WVU remains winless in Big 12 play following a tough Homecoming loss to TCU on Saturday by a final score of 23-17. To add insult to injury, Saturday was the annual Coal Rush game featuring the Mountaineers wearing their all black uniforms to pay homage to coal miners across the state. Remaining positive, we look at who made an impact on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
Offensive Impact Player: Scotty Fox Jr.
It is not going against the grain to pick the starting quarterback as the offensive impact player, and what might seem like the obvious selection, Fox Jr. deserves to be recognized for his performance on Saturday. Fox Jr. finished going 28-of-41 (68.2 % completion percentage) with 301 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air. Fox Jr. did not have the usual impact on the ground that he usually does, ending the game in the negative for rushing yards (-14 yards on 11 carries, including two sacks). But that did not matter because the true freshman was slinging the ball all around the field at home.
Coming into WVU, Fox Jr. was a three-star recruit according to 247Sports , but was a high-end three-star. Ranked as the 50th quarterback in the 2025 class, Fox Jr. was a huge pickup for the 25’ class. Because of injuries to former starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol, Jaylen Henderson, and Khalil Wilkins, Fox Jr. has been thrown into the fire and didn't fare as well as head coach Rich Rodriguez had hoped against UCF, but certainly showed several flashes of his potential in the loss to TCU.
Defensive Impact Player: Derek Carter Jr.
Safety Derek Carter Jr. followed Rodriguez from Jacksonville State to WVU. On Saturday, Carter Jr. had his best game while wearing a WVU uniform. The Birmingham, Alabama, native recorded seven total tackles (three solo tackles) and two pass breakups against TCU. Staying glued to the receiver, Carter Jr. was in position to make a play on the ball a couple of times against this TCU passing offense led by quarterback Josh Hoover.
Joining the Mountaineers from Jacksonville State, Carter Jr., in his sophomore season, recorded eight passes defensed and recorded one interception in his junior season at Jacksonville State. Through the first seven games this season, Carter Jr. has racked up 26 total tackles (18 solo tackles), two tackles for loss, and five passes defensed.
Fox Jr. and Carter Jr. were two of the bright spots in the 23-17 loss on Saturday. WVU will now turn its focus back to getting its first conference win when they travel to Houston (7-1, 4-1) to take on the Cougars on November 1.