Clint Trickett will get his first start as a Mountaineer on Saturday, filling in for the injured Ford Childress against No. 11 Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Dana Holgorsen broke the news Thursday night on his radio show, confirming that Childress has been unable to practice this week due to a torn pectoral muscle. Trickett, an offseason transfer from Florida State, will be the third starting quarterback for West Virginia (2-2) in the 2013.
Trickett was in a three-player battle to replace EJ Manuel when he opted to take his talents to Morgantown -- where his father, Florida State offensive line coach Rick Trickett, began his coaching career with the Mountaineers. Arguably his finest moment as a Seminole came in a 336-yard, three-touchdown performance against Clemson in 2011 when Manuel was injured.
Paul Millard started the first two games for the Mountaineers but was replaced after the loss to Oklahoma. According to Holgorsen, Millard and Trickett split practice reps throughout the week. It is possible, then, that Millard could see game action again if Trickett struggles against the Cowboys.
If Trickett is successful in jump-starting a struggling West Virginia offense, he could make a case for the starting job when Childress is healthy. Unfortunately, a visit from the No. 11 team in the country is not the ideal scenario for a starting job audition.
