Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Rodriguez Seeking Depth Chart Answers Following First Scrimmage of Fall Camp on Saturday
August 14, 2026 03:47 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia is approaching the point in preseason training camp when things need to begin crystalizing for the coaching staff and players.
Veteran coach Rich Rodriguez touched on that topic during his 20-minute visit with media on Friday following another morning practice inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility. Soggy conditions have forced the team indoors on a couple of occasions this week.
"We look at the depth chart every day, but after tomorrow's scrimmage, we're going to take a hard look at it on Sunday and evaluate where everybody is at," the coach mentioned.
Rodriguez said he's not really concerned about who is No. 1 or No. 2 on the depth chart, but rather how many players they have with whom they believe they can win.
"You hope to have at least two at every position who are good enough to win with," he explained. "I do think there are a lot of competitive battles like who is going to be the starter, and I don't mind the players understanding that, but as coaches it's not like, 'Oh, you're either a one or a two.' It's just, 'Get as good as you can and get ready to win with.'"
Since the beginning of training camp, the coach has said repeatedly that he wants to play the most players in the country this year - partly because it keeps more of them happy, but also because of the nature of this year's football schedule.
Once the regular season kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Coastal Carolina, the team doesn't have an open week until Saturday, Oct. 31. That's eight straight weeks of games, not to mention the month of preparation getting ready for the opener.
That's a lot to ask of your top 44 to 50 players on offense, defense and special teams.
"I have the goal of playing the most players in the country, but I won't play them just to reach that goal," he mentioned. "They've got to earn that, and I really think we are more competitive at all the positions I would say than we were a year ago, which we should be.
"We've got to have a sense of urgency to get these guys ready, but we've also got to understand we've got eight straight weeks before we get an open date, and that's going to be a good grind, so we better get a lot of players ready as well," he added. "That's kind of the challenge that we have for really now and for another week. Then we start game planning and getting ready to go."
The quarterback position continues to be a popular topic, and Rodriguez once again adroitly maneuvered around the subject without tipping his hand.
"I'm not into feelings, and I don't need to tell anybody; in fact, I think it's kind intriguing for people to know," he laughed. "So, buy a ticket and come to (Milan Puskar Stadium). You can tailgate until 11:58 but make sure when we are kicking off or returning the kick, you'll see who runs out there.
"I'm going to know before then - and I may know before I tell the coaches. I may know right now, and probably do, but I'm not giving you the scoop," he added.
What he did say is that all the quarterbacks on the roster can operate the offense, although one might prefer a particular set of play calls while another might prefer different ones.
He admitted those are things he will continue to be mindful of in the practices leading up to game week.
"It's not just, 'Well, which guy runs better and which guy throws better?' Some of it is, which plays certain guys are more comfortable with?" he explained. "That shortens it all out, and we've got to have enough variety in our offense that they've got to be able to run everything, but inevitably, there are certain plays that they look more comfortable with and that's part of us sorting it out, too.
"All of our quarterbacks can run, and all of our older quarterbacks can make all the throws with ease," he added.
Tomorrow's scrimmage and the following Saturday's scrimmage, not to mention the remaining team periods, will address many of these decisions.
"Two weeks before the first game we will be like, 'Okay, this is what this quarterback does well' and 'this is what that quarterback does well.' We hope it's all the same, but if it's not, we've got to have a big enough menu to accommodate them so we're better at it," Rodriguez said.
One position that remains "wide open" is place kicker, where Fairmont's Nate Flower, Alabama transfer Peter Notaro and Western Kentucky transfer Jack Cassidy continue to battle it out.
"Who can kick a 35-yard field goal is still a question," Rodriguez said.
Following Saturday's closed scrimmage inside the stadium, the team will have Sunday off and then will have a Monday morning practice before the start of classes on Tuesday.
Normal afternoon practices will begin that day, which effectively concludes preseason training camp.
Veteran coach Rich Rodriguez touched on that topic during his 20-minute visit with media on Friday following another morning practice inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility. Soggy conditions have forced the team indoors on a couple of occasions this week.
"We look at the depth chart every day, but after tomorrow's scrimmage, we're going to take a hard look at it on Sunday and evaluate where everybody is at," the coach mentioned.
Rodriguez said he's not really concerned about who is No. 1 or No. 2 on the depth chart, but rather how many players they have with whom they believe they can win.
"You hope to have at least two at every position who are good enough to win with," he explained. "I do think there are a lot of competitive battles like who is going to be the starter, and I don't mind the players understanding that, but as coaches it's not like, 'Oh, you're either a one or a two.' It's just, 'Get as good as you can and get ready to win with.'"
Since the beginning of training camp, the coach has said repeatedly that he wants to play the most players in the country this year - partly because it keeps more of them happy, but also because of the nature of this year's football schedule.
Once the regular season kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Coastal Carolina, the team doesn't have an open week until Saturday, Oct. 31. That's eight straight weeks of games, not to mention the month of preparation getting ready for the opener.
That's a lot to ask of your top 44 to 50 players on offense, defense and special teams.
"I have the goal of playing the most players in the country, but I won't play them just to reach that goal," he mentioned. "They've got to earn that, and I really think we are more competitive at all the positions I would say than we were a year ago, which we should be.
"We've got to have a sense of urgency to get these guys ready, but we've also got to understand we've got eight straight weeks before we get an open date, and that's going to be a good grind, so we better get a lot of players ready as well," he added. "That's kind of the challenge that we have for really now and for another week. Then we start game planning and getting ready to go."
The quarterback position continues to be a popular topic, and Rodriguez once again adroitly maneuvered around the subject without tipping his hand.
"I'm not into feelings, and I don't need to tell anybody; in fact, I think it's kind intriguing for people to know," he laughed. "So, buy a ticket and come to (Milan Puskar Stadium). You can tailgate until 11:58 but make sure when we are kicking off or returning the kick, you'll see who runs out there.
"I'm going to know before then - and I may know before I tell the coaches. I may know right now, and probably do, but I'm not giving you the scoop," he added.
What he did say is that all the quarterbacks on the roster can operate the offense, although one might prefer a particular set of play calls while another might prefer different ones.
He admitted those are things he will continue to be mindful of in the practices leading up to game week.
"It's not just, 'Well, which guy runs better and which guy throws better?' Some of it is, which plays certain guys are more comfortable with?" he explained. "That shortens it all out, and we've got to have enough variety in our offense that they've got to be able to run everything, but inevitably, there are certain plays that they look more comfortable with and that's part of us sorting it out, too.
"All of our quarterbacks can run, and all of our older quarterbacks can make all the throws with ease," he added.
Tomorrow's scrimmage and the following Saturday's scrimmage, not to mention the remaining team periods, will address many of these decisions.
"Two weeks before the first game we will be like, 'Okay, this is what this quarterback does well' and 'this is what that quarterback does well.' We hope it's all the same, but if it's not, we've got to have a big enough menu to accommodate them so we're better at it," Rodriguez said.
One position that remains "wide open" is place kicker, where Fairmont's Nate Flower, Alabama transfer Peter Notaro and Western Kentucky transfer Jack Cassidy continue to battle it out.
"Who can kick a 35-yard field goal is still a question," Rodriguez said.
Following Saturday's closed scrimmage inside the stadium, the team will have Sunday off and then will have a Monday morning practice before the start of classes on Tuesday.
Normal afternoon practices will begin that day, which effectively concludes preseason training camp.
Players Mentioned
Friday, August 14
Friday, August 14
Friday, August 14
Friday, August 14
