MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —** Nicco Marchiol is set to make his third career start and second consecutive start for West Virginia when the Mountaineers take on Cincinnati at noon Saturday at Nippert Stadium.
During his weekly media session on Monday, WVU head coach Neal Brown described quarterback Garrett Greene as doubtful for the matchup with the Bearcats. If Greene is unable to recover from an injury sustained on October 19 against Kansas State, Marchiol will again step in as the starter.
Marchiol’s stand out performance so far
That was the case in West Virginia’s most recent game on October 26 at Arizona, where the redshirt sophomore played a pivotal role in leading the Mountaineers to a 31-26 victory in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Marchiol completed 18 of 22 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, including a 54-yard connection with receiver Traylon Ray for what proved to be the game-winning score — the longest pass play of the season for the Mountaineers.
“He was really efficient and didn’t turn it over,” Brown said. “You start with what does he need to sustain, and he needs to sustain taking care of the football, being efficient, and moving the chains on third downs. What do we need to improve on? We have to hit some big balls. We need to take some shots down the field. He connected on the big one to Traylon but missed a couple. We have to continue to grow in that area.
“There were some decision-making issues in the run game we need to clean up, and a couple third downs where he could make better decisions, but for us, it’s about putting him in the best situation possible from a game-planning perspective and how we call it. If we keep doing that, he’ll play well.”
What to expect against Cincinnati
Greene was one of three key offensive players who were forced to sit out the second half of West Virginia’s most recent home game. Tailback Jahiem White and left tackle Wyatt Milum were also sidelined, although White returned to action the following week against Arizona. Milum, who missed the Arizona game, is expected to return for the Cincinnati matchup after sitting out the Wildcats contest.
Greene nor Milum traveled to Arizona.
Brown said the Mountaineers are taking a cautious approach with Greene as he tries to get back to playing.
“We’re going to be really careful. When he’s ready to go, he’ll have an opportunity to play,” Brown said. “He’s just not ready right now.”
As for when Greene could be ready to play and what his role is upon being healthy, Brown didn’t offer specifics.
**MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —** “He should throw a little this week. That’s the hope,” said WVU head coach Neal Brown about Garrett Greene’s recovery. “Will there be some rust? I would think so, but he’s also played a lot, so he should handle it better than a young player or someone making their first start.”
Mountaineers are ready for the test
Saturday’s game will mark the first for Jeff Koonz as West Virginia’s defensive coordinator, following the dismissal of Jordan Lesley last Tuesday. Koonz, however, will be without a pair of key secondary starters as safety Aubrey Burks and cornerback Ayden Garnes will miss the game against Cincinnati due to injuries. This will be the third consecutive game both players have been sidelined.
Safety KK Tarnue, who has stepped into a larger role on the back end, is expected to play unless he experiences a setback this week. Tarnue played 53 defensive snaps against Arizona before exiting late with an injury that required assistance to leave the field.
In addition to the defensive absences, the Mountaineers will also be without wide receiver Jaden Bray, who will miss his fourth straight game since suffering an injury in West Virginia’s contest against Oklahoma State.
All Fans should rally round the team
Saturday’s game will be the 22nd all-time meeting between the Mountaineers and the Bearcats, a series that West Virginia leads 17-3-1.
It will also present a unique challenge for the WVU offense, as they will face off against Cincinnati linebacker Jared Bartlett, a former Mountaineer.
Jared Bartlett’s transfer to Cincinnati after five seasons at West Virginia certainly adds an interesting twist to Saturday’s game. The Miami native made a significant impact during his time in Morgantown, playing the bandit position and recording 135 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. His standout moment came in September 2021 when he recorded three sacks and forced and recovered a fumble in a win against Virginia Tech, earning Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Now at Cincinnati, Bartlett has continued to shine. He leads the Bearcats with 5.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss, while also ranking second on the team with 42 tackles.
Its all coming together
West Virginia head coach Neal Brown acknowledged the challenge Bartlett presents, especially given his familiarity with the Mountaineers’ system. “He practiced against us for a number of years. If he can remember our calls and stuff, more power to him,” Brown said. “I have a hard time remembering from spring to fall camp. He’s a good person and did a nice job here. He left on good terms, so there’s no issues there. I’m happy for him. Hope he plays well every time except for this Saturday.”
It’s clear that while Brown holds Bartlett in high regard, Saturday will be a competitive matchup, with the Mountaineers looking to contain the player who once helped their defense.
