We’re only a month into the season, and transfer portal news is already coming in. West Virginia QB Nicco Marchiol is expected to move out of West Virginia after the season. The veteran has been dealing with a slow career so far at WVM and is also out for the majority of this season. With his future in jeopardy and West Virginia’s offensive problems, Marchiol is forced to take the tough call.

Marchiol is currently sidelined because of a foot injury he suffered in the Kansas game. “He’s definitely out in the short-term,” HC Rich Rodriguez said. The QB, because of this unwelcome development in his career, is planning to medically redshirt for the season. Nicco Marchiol will have 2 years of eligibility remaining. The QB will likely end his Mountaineers career with 1,462 yards, 10 TDs, and 7 INTs. On3 later followed it up with the news that Nicco is “expected” to hit the portal.

Nicco Marchiol gave fans very little to be excited about before the injury. He looked like a sure choice at QB1 after the brilliant comeback against Pittsburgh. But the QB was yet to pick up the pace. After 4 games, Marchiol was at 720 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs. He also seems to be struggling because of bad O-line play. Against Kansas, the QB was sacked three times. The offense has racked up 12 sacks so far. Also, Marchiol has played only 20 games in his career, and started in only 3.

West Virginia hasn’t found success at QB for some time now. Whatever spark the Mountaineers saw in Marchiol is now wasted because of the uncertainty of his comeback. But simply based on experience and skill. Marchiol seemed like the best bet to take over at QB. Behind him, QBs Jaylen Henderson and Khalil Wilkins are still major question marks. Rodriguez even had to bench Henderson in the Utah game before halftime, pushing Wilkins in to clean up.

The foot injury is actually a problem that Marchiol had been dealing with the whole season. Otherwise, he might have had the opportunity to show his full potential. However, there could be another plot running in the background of this news. WVM alum and donor Pat McAfee is keen on a star QB running the show instead of Marchiol. If he accepted, Nicco Marchiol’s future at West Virginia was going to look more troubled.

Pat McAfee is all in for Cal freshman star Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele

Pat McAfee is one reason why people still talk a little about West Virginia. The former kicker is a well-known figure in the community and is a very important NIL donor for the Mountaineers. He’ll definitely want to put his money where there’s luck – something he hasn’t had success with, lately. And because of the murky QB situation at WVM, McAfee added his suggestion for a new man in charge. Enter Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele, the 19-year-old true freshman phenom at California.

“It’s like, this guy is the one next offseason,” McAfee said on his show. “I can’t wait till West Virginia goes and says, ‘Aloha, Mahalo for everything you’re about to do for our state,” he added. McAfee has reasons to be excited about the QB. The rookie has thrown 178 passes already, which is the 8 most in the FBS.

Per Sports Illustrated, he’s the third-best freshman QB in college football, behind Bryce Underwood. Sagapolutele had a breakout game against Minnesota, throwing for 279 yards. He did take a tumble against San Diego State, going 17-of-38 and hauling in 2 picks. But Cal fans will remember the game-changing 51-yard TD pass from Sagapolutele, which helped defeat Boston College.

Pat McAfee will have to hold on for a while, though. Because HC Justin Wilcox won’t be so keen on losing such a phenomenal QB. That, too, after he’s just shown fans what he can do. West Virginia needs to desperately do something about their QB situation, which has pretty much been in limbo for the past three years. Nicco Marchiol is simply looking out for his career by taking a medical redshirt. But if someone with Sagapolutele’s prowess ever committed to West Virginia, he might have had to take a permanent backseat.