Before you get upset that I’m even listing transfer quarterback options, it’s part of the process, folks. Just about every coach that gets a new job will portal in a quarterback, regardless of the overall shape of the room. It doesn’t mean the guy Rich Rodriguez brings in will start, but he will look for someone he believes fits his offense to a T.
As I mentioned in an article yesterday, Nicco Marchiol can operate Rich Rod’s offense and potentially do well in it. Is he a perfect fit, though? Probably not. If you’re Rodriguez, you can’t put all your eggs in one basket in your first year on the job with a quarterback who hasn’t been a full-time starter. You have to add competition.
There are several quarterbacks in the portal, but if WVU wants to swing for the fences, there are some intriguing options.
Mateer is the top quarterback in the portal, and while he may come with a big price tag, it’d be silly not to at least consider him and see what he’s looking for. Oklahoma is probably the favorite to land him, given his offensive coordinator at Wazzu, Ben Arbuckle, recently took the OC job there. This season, Mateer completed 64.6% of his pass attempts for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns to seven interceptions. He also rushed for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns. Whoever lands this kid is getting a program changer.
Advertisement
Noland did not see any action in his true freshman season in Columbus but is going to be a popular target for QB-needy teams. The former four-star recruit held offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Colorado, Louisville, Miami, NC State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M, WVU, and several others. For his high school career, Noland threw for 10,164 yards and 126 touchdowns to 25 interceptions while adding 334 yards and six touchdowns with his legs.
Salter seems to be leaning toward Colorado, with Syracuse still in the mix as well. It might be a bit late in the process for West Virginia to get involved, but it’s worth a shot. He’s thrown for nearly 6,000 yards in his career, along with 56 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Salter didn’t run the ball nearly as much this season but still posted 579 yards and seven scores. The year prior, he rushed for 1,089 yards and 12 scores. A true dual-threat option.
Pribula was in line to be the starter in State College next season until Drew Allar announced his intentions of returning for his senior year a few days ago. Pribula does have some experience under his belt, seeing action in mop-up duty and in situations where James Franklin wanted a more mobile option on the field. For his career, Pribula has connected on 66% of his passes for six touchdowns, throwing just one interception. He’s rushed for 571 yards and ten touchdowns, going for 6.1 yards per carry.
The former five-star recruit left USC after sitting behind Caleb Williams for a year and then lost out on the starting job to Maddux Madsen at Boise State this season. The talent is there; he just needs to find an offense that fits him. West Virginia, or anyone for that matter, won’t have to put together some massive NIL deal to land him either.
MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI
WVU Reveals Uniform Combo for Frisco Bowl vs. Memphis
Advertisement
Josiah Trotter to Leave West Virginia, Commits to SEC School
Everything Chad Scott, Garrett Greene & Sean Martin Said Ahead of the Frisco Bowl
The West Virginia Mountaineers (10-3) welcome the Maryland Terrapins (10-5) to Kendrick Family Ballpark Tuesday afternoon the first encounter between the two programs since 2023 and the first meeting in Morgantown since 2018. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. EST and the action will stream on ESPN+.
Advertisement
The Mountaineers captured their fourth consecutive series of the season after taking two of the three games from Columbia over the weekend. West Virginia sophomore Matt Ineich and senior Brodie Kresser both blasted grand slams during the series. Ineich lifted WVU in game two with a walk-off grand slam in the 10th in game two, and Kresser ignited a 16-1 rout, capping a six-run second inning in the series finale.
Advertisement
Gavin Kelly leads West Virginia at the plate with a .436 batting average with a Big 12 leading nine doubles. Ineich and senior Paul Schoenfeld has raked in a team-leading 16 RBI apiece, while senior Matthew Graveline has clubbed a team-high three home runs.
On the mound, West Virginia is expected to start sophomore David Hagen. The right-hander has made four appearances on the season, including one start. He last started in the home-opener against Ohio where he pitched two scoreless innings and recorded a strikeout to collect his first win of the season. He holds a 1.00 ERA with five strikeouts on the season.
After starting 3-4, Maryland is 7-1 in its last eight games. The Terrapins won two of three at UNC Wilmington in the season opening series, followed by a midweek win against Georgetown before getting swept at Louisiana. The Terps bounced back with a pair of midweek wins versus Delaware and swept a one-win Wagner team.
Junior Brayden Martin is batting a team-best .443 to go with four doubles and 12 RBI. Redshirt freshman Ryan Costello leads the Terps in home runs (9) and RBI (21) and is third in batting average at .328, while freshman Ty Kaunus has a team-high seven doubles and has .269 batting average.
Advertisement
Maryland is scheduled to start freshman Nic Morlang. The right-hander has four appearances on the season, including four starts. He allowed five earned runs in his appearances, coinciding with his two starts, in six innings of work. In his last two appearances in relief, He’s allowed one earned run on five hits.
Advertisement
West Virginia leads the all-time series 8-5, including a five-game winning streak over Maryland.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a series of parties in Morgantown over the weekend.
Morgantown police officers, West Virginia University Police and state police responded to reports of overcrowded parties, underage drinking, physical altercations and multiple injuries.
Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffie said several citations were issued for open containers and underage consumption.
Advertisement
Two large parties were dispersed and six arrests were made without incident.
None of the reported injuries are believed to be serious or life-threatening.
The Morgantown Fire Department assisted in the operations.
Hancock County, WV — A Weir High School senior has been recognized as the 2026 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year.
Hailey Hans was selected for the statewide honor after building a journalism portfolio since her freshman year. She also serves as the staff manager of Weir Student Media, where she oversees articles and is in charge of deadlines.
“When I was a freshman I was placed in the journalism one class, and I actually tried to get pulled from the class. But, then after I sat in the class and I learned a little bit, that’s where my love grew and then from there I continued to take classes, I helped pass a law, and I got to these national conventions. Where it just lit a fire inside me,” Hans said.
Hans is planning to attend West Liberty University in the fall to study education with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a journalism teacher. She will now submit her portfolio for the national-level contest.
