With the football season quickly approaching, there’s high expectations placed on this year’s roster. It all begins in the quarterback room, where we’ll take a closer look at who will drive West Virginia’s offense this upcoming season.
Garrett Greene
The senior quarterback is coming off a career year in the old gold and blue. The reigning Duke’s Mayo Bowl MVP threw for 2406 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 772 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Greene is looking to continue to build on his success. He was named to the All-Big 12 Conference Fourth Team last season, along with an Academic All-Big 12 Conference First Team selection. He has also made appearances on various watch-lists for awards, including the Maxwell Award which is presented annually to the best player in college football.
Greene will lead the Mountaineers on Saturdays this upcoming fall. If he goes above and beyond his performance last season, his long-shot odds at the Heisman Trophy (+20000) may fluctuate quickly.
Nicco Marchiol
The redshirt sophomore quarterback maximized his opportunities in 2023, as he helped lead West VIrginia to wins over Pittsburgh and Texas Tech.
Against the Panthers, Marchiol came into the game to replace an injured Greene in the first quarter. While the Mountaineers would stick to the ground for most of the game, the backup completed 6 of 9 pass attempts for 60 yards and a touchdown. Even with the defense outscoring the offense, Marchiol held the team steady as they cruised to a 17-6 victory.
Hosting the Red Raiders the following week, Marchiol would earn the win despite encountering some struggles. Marchiol completed 12 of his 21 pass attempts while throwing a touchdown to tight end Kole Taylor, but he also threw two interceptions. Marchiol may have had difficulty through the air, but he found success on the ground. He rushed for 72 yards on 15 carries, averaging 4.8 yards and emulating the then hurt Greene.
Marchiol will likely continue to play Greene’s understudy, but he’s the next man up to lead the old gold and blue. With more development this year, expect Marchiol to become the face of the Mountaineers in 2025.
The Reserves
The rest of the quarterback room consists of Scott Kean, Khalil Wilkins, Ryder Burton, Jackson Crist, and Abe Fenwick.
Scott Kean is a redshirt sophomore who was a preferred walk-on in the Class of 2022. Kean’s recruitment was affected heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the quarterback playing at three different schools in his final three years of high school. Kean held offers from Columbia and Charlotte due to his early camp performances, but ultimately bet on himself going to West Virginia. Kean is also a noted Philadelphia sports fan, reposting Phillies and Eagles content on social media.
Khalil Wilkins is a true freshman who was ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. The Washington, DC native picked West Virginia over Boston College, Marshall, Maryland and Pittsburgh to join the Class of 2024. Wilkins is a two-time state champion and was picked as his team’s MVP three times in his high school career. As a senior, Wilkins threw for 1,100 yards passing and 330 yards rushing while completing 95.6% of his passes. He also threw for 15 touchdowns and added four rushing touchdowns.
Ryder Burton is a redshirt freshman who transferred from BYU after enrolling in their 2023 class. Burton was a three-star recruit out of high school and the no. 66 quarterback in the nation, as ranked by 247Sports. In his junior and senior seasons, the Utah native threw for 4,273 yards and 48 touchdowns. Burton also played basketball in high school, earning all-region honors.
Jackson Crist is a redshirt junior who has yet to see any game action in his college career. Crist threw for 1,289 yards in his junior season of high school, but missed his senior season with a broken collarbone. The Ohio native was redshirted his freshman season and has been with the Mountaineers since he joined in the Class of 2021. He also graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from Canfield High School.
Abe Fenwick is a true freshman who was ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. Fenwick chose West Virginia amidst offers from Elon, UMass, Old Dominion and William and Mary. The Charleston, West Virginia local originally committed to William and Mary, but de-committed in favor of the Mountaineers. Fenwick was a dual sport athlete in high school, playing baseball. His high school teammate, right-handed pitcher Bryson Hoff, also committed to West Virginia last November.
