By: Clark Johnson | WV Sports Chat
Morgantown, WV – In what was a disappointing season for WVU Football, the program left 2025 with some potential answers to questions. Arguably the biggest of those, the quarterback position, appears to have the most obvious solution. True freshman Scotty Fox led the Mountaineers to their only two Big 12 victories in November, seemingly placing a stranglehold on the starting signal-caller title going into 2026.
Fox, an Ohio native, accumulated 1,276 passing yards, 7 touchdowns and 6 interceptions over 10 appearances and 6 starts. He would also prove to be serviceable on the ground, tallying 201 yards and 3 rushing scores. While his numbers may not jump off the stats sheet, the Mountaineers’ otherwise anemic offense demonstrated urgency, efficiency, and confidence with Fox at the helm.
Despite Fox’s strong finish to the 2025 season, analysts and fans alike have asked the same question – should Fox be the presumptive starter going into 2026? The short answer is yes, he should. However, Coach Rich Rodriguez should ensure the program has an insurance policy behind Fox.
With the departures of Khalil Wilkins and Nicco Marchiol (not official) to the transfer portal, as well as Jaylen Henderson to graduation, the only quarterbacks on WVU’s roster with experience are Fox and redshirt senior Max Brown. As the program learned this season with injuries, that is a potentially risky hand to play. At any given moment, the program could be a low-hit or wrong turn of the ankle away from having to resort to true freshmen once again.
According to Coach Rodriguez, the program is set to welcome 12-15 transfers once the portal window opens next week. While there are still many areas of need, such as the offensive line, Rodriguez and his staff should secure at least one additional signal caller. This quarterback should not come with a hefty NIL price tag, but rather experience and hopes to revitalize their careers elsewhere.
Along with a reduced NIL value, this quarterback must also possess the attributes to operate in Rich Rodriguez’s zone-read offense. A sturdy frame and an ability to make plays with their legs are necessities. So who fits that category? Well, there will be a plethora of options.
Kennesaw State’s Amari Odom should be a top priority for the Mountaineers in the portal. The California native tallied 2,594 yards with 19 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. His presence was also felt on the ground with 347 yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. As a redshirt sophomore, Odom played a crucial part in the Owls’ 10-4 season – an 8-game improvement from 2024. Despite having no Power Four experience, Odom’s upside makes him an intriguing prospect for the Mountaineers.
Should Rodriguez look to the FCS ranks, he may not have to look much farther than Sacramento State’s Cardell Williams. Though not a highly touted prospect in the portal, Williams showed the ability to utilize his arm and legs efficiently in 2025. Posting 1,621 passing yards with 10 touchdowns to 7 interceptions, the Texas native scampered for 382 rushing yards and a whopping 12 touchdowns on the ground. While this would not be the flashiest addition for the Mountaineers, his attributes could make him a fascinating prospect in the quarterback room.
When looking for a player with experience, landing a player that has competed both in the SEC and Big Ten could be a huge boost. Purdue’s Malachi Singleton has been used primarily as a backup throughout his career. However, with his utilization in special packages with the Boilermakers, as well as his impressive but brief appearances while at Arkansas, Singleton has enough tape to garner a call from the Mountaineers.
It is easy and entertaining for us to sit here and speculate how the Mountaineers might handle the quarterback position in 2026. But the truth is this – nobody knows except for the staff and the players in the locker room. All we can provide is an outsider’s perspective and give our opinions based on the “eyes test” from the 12 games last fall.
At this point in time, it is my belief that Scotty Fox is exactly the player who this program should be built around. Sure, it is encouraging to sit and daydream about landing that program-changing quarterback in the portal. The harsh reality is, however, that the program is just simply not willing to overspend at that position right now. Fox has shown that he is more than capable of making the Mountaineers an intriguing brand of football. This portal season should not be focused on finding his replacement, but finding his security package should his name appear on the injury report.
It is not everyday you have the “quarterback of the future” on your roster, but that is exactly the unique position that the Mountaineers are in at quarterback in 2026 – Scotty Fox is that guy.
(Photo by WVU Athletics)
