MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Florida State junior quarterback Clint Trickett plans to transfer, and West Virginia is one of his relocation options, according to published reports.
The redshirt junior is on pace to graduate in May, making him eligible to play at another Division I school next season. He also reportedly is considering South Florida, which, like WVU, is replacing a longtime starter at quarterback.
Trickett quarterbacked the Morgantown High freshman team when his father Rick was the offensive line coach at WVU. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden hired Rick Trickett in January 2007 and Clint subsequently played his final three years of high school ball at North Florida Christian in Tallahassee.
Though last month he entered FSU spring practice at No. 1 on the depth chart, the Seminoles are believed to be leaning toward redshirt freshman Jameis Winston, who was among the nation’s top-rated quarterbacks in the 2012 signing class.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder Trickett completed 22-of-34 passes for 272 yards last year while backing up EJ Manuel. He made two starts in losses at Clemson and Wake Forest in 2011, a season in which he completed 44-of-72 passes for 675 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
West Virginia has junior Paul Millard and redshirt freshman Ford Childress vying to replace Geno Smith at quarterback, with true freshman Chavas Rawlins working at No. 3 on the depth chart. It would seem unlikely for Trickett to choose WVU without sensing a legit opportunity to compete for the starting job. After all, why trade a backup role at Florida State for a similar spot at WVU, especially when his father remains one of Jimbo Fisher’s top assistants at FSU?
It warrants recollecting that back in February the West Virginia coaches were pursuing another junior transfer quarterback, Tanner McEvoy, who wound up choosing Wisconsin.