNow.#WVU pic.twitter.com/BUns8Syexz
West Virginia will start Khalil Wilkins Friday night at BYU. Wilkins gets his shot as WVU's third different starting quarterback of the season.
— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) October 2, 2025
Wilkins completed 3-of-6 passes for 63 yards and threw a touchdown pass against Utah. He also added 9 rushing attempts for 39 yards.
Wilkins helped lead the WVU offense to two touchdowns against Utah after the Utes went up 35-0 before Wilkins had the chance to see the field. During Mountaineers' head coach Rich Rodriguez's weekly press conference this pastTuesday, he talked glowingly of Wilkins – his review to the young signal caller left no doubt in many people's minds that Wilkins was destined for the starting job this week before the announcement was even made.
"Khalil can make all the throws and obviously he's a dynamic runner...he's got some big explosive ability. I think his upside, his future looks really good," Rodriguez said of his young quarterback.