WVU photo Anthony Becht during his time as a tight end for the Mountaineers.

MORGANTOWN — Even as offensive coordinator Chad Scott was being named interim head coach for West Virginia’s bowl game, the intrigue surrounding his successor was beginning to deepen.

Names were flying from Weirton to Welch, Martinsburg to Matewan and all points in between, as play-by-play broadcaster Tony Caridi would put it, and they include all the usual suspects from Rich Rodriguez to Jimbo Fisher, from Jamey Chadwell of Liberty to Barry Odom of UNLV — although one can’t imagine the cultural shock that comes with bringing your playbook from Vegas to Motown.

But lingering on the periphery as the process began taking shape is Anthony Becht, perhaps the most intriguing candidate who sources say would love to land the job.

He’s only a phone call away but Wren Baker probably ought not call to set up an interview this weekend as he’d like to be with his son, Rocco, who will be quarterbacking Iowa State against Colorado in the Big 12 championship game.

Becht seems to be the perfect candidate. He’s an alumnus, a member of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame as of this fall. He was the first great tight end at the school under Don Nehlen and he is the prototype of what West Virginia football is supposed to be.

Becht was an underrecruited prospect out of Eastern Pennsylvania, undersized at the time as a tight end but willing to put what it took to not only become a solid college player but to grow into a first-round pick of the New York Jets who would put together an 11-year NFL career.

He played at WVU in the rock ’em, sock ’em years of Mountaineer football from 1995 to 1999, playing on teams led by quarterback Marc Bulger and running back Amos Zereoue.

He caught 83 balls for 1,173 yards and 10 touchdowns for Nehlen and became an honorable mention All-American and second team All-Big East player as a junior and senior.

Becht was a Mountaineer captain as his leadership skills were being honed.

Becht played five years for the Jets, three for Tampa Bay and one year each for St. Louis, Arizona and Kansas City.

He became a color commentator for the Jets and on ESPN in retirement and the last two years he has also coached the St. Louis BattleHawks to 7-3 records each season in the XFL and UFL, making the playoffs his second year.

But now he seems ready to return to college football.

The source says that Becht wants a seat at the table and has informed WVU of his interest and that he has a plan and a vision of how he can return to the glory days of WVU football.

“Everything has been invested to get a seat at the table,” the source said, noting Becht is awaiting a call from Baker to set up an interview.

His assets fit much of what Baker is looking for in a coach, including the ability to unite a disgruntled fan base that yearns for a different style of play than what Neal Brown put together.

What’s more, he just might bring a quarterback with him — his son.

Becht, through his connections, could assemble a strong coaching staff with experience, much as Deion Sanders has done at Colorado.

And while his football credits speak for themselves, his familiarity with the city and state, with the university and all that comes with it brings to life the values that were here through Nehlen and Rodriguez.

Whether he is the best man for the job is up to Baker to decide, but he certainly should allow him to take part in the interview process to find out what Becht’s vision is for a program that has strayed from its roots over the past two decades.