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However, a first-string quarterback hasn't been announced. Rodriguez has joked that it may take until a few minutes before the 2 p.m. kickoff against the Colonials.

Rodriguez has also said he will play multiple quarterbacks if that gives the Mountaineers the best chance to win.

Fall camp has been in full swing for more than 10 days now and the quarterback corps has taken strides, their coach said.

"I think they've all progressed," Rodriguez said. "It's really been a quite a test to get so many guys reps. We do get a lot of reps in practice. I'm not concerned with them getting enough. But, we're trying to be fair to all of them. It's still [a] pretty good battle, in a good way.

"You can tell the guys that have played a little bit, like Nicco [Marchiol] and Jaylen [Henderson], have some experience, which has helped them. Max [Brown] has some experience.

"Scotty Fox and Khalil [Wilkins] are talented guys and have a good grasp as well."

Rodriguez said the next few scrimmages, especially Saturday's, will allow for more analysis of that position group.

Rodriguez, who got his coaching start as a student assistant at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý in 1985, does not rely on analytics as others in his profession might.

"I'm not a data guy as much," Rodriguez said. "Sometimes it's not the quarterback's fault and sometimes it is. Rhett [Rodriguez, the quarterbacks coach] might be keeping stats. He's a lot more thorough than I am. All of that stuff is important. We'll look at all of it.

"Saturday and next week [will be when we] put them in more difficult situations and see how they respond to it."

Marchiol has the most experience with the Mountaineers, as he has appeared in 19 games and passed for more than 740 yards.

Henderson transferred to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý after two seasons at Texas A&M, where he played in four games for the Aggies in 2023.

Brown spent last season at Charlotte, where he appeared in five games and threw for 561 yards and three touchdowns.

Wilkins redshirted his freshman season at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý. He is a Washington, D.C., native and played prep football at Riverdale Baptist High School.

Fox is an Ohio native and spent his prep career at Mentor High. He accounted for more than 3,000 yards of offense his senior season.

"It's been a solid camp so far for the guys," Rhett Rodriguez said. "We talk about stacking days and being consistent. There are going to be days where one guy has a good day and one guy has a bad day. But, [it's] trying to be consistent with it [and] taking control and command of the offense.

"[It's] understanding where your eyes are going to be. Again, we're getting a lot of different looks on defense, and sometimes a receiver runs a wrong route. Don't panic and move on to your next read. All the quarterbacks have been solid so far."

The father-son coaching duo sees that they're not going to make everyone happy with an equal distribution of reps. However, they are hoping that players capitalize on the available snaps.

"It's hard on how to balance out all the reps for everybody because you don't want one guy going with all the ones and one guy always going with the twos," Rhett said. "We don't really know who our ones and twos are in some positions. You can't make it perfectly fair [because] there aren't enough reps to go around.

"It's not going to be perfectly fair or even, but I try to switch it up every day; that way, it keeps them on their toes and know what's coming."

The Mountaineers quarterback coach said finding players in the NCAA transfer portal with some college experience is critical to stocking the position.

"When we were looking at guys in the transfer portal, yes, you can look at high school film, but seeing guys that have in-game, live meaningful reps [in college] obviously means more," Rhett said. "We have three guys that have had that at that position with, of course, Nicco being here, then Jaylen and Max at their previous schools.

"That gives you a little more comfort of when they go into the game, you can expect more and know what they're going to play like."

Rhett Rodriguez said that there isn't much distance between any of the five competing quarterbacks.

"There's not a lot of separation right now between, really, a lot of the guys, more than [Marchiol, Henderson and Brown]," Rhett said. "Something might take longer into the season, but the three older guys have more experience. We feel a little comfortable with that.

"The younger guys have been impressive. We always try to get three guys ready to win with. I think we have more than that at this point."

Henderson didn't see any action last season as he battled a right arm injury.

"He said he should have a mean stiff arm now because he's got some metal in there," Rhett Rodriguez said of Henderson. "He's a great leader and super mature guy. In the spring, when he got hit for the first time, he was like, 'Hey, it's been a year and a half since that happened.' He's been coming along well.

"He really wants to win. He's got great intangibles that you see. He's always watching extra film at the facility and has been great to have in the room."

Fox and Wilkins are two of the younger signal-callers, as Wilkins is a redshirt freshman and Fox is a true freshman.

Their play during the offseason, especially during fall camp, has caught the coaches' attention.

"What's really impressive about [Fox] is, normally freshmen hold onto the ball a little bit, are back there and wait, wait, and are late to something. He's almost the opposite," Rhett Rodriguez said. "He's almost going too fast, which is a good thing. He has great footwork and mechanics.

"He makes some throws and decisions that you wouldn't anticipate out of a freshman. Of course, there's a big learning curve for him, but he's been impressive.

"[Wilkins] wasn't able to get a lot of reps in the spring cause of injury," the coach continued. "He's a guy that as he gets more and more reps, then he'll keep getting better. Obviously, [he's] dynamic with the ball in his hands. He's broken off a few big runs already. I'm excited about his future."