The quarterback picture at West Virginia has a clear short-term answer in Oklahoma transfer Mike Hawkins Jr., but the longer view is where things start to get interesting.
WVU already has sophomore Scotty Fox Jr. back in the room, and he’s shown enough with a handful of starts to look like a legitimate Power Four starter down the road. Add in three true freshmen - Jyron Hughley, Wyatt Walker Brown and John Johnson III - and the Mountaineers suddenly have some real options taking shape behind Hawkins.
Among that group, Hughley is the name to watch. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he finishes this season as the No. 3 quarterback and then puts himself in position to become the backup in 2027, assuming Hawkins thrives and pushes Fox toward a transfer.
If Fox remains in Morgantown, WVU could be sitting pretty with three quarterbacks who all bring something to the table. By the time Hawkins’ run is over, the Mountaineers may have two strong candidates ready to take over, and even if one leaves, they should still have one of the current freshmen plus class of 2027 commit Andre Phillip II, who is also viewed as a talented prospect.
And Fox still remains in the mix as a future answer at quarterback.
Hughley’s appeal starts with how comfortable the staff is with him in the read/RPO game. In his senior season at Cardinal Newman High School in Florida, he rushed for over 1,500 yards and scored 19 times, and that carried into his first spring at WVU. He showed he can make the correct read and create chunk plays with his legs when the opportunity is there.
Max Brown could sit as the No. 3 quarterback for much of the season, but because it’s his final year, the staff is expected to naturally put more focus on Hughley as the year goes on and give him more practice reps.
That jump won’t happen automatically. Hughley will have to earn it.
The passing game needs to become more consistent, and he needs to add strength to that lean frame. The arm has to get stronger, but so does the lower body, which is a big part of generating the kind of power needed to drive the ball downfield.
By late October or early November, he should be in a much better physical spot.
For now, Hughley is closer to Fox and Max Brown than most people might think.
In Other News...
WVU Enters Fall Camp With Key Offensive Jobs Still Up For Grabs
Fall camp opens Wednesday for West Virginia, and the offense still has a few of the most important jobs to settle before the season starts to feel real. The projected depth chart coming out of spring gives a decent outline of where things stand, but it also shows how much of this group is still being sorted out by performance, experience and how quickly players can make a case in August.
Mike Hawkins is the name to watch at quarterback, while Josh Sapp gives the Mountaineers a familiar piece to build around at tight end. Even so, several spots remain in play across the unit, and the coming practices will go a long way toward showing which spring impressions stick and which ones get reshuffled once the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Fall Camp Centers On One Position Battle Fans Need To Watch
Fall camp opens Wednesday for West Virginia, and with Rich Rodriguez entering his second year back in charge, there is already a familiar summer storyline hanging over the program: how the staff sorts out the tight end room. Ryan Ward, Josh Sapp and Cam Ball are all in the mix for playing time, and the group has enough intrigue to make it one of the early camp battles worth tracking as the Mountaineers begin the next phase of prep.
There is also some roster uncertainty beyond the position chart itself, with the possibility of a few members of the 2022 class returning to the program still in the conversation. Nothing official has been announced, and this remains more about projection than confirmation, but it adds another layer to a camp that already figures to be watched closely as West Virginia tries to settle key roles early. [Read more 🡒]