Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
The West Virginia Mountaineers have found its successor to Geno Smith in the strangest of places as Clint Trickett announced he will finish his College Football in Morgantown.
It’s official, I will finish my academic/athletic career at WVU. This is a dream come true to be playin for the state I love. #CountryRoads
— Clint Trickett (@ClintTrickett9) May 1, 2013
Trickett announced immediately after the Noles’ spring game that he would ask for release and would be looking to transfer to another school.
This was a surprise to many as Trickett was considered the top man for the job heading into spring practice in Tallahassee. But at some point on that Saturday, Trickett was either told or realized his chance to play for FSU was slim to none. Adding to the shocking development is that his dad, Rick Trickett, is the offensive line coach for Florida State.
It is somewhat of a homecoming for Trickett, whose dad did grow up in Morgantown and had his first coaching job with the Mountaineers.
Trickett will compete with Paul Millard and Ford Childress for the starting job, but one would think West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen has given Trickett his blessing that the job is his to lose. Holgorsen did say even after the spring game that the starting QB job was still wide open.
Now the question is, can Trickett follow in the footsteps and bring some wins to the Mountaineers that Smith couldn’t? It’s hard to say that a kid who career stats are 66-109 for 947 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions can lead West Virginia to the Big 12 Title, but stranger things have happened — especially when you look at the overall lack of star power in the conference in 2013.
Trickett will be able to play immediately. He also visited the Auburn Tigers and the South Florida Bulls before picking West Virginia.
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M Shannon Smallwood is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and the US Basketball Writers Association. Follow him @woodysmalls.
