The West Virginia Mountaineers are set to open up their 2025 season with new faces all over the field and all over the sideline. Head Coach Rich Rodriguez is back home in Morgantown and is looking to lead the program back into national relevance. Although the highly anticipated return of Rodriguez is the primary storyline leading up to game day, West Virginia’s quarterback situation is another one making waves.
As part of game week preparations, West Virginia did release its official depth chart ahead of the matchup with Robert Morris. The phrase “or” is used several times throughout, and it is used between each quarterback listed. As unprecedented as it is, this is rather on par with Rich Rodriguez and every comment that he has made regarding the quarterback situation since he stepped off the plane in West Virginia.
The first official WVU depth chart for the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/fEO7yEu4w4
— West Virginia Sports Now (@WVSportsNow) August 26, 2025
With Rodriguez being adamant about the fact that several quarterbacks could be used in every game throughout the season, does it really matter who gets the nod as the 'starter' in Week 1?
Well, the short answer is no. With each of these guys (especially the upperclassmen) getting a shot to prove themselves throughout spring ball, fall camp, and practice, it is no surprise that each may get an opportunity to earn more reps in game situations.
"It’s a long season. It’s safe to say you’ll probably see all five of them at some point."Rich Rodriguez
The two that most are assuming to be the front-runners for the QB position are Nicco Marchiol and Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson. It is all but a guarantee that both these lefties will play in the season opener.
Admittedly, Rich Rodriguez is not going to be foolish about the quarterback situation. During camp, he referenced his quarterback situation at Jacksonville State last season in which C-USA Player of the Year Tyler Huff was not the starting signal caller in Week 1.
“When a guy gets hot like that, you don’t want to take the guy out. But when you have a pretty solid competition like we have at quarterback, you have to legitimately give them all a shot," he said
The head coach does not make comments like that (and others he's made throughout this off-season and preseason) unless he is confident in the guys he has in the quarterback room.
He did it! Rich Rodriguez pulled off the impossible - a FIVE MAN "OR" at starting QB for #WVU's depth chart. pic.twitter.com/VzreSWtVsJ
— Chris Anderson (@CMAnderson247) August 26, 2025
Whether it be Nicco Marchiol or Jaylen Henderson taking the first offensive snap, it really does not matter. What matters to Rodriguez and company is that each potential quarterback gets an opportunity, and the decision Rodriguez makes moving forward is rooted in the player’s performance on the field. What remains to be seen is whether or not a true starter will emerge as it did in the case of Tyler Huff last season, or it will be 'quarterback by committee' week in and week out.