MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia quarterback Nicco Marchiol has been ruled out for Saturday’s home game against Utah.
In Thursday’s updated Big 12 Conference injury report, the Mountaineers (2-2, 0-1) list Marchiol among five players out for the 3:30 p.m. matchup with the Utes.
WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez noted Tuesday in his weekly media session Marchiol was in Colorado seeing a specialist for a foot injury, signaling it was a long shot the left-hander would see action in the team’s first Big 12 home game.
“He came to see me and told me on Sunday. I think he’d gone down to the training room a couple times before and talked to our guys about it, but that was the first time I’d known it was bothering him,” Rodriguez said.
Marchiol has started each of West Virginia’s first four games and helped orchestrate a comeback in a 31-24 overtime win against Pittsburgh two weeks ago.
But in a 41-10 loss at Kansa last Saturday, WVU did not score a touchdown and managed only three points over 10 possessions with Marchiol behind center.
Jaylen Henderson, who has played in all four contests, led the Mountaineers on their only touchdown drive against the Jayhawks, which came well after the matchup had all but been decided.
West Virginia’s offensive line has struggled to protect Marchiol, who is 66-for-98 with 720 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions to this point. Marchiol has 57 rushing yards — the fourth highest total among Mountaineer quarterbacks.
Also of note on the injury report, running back Tye Edwards is questionable, as is center Landen Livingston. Tailback Cyncir Bowers is doubtful, while wideout Preston Fox, tight end Jacob Barrick and linebacker Ben Bogle are each labeled probable.
Edwards was out last week at KU after rushing for 141 yards and three touchdowns against the Panthers.
Safety Darrian Lewis was listed as probable Wednesday and removed from the injury report a day later.