Scotty Fox walked into Speed Strength in Chester Township the morning of Dec. 14 one happy quarterback. While going through an hour-long training session with his younger brother Gavin — an eighth-grade quarterback at Memorial Junior High in Mentor — and others, Fox was all smiles. It was for good reason. .@ScottyFox18 of @MentorRedline works during a speed and agility drill at Speed Strength in Chester Township @MentorAthletics @NHPreps pic.twitter.com/YtPFeVjlzl — Mark Podolski (@mpodo) December 14, 2024 On Dec. 12, the news of Rich Rodriguez’s return to West Virginia as head coach became official. In the process, the Mentor QB and the rest of the Mountaineers’ football recruiting class officially breathed a sigh of relief. For a tenuous few days, Fox wasn’t sure what to think when Neal Brown was fired as WVU coach. The 2024 Tony Fisher Award winner opened his recruitment, but only for a short while. Eventually, he signed his letter of intent with the Mountaineers, telling The News-Herald, “I trust them.” Trust in WVU’s hiring process paid off, and Fox couldn’t be happier. “I knew he was a great coach in the past,” said Fox about Rodriguez, who at WVU was 60-26 from 2000 to 2007. “Knowing his winning history, how he pushed his players, I’m super excited to work with him and meet him and getting a relationship started.” During Rodriguez’s time at WVU, 2005 was his best season as the Mountaineers won the Big East, defeated Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and finished No. 5 in the final rankings. Leading the way was QB Pat White, who was a dangerous dual-threat player. Fox might not be as quick and elusive as White once was, but with a 40-yard dash time of 4.6, he’s capable of making defenders miss as a runner. Rivals.com has Fox ranked as the No. 8 dual-threat QB in the Class of 2025. “That’s why I’m here,” said Fox about Tim Robertson’s Speed Strength facility, where he’s been training off and on since he was 12. “I know (Rodriguez) likes to run the quarterback. … Whatever he wants to do with me, we’ll see and go from there.” Fox — who led the Cardinals to a 13-1 mark this past season and the Division I Associated Press state poll title — decided to enroll early at WVU to acclimate to the life of an FBS player. Now with a change at the top, Fox said arriving early is even more important. That means one more week of classes at Mentor High School, where Christmas break begins after next week, and then he closes that chapter of his life. “It’s surreal. Went by so quick,” said Fox. After holidays with family and friends, Fox will arrive at WVU in early January. At 205 pounds, getting bigger will most likely be a priority, he said, but after that, it’s anyone’s guess in terms of a redshirt season this fall or competing for playing time immediately. “Everything’s up for grabs,” said Fox. “There might be some players leaving. Just go in with a great mindset and be the best I can be.” New West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez speaks during an introductory news conference Dec. 13 in Morgantown, W.Va. (Benjamin Powell – The Dominion-Post via AP)