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When Rich Rodriguez leads West Virginia against Arizona on Saturday at 9 a.m. in Morgantown, W. Va., it will be a poignant reunion with the program he guided from 2012 to 2017. Despite his stint lasting only six seasons, Rodriguez's influence on the Wildcats endures, as evidenced by the outstanding athletes he coached and the milestones they achieved.
During his time in Tucson, Rodriguez mentored two of the most decorated players in school history: Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona's all-time rushing leader, and Scooby Wright III, the Wildcats' sixth unanimous All-American. He also steered the program to its first modern-era conference title with a Pac-12 South championship in 2014. Off the field, his children were deeply involved: his son Rhett set records at Catalina Foothills High School before playing quarterback in his father's spread-option system, while his daughter Raquel served as a senior captain for the cheerleading squad. Today, both work alongside Rodriguez at West Virginia—Raquel as Assistant Athletics Director/Football Management and Strategy, and Rhett as quarterbacks coach.
Reflecting on his Arizona days during a weekly press conference, Rodriguez said, "I enjoyed my time there. We had some really good players and got some big ranked wins. Our daughter was the captain of the cheerleading squad, and our son was a quarterback there, so it was some good times."
Key Analysis
The All-Rich Rod Team serves as a testament to the talent Rodriguez cultivated at Arizona. On offense, quarterback Khalil Tate burst onto the national stage in 2017, rushing for 1,411 yards and 12 touchdowns while passing for 1,591 yards and 14 scores. His 327 rushing yards against Colorado set an FBS single-game record for a quarterback, and he became the first Pac-12 quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Running back Ka'Deem Carey, a consensus All-American in 2012 and 2013, amassed 4,239 career rushing yards, while Nick Wilson set a freshman record with 1,375 rushing yards in 2014. Receivers Austin Hill, Cayleb Jones, and Samajie Grant provided explosive options, with Hill's 1,364-yard 2012 campaign ranking among the best in school history.
Defensively, Scooby Wright III's 2014 season was legendary: 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and six forced fumbles, earning him the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, and Lombardi Award. Marquis Flowers transitioned seamlessly from safety to linebacker, leading the team with 100 tackles in 2012, while Jake Fischer anchored the defense with 119 tackles that same year. The secondary featured playmakers like Shaquille Richardson, Dane Cruikshank, Will Parks, and Jared Tevis, who combined for numerous interceptions and pass breakups.
Special teams were equally impressive, with kicker Casey Skowron scoring 123 points in 2014 and punter Drew Riggleman averaging 46.1 yards per punt. Return specialist Shun Brown added excitement with two punt-return touchdowns in 2017.
As Rodriguez returns to face Arizona, the memories of these players and their achievements will undoubtedly stir mixed emotions. The All-Rich Rod Team not only celebrates individual brilliance but also underscores the lasting impact of Rodriguez's tenure on the Wildcats' football program.
Originally reported by newspub_live.