Four-star freshman Rodney Gallagher is already making strides during fall camp, as he is making a transition from quarterback to wide receiver.
Despite being recruited as a wide receiver, Gallagher — a four-star recruit — played quarterback in high school. Now in his first fall camp with West Virginia, Gallagher is ahead of schedule, according to wide receivers coach Bilal Marshall.
Marshall, who also made the transition from quarterback to wide receiver, said what Gallagher is doing well is blocking and embracing physicality.
“I think Rodney is ahead of what I thought he was going to be,” Marshall said. “For a guy who hasn’t played the position for a long time, he really is starting to understand how to play the position. He has a knack for getting in and out of breaks. I knew he was quick, I knew he was twitchy. He catches the ball really well.”
What has been a welcomed surprise to the first-year wide receivers coach in Marshall is Gallagher’s blocking downfield. WVU will deploy a mobile quarterback meaning they will be able to extend plays and keep the possibility open of them running downfield as well.
“Surprisingly, he’s been a capable blocker. “For a guy that’s not as big as the others because he’s only 18-years old, he’s not afraid to put his face in it,” Marshall said. “What I mean by that is if a linebacker, or a nickel, or a safety is running down his face, he’s going to put his face right in there and he’s not going to turn his head.”
“He’s a tough kid, a blue-nosed, hard-nosed kid and I’m excited to watch him grow in the near future,” Marshall added.
Gallagher is also seen as a likable
“It’s just his charisma and who he is as a person. He just is a bubbly kid and it kind of shows in his play. He likes to have fun, he’s loose, he’s free,” Marshall said. “Thats something you really can’t coach how to be free and loose, he’s kind of just got it.”
As WVU heads toward week one against Penn State, Marshall said there are still things Gallagher needs to work on as he continues the transition.
“I think the biggest challenge is learning how to get in and get out of routes,” Marshall said.
“Because from a quarterback standpoint, you’re just an athlete out there running if you got the ball in your hands. But playing receiver you have to understand how to get in and get out of breaks, understand leverage of a defensdr and just all the intricacies of playing receiver. It is a big adjustment but it is easier if you’re a true quarterback moving to receiver because you understand the whole grand scheme of things.”
