West Virginia
QB Marchiol gives West Virginia a good starting point
The transfer portal certainly hit West Virginia after the departure of former head coach Neal Brown.
The Mountaineers had a total of 20 players enter their names into the database during the open window with some key names among that list such as linebacker Josiah Trotter, offensive lineman Tomas Rimac, running back CJ Donaldson, wide receiver Hudson Clement, linebacker Trey Lathan, wide receiver Traylon Ray, offensive lineman Johnny Williams and wide receiver Ric’Darious Farmer are just a few of the names that elected to exit the program with the coaching change.
But the Mountaineers did receive some good news for the first season under new head coach Rich Rodriguez with redshirt junior quarterback Nicco Marchiol announcing his decision to return. While it could be assumed with the transfer portal deadline set to pass, it’s significant announcement.
Marchiol has spent three years with the program which has been spent mostly as a backup to Garrett Greene but has fared well when given the opportunity. Marchiol has spent three years in the program and to date has completed 71-122 passes with 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
He also has rushed for 285 yards and 3 scores.
“I’m honored to be back for 2025. Ready to finish what I came here to do – win games and help restore the pride and glory that this incredible community deserves,” Marchiol wrote.
Getting Marchiol back is a key start to the off-season as Rodriguez looks to build his roster heading into the 2025 campaign. The signal caller is a former four-star prospect that has waited his turn and developed tremendously during his time on campus.
The progression was obvious in his play on the field from when he was first thrust into the starting role in winning games against Pittsburgh and Texas Tech in 2023 to what unfolded in 2024. Again, injury to Greene forced Marchiol to step up as the starter and he led the Mountaineers to a 2-0 record with wins over Arizona and Cincinnati. He also played well on the road at Oklahoma State.
In the two starts, Marchiol completed 27-37 passes for 354 yards with 3 touchdowns and one interception. And even that pick was one that wasn’t necessarily on him.
This season, West Virginia was able to call the entire offense with Marchiol in the game as opposed to a condensed version when he was still growing as a player the year prior. It was clear he had shown progression in his understanding and execution of the offense.
“Not trying to play outside myself, play within myself. Being accurate with the football and getting the ball to the play makers and letting them be special,” Marchiol said.
Having Marchiol in place is important for the build of the roster as now it’s clear that the redshirt junior will be back and has the possibility to spend his final two years as the starter. That will have to be earned, when it comes to experience he clearly is at the top of the list with the current options.
That will continue to play out in the coming weeks and months, but the Mountaineers are bringing back a talented quarterback that has already shown the ability to win games when given the chance.
And those chances are likely to be a lot more available in 2025.
West Virginia
Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia Computer Predictions
West Virginia and Oklahoma State face off at the WVU Coliseum on Saturday at noon. The Mountaineers are 1-0 in Big 12 play, while the Cowboys are 0-1 in league play.
Computer models such as BartTorvik, BPI, and KenPom predict the matchup between both teams.
BPI — The Basketball Power Index projects West Virginia to win. They give the Mountaineers an 86.1 percent chance to get the job done at home over the Cowboys. WVU is ranked 45th by BPI, while OSU is ranked 108th.
BartTorvik — BartTorvik gives West Virginia an 87 percent chance to win the game on Saturday. The projected score for the game is West Virginia coming out on top 77-65. WVU’s T-Rank is 30th in the country, while Oklahoma State’s is 110th.
KenPom — KenPom also gives the Mountaineers the edge, as they are giving the home team an 87 percent chance of winning against Oklahoma State. KenPom projects West Virginia will win, 77-65, as well. The Mountaineers are ranked 46th in KenPom, while Oklahoma State is ranked 108th.
Tip-off is set for noon from the WVU Coliseum on Saturday, with the game set to be televised on CBSSports Network.
West Virginia
WVDA confirms case of bird flu in West Virginia
POCAHONTAS COUNTY, W.Va (WDTV) – The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has confirm a cause of Avian Influenza in a backyard flock in Pocahontas County.
This mark the second case of HPAI in domestic birds in West Virginia since the start of the global outbreak in early 2022.
The diagnosis was made by a field investigation, sample collection, and testing at WVDA’s Animal Health Lab in Moorefield.
The affected is currently under quarantine, and the birds have been depopulated to prevent a disease spread. These efforts help ensure the safety and integrity of the commercial food supply.
“The WVDA acted swiftly to contain the disease and remains committed to collaborating with poultry owners to prevent its spread,” stated West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “As the state’s leading agricultural commodity, protecting the poultry industry is critical, and implementing emergency response plans is essential to safeguarding its future.”
Avian influenza is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among chickens through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus also infects a wide variety of other birds, including wild migratory waterfowl. HPAI has been detected in various species of mammals—presumably after the animals come into contact with infected wild birds. For more information on current detections in domestic poultry, livestock, and wildlife across the U.S., please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s webpage.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with avian influenza remains low. As a reminder, people should properly handle and cook all poultry and eggs.
For additional precautions against the virus, visit the CDC’s Avian Influenza Guidance.
To prevent the spread of the disease, WVDA urges poultry owners to:
- Limit, monitor, and record any movement of people, vehicles, or animals on or off the farm.
- Permit only essential workers and vehicles to enter the farm.
- Avoid visiting other poultry farms or unnecessary travel off the farm.
- Disinfect equipment, vehicles, footwear, and other items in contact with flocks.
- Keep flocks away from wild or migratory birds, especially waterfowl.
- Isolate any ill animals and contact your veterinarian immediately.
Poultry owners should report unusual death loss, a drop in egg production, or any sick domestic birds to WVDA’s Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.
Copyright 2025 WDTV. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
West Virginia hiring Noel Devine, former RB and program great, to staff as offensive analyst
West Virginia great Noel Devine is returning to Morgantown to join Rich Rodriguez’s staff as an offensive analyst, where the former star running back will reunite with the head coach who first recruited him to play for the Mountaineers. Devine, 36, announced the news Friday morning.
Devine, a former five-star recruit and one of the most exciting players of his generation, scored 31 touchdowns and amassed over 5,000 yards of total offense in his four-year career at West Virginia. Last summer his son Andre Devine signed with Rodriguez when he was the head coach at Jacksonville State.
Proud moment yesterday seeing my son Andre sign to JSU! Thank you Coach Rod and your coaching staff for welcoming my son with open arms. This means a lot to me and my family my son found a home. The Devine legacy continues with the same culture and traditions Rich Rod taught me pic.twitter.com/1JSVIKjV70
— Noel Devine (@noel_devine7) February 9, 2024
Devine was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 after going undrafted but was only with the team briefly in the summer before spending time in the CFL. He has been working in Florida running his own speed training company and helping mentor local kids in the area where he grew up.
Devine was one of the first high school football recruits to go viral. His dazzling highlights took off on the internet starting in 2004 after Tampa-based Sunshine Preps, an independent recruiting service, posted footage of the 5-foot-7, 170-pound freshman’s varsity debut for North Fort Myers High the previous fall.
(Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
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