West Virginia head coach Neal Brown remains undecided on naming his starting quarterback for the upcoming game against Baylor, though he has hinted at the criteria he’s considering. On Monday, Brown shared that Garrett Greene, who has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since halftime of the Kansas State game, was able to practice and even threw effectively. However, Brown wants to see Greene participate in full 11-on-11 drills before making any firm decision.
Brown expressed the importance of both quarterbacks being ready, especially given Greene’s extended absence. Greene’s season has been mixed, with 1,352 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions over seven games. Additionally, he’s added value with 471 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Yet, before his injury, Greene had struggled with turnovers and consistency, nearly doubling his interception total from last year.
In Greene’s absence, redshirt sophomore Nicco Marchiol stepped in, leading West Virginia to consecutive wins but struggling in the recent game against Cincinnati. Although the team managed to secure a 31-24 victory, the offense was largely ineffective, with much of the scoring coming from defensive plays. Marchiol completed just 9-of-15 passes for 156 yards and ran for 18 yards, but the offense’s only first-half touchdown came late and followed an earlier defensive score. Brown bluntly called the offensive performance “flat out not good enough,” citing it as one of the team’s least impressive in recent years.
Despite these offensive struggles, Brown praised the defense and emphasized the importance of getting a win. Marchiol, taking responsibility for the offense’s difficulties, credited his teammates for supporting him. Brown’s approach to keeping his starting quarterback under wraps is partly strategic, allowing Baylor to prepare for both quarterbacks, each of whom brings a different skill set to the game.
Ultimately, Brown will likely withhold his decision on the starter until later in the week or even up to game day, emphasizing the importance of competitive advantage in preparing for Baylor’s defense.
