West Virginia senior quarterback Clint Trickett, who revealed Friday he has suffered five concussions in a 14-month span, said he will retire from football and pursue a coaching career, according to Allan Taylor of MetroNews. Head coach Dana Holgorsen said Skyler Howard will start in Trickett's place in the Liberty Bowl.
WVU QB Clint Trickett retiring from football after 5 concussions
The senior said he hid concussions from trainers, knowing it would keep him from playing.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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Trickett, who hasn’t played since suffering a concussion against Kansas State Nov. 18, had just been cleared to practice last week. But Holgorson said during a Friday press conference the quarterback had not been cleared for the bowl game against Texas A&M. Trickett announced his retirement shortly thereafter, telling media members, “In the career I’m entering, I probably need a few brain cells.”
Trickett said he hid two of the five concussions from team trainers, knowing they would have kept him from playing.
“In fairness to the trainers, that’s on me,” he said when asked how he had been allowed to accumulate that many concussions in such a short span.
Trickett was not projected to be selected in the 2015 NFL draft.
Howard, a sophomore, has been more than adequate while filling in. He hit 15 of his 23 passes for 198 yards and two scores after Trickett exited the K-State game. He then led the Mountaineers to a 37-24 win over Iowa State in the season finale, throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 69 yards.
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