WVU Football will have their first spring practice on Tuesday, after completely turning over the roster in the offseason. First-year head coach Rich Rodriguez likes the talent the team recruited in the offseason. They have already been together in the weight room and training, but evaluations will begin early next week.
The spring game, which is scheduled for April 27, is a controversial topic across all schools. The new transfer portal allows players to change teams from April 16-25. In West Virginia’s case, this means potential additions two days before the spring game.
“A true spring game where you are going to see a guy show out and all that, you are probably not going to have that. I am a little worried about it because there is not as much structure to keep the tampering away,” said Rodriguez. “There is a lot more knowledge and a lot more things that I know now that I didn’t know in 2001, but there are also more challenges to being a head coach,” he added.
Only two starters are returning from last season and while Rodriguez knows that this is going to be an uphill battle, the Mountaineers have the coaching and the talent to do something special this season.
A key position people have been watching for the Mountaineers is the quarterback. Nicco Marchiol is returning for his junior season, Max Brown transferred in from Charlotte, and Jaylen Henderson transferred in from Texas A&M.
“I think we are in good shape at the quarterback position with the guys that we got. There is some really good skill in that room,” said Rodriguez.
With no expectations heading into the spring, Rodriguez will be evaluating his current roster, while also still actively looking for transfers. Mountaineer fans are witnessing the new age of college football.
