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MORGANTOWN — A new head coach in college football creates a domino effect, especially with the transfer portal. When a new coach is hired from another school, most of the staff and players come with. It’s like what Colorado coach Deion Sanders said when he was hired from Jackson State. “We’ve got a few positions taken care of because I’m bringing my luggage with me.”
The same went for Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez, in an effort to rebuild West Virginia, brought in five Jacksonville State players and a NCAA-most 31 transfers.
It’s cause and effect. In came 31 new players, a new scheme, a new culture, so 26 players decided it was too much and left.
Redshirt senior linebacker Reid Carrico was one of the players that decided to stay, even though this would be his third head coach in three years, transferring from Ohio State in 2023. Instead of the new regime being too much, what he called “speed dating” that was the transfer portal was too much.
“I knew I wasn’t going to leave,” Carrico said. “For me, I already went through the whole process once and it was a mess, so I was happy here. I love it here, so I’m staying right here.”
While Carrico was in the portal, he visited six different schools in seven days before picking WVU, which is a reality for a majority of players.
“It was bizarre bouncing around all over the place, just for the perspective of wanting to go see it for myself, rather than talking over the phone,” Carrico said.
Carrico is used to learning a new scheme at this point. It takes him about a month to two months to dial in on the new information and terminology.
“Every coach has their own way of doing and saying things, so that’s probably been the biggest adjustment,” Carrico said.
Carrico said Rodriguez and defensive…
Source link : https://www.dominionpost.com/2025/03/26/west-virginia-football-veteran-reid-carrico-looks-to-lead-after-decision-to-stay/
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Publish date : 2025-03-27 02:33:00
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