A new head coach in college football creates a domino effect, especially with the transfer portal. When a new coach is hired from another school, most of the staff and some players come with. It’s like what Colorado coach Deion Sanders said when he was hired from Jackson State: “We’ve got a few positions taken care of because I’m bringing my luggage with me.”

The same went for new West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez, in an effort to rebuild WVU, brought in five Jacksonville State players and a NCAA-most 31 transfers.

It’s cause and effect. In came 31 new players, a new scheme, a new culture, so 26 players decided to transfer out.

Redshirt senior linebacker Reid Carrico was one of the players that decided to stay, even though this would be his third head coach in three years, transferring from Ohio State in 2023. Instead of the new regime being too much, what he called “speed dating” that was the transfer portal was too much.

“I knew I wasn’t going to leave,” Carrico said. “For me, I already went through the whole process once and it was a mess, so I was happy here. I love it here, so I’m staying right here.”

While Carrico was in the portal, he visited six different schools in seven days before picking WVU, which is a reality for a majority of players.

“It was bizarre bouncing around all over the place, just for the perspective of wanting to go see it for myself, rather than talking over the phone,” Carrico said.

Carrico is used to learning a new scheme at this point. It takes him about a month to two months to dial in on the new information and terminology.

“Every coach has their own way of doing and saying things, so that’s probably been the biggest adjustment,” Carrico said.

Carrico said Rodriguez and defensive coordinator Zac Alley’s defense is similar to ones he has been a part of in the past, which helps in the learning process, but they do blend sometimes. However, there are differences other than just the players and new whistling faces.

“Coach Rod runs practice a little bit more up-tempo,” Carrico said. “Playing for three head coaches now in college, you kind of come to expect high-effort guys are gonna play… For me personally, it hasn’t been much of an adjustment.”

Carrico will be a crucial part of the defense in 2025. Carrico tallied 54 tackles and forced a fumble in 12 games. The four players ahead of him in tackles are no longer with the program, so he’ll have an even bigger role. But it’ll be the impact off the field that’ll be more important in the long run.

Carrico is in his fifth year of college football, making him a veteran and leader for the next generation of Mountaineers. He’s realized he has more responsibility now and has acted on helping the freshmen and transfers get acclimated through the spring.

“As an older guy, any time you can help make more things more simple or approachable to younger players, that’s always good,” Carrico said.

At Ohio State, Carrico learned from some of the best veterans, especially now Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, whom he called an “older brother” and models his mentality after.

“He was a high-effort guy,” Carrico said. “He’s always studying, always trying to find an edge and that sort of thing. As far as that stuff goes, I think that a lot of the off-the-field stuff is what I took from there.”

Carrico hasn’t been by himself helping the younger players and transfers. The Jacksonville State players have helped, too, because they’ve been in the scheme. When Carrico or any of the younger players don’t know what something is called, they shoot them a text, and the former Gamecocks help.

Carrico choosing to stay is rare in the new era of college football. Luckily for West Virginia, it’s not his first rodeo. Carrico’s love for West Virginia and his bad experience in the portal made him stay, creating a helpful asset on and off the field.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Carrico said. “Big learning curve, as far as adjusting to [Alley’s] scheme and that sort of thing, but it’s been a really good experience.”