Most of the quarterback talk has been circled around newcomer Clint Trickett, but WVU has two other guys who have both taken snaps in the Mountaineer offense. Trickett hasn’t. Junior QB Paul Millard has some game experience under his belt, but not much. Redshirt-Freshman QB Ford Childress has yet to step onto the playing field of a live game. Nonetheless, both “experienced” WVU signal callers are looking to emerge as the front runner of this hectic quarterback race.
Millard, who has just as many career touchdowns as interceptions, is just taking the battle in stride.
“Once we get the pads on in a few days and we can actually do some situational stuff, I think that things will clear up a little faster” he said, “Right now we just have to go day-by-day.”
Childress, who has yet to throw a collegiate pass, felt pretty much the same as Millard, but had a bit more bite to his comments.
“It was pretty even yesterday. We are all just trying to get better and are pushing each other,” Childress said, “Once we get our pads on, we will really get to see the difference.”
Millard is the elder of the two and the only quarterback on the roster with actual WVU game experience. Trickett, though, has more total game experience than the other two combined, but will need more time to learn the offense than Millard and Childress. Millard, though, is embracing the competition and building off of it.
“Obviously we all have the same goal in mind – to be the starting quarterback of this team. There is no reason to really stress about it because that is not going to help us in the situation,” Millard stated after the first day of practice.
Millard said that the difference between this year’s camp and last are obvious. Of course they are. Geno Smith isn’t the Heisman Trophy candidate starting QB.
“There is a whole new team out there this year than there was last year. There are new leaders, new opportunities for myself and a lot of other guys.”
As for his mindset? He says there’s only one way he can think.
“I want to step up and be the starting quarterback for the Mountaineers this year. That is the mindset you have to have going into camp – that you are that guy.”
For Childress, his goal is to learn from those around him and to improve. He’s known for his strong arm, but he’s had some struggles with accuracy in the early goings. With Trickett on board, Childress is hoping to soak up as much “big game” knowledge as he can.
“He has a lot of experience and knows what he is doing,” Childress said, “He has played in big games and has been through three years of college football, so he is a good guy to be around. I will see what tricks he can teach.”
As for his own improvement, Childress is more comfortable within the WVU offense. He says he would’ve been ready to play last season, but has used the time to prepare to compete for the new starting spot.
Either of these two quarterbacks could step up and snatch the starting nod come the end of camp. Millard summed up the competition perfectly.
“At the end of the day, we are all teammates and somebody is going to step up to lead this team.”
