We’re gathering insights from the West Virginia blog The Smoking Musket on former USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell and former USC quarterbacks J.T. Daniels and Kedon Slovis. We are gearing up in advance of the Mountaineers’ big Week 1 showdown against rival Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl, one of the best and most underrated rivalry games in the nation.
Trojans Wire: When you see how Graham Harrell worked with Kedon Slovis, how do you think that will translate to Harrell’s professional relationship with Nicco Marchiol, the Mountaineers’ promising new QB prospect?
The Smoking Musket: Nicco is the key to the future at West Virginia, and its likely starter in 2023 and beyond. While he was already on board when Harrell signed on, getting on campus early and working with Harrell all spring (when there was a legitimate quarterback competition before the addition of Daniels), was nothing but a positive experience. He had an up and down spring, but I think emerged as the number two in the competition between three young QBs in the spring.
It’s hard to say how much he’ll get from the sidelines this year if Daniels (for once) stays healthy, but Harrell has clearly done a great job getting young quarterbacks ready to start at USC between Slovis and Dart, and I expect much of the same from Marchiol whether he is thrust into a bigger role this season or if he’s under center to start 2023.
Trojans Wire: How easy/difficult will the transition be for Harrell, going from the Pac-12 to the Big 12?
The Smoking Musket: Luckily, I don’t think there’s going to be much of a learning curve here. Harrell, at heart, is a Big 12 guy who played for Mike Leach and who came up in the league. From all he’s said, I think he’s happy to be back in the league and it wouldn’t surprise me that if he’s successful in Morgantown we’ll be seeing him coaching against West Virginia as a head coach in the league in two or three years.
I think if one thing shocks him,…
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