Mountaineer Morning Links: Thursday (9/11/14) Edition

Maryland previews continue, varsity notes, hoops lands big commitment, WVU Pros updates, Big 12 roundup & more.

By WVUIE97@WVUIE97 Sep 11, 2014, 8:53am EDT

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What You May Have Missed:

Gold & Blue Now: Thursday, Sept. 11 - WV MetroNews
the Sportsline crew describes the impact Esa Ahamd, WVU’s newest basketball commitment, will have this upcoming season. Also, long-time Maryland play-by-play analyst, Johnny Holliday, lays out the worthy match-ups the Terps will have against the Mountaineers during Saturday’s game.

West Virginia focused on continuing high tempo offense - Daily Athenaeum
By all accounts, head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown preaches defense first, last and everything in between.

Men’s Golf Joins Gathering of Mountain Eagles - WVU Athletics
The WVU men's golf team played with wounded veterans on Saturday.

Big 12 Announces 2014-15 ESPN2 TV Schedule - WVU Athletics
WVU will appear on ESPN2 twice this season.

FURFARI COLUMN: Two key pass receptions stick out in Zach Abraham's mind - Times West Virginian
Zach Abraham, of Triadelphia, was an outstanding wide receiver for West Virginia University from 1991-94.

News of Note:

Maryland Game Preview - WVU Athletics
A quick comparison of Maryland’s two-deep lineups from the last two years shows 16 returning starters on both sides of the ball, including senior quarterback C.J. Brown, who gave the Mountaineer defense fits in last year’s game.

Casazza: WVU defense draws favorable comparison to 2005 unit - Charleston Daily Mail
Though it served as a punch line and a punching bag the previous two seasons, the truth about defense at West Virginia is that it wasn’t too long ago the Mountaineers were among the very best at that part of the game.

Productive Tonkery hopes to overcome injury - Exponent Telegram
Tonkery’s performance makes you wonder what he might have become had he been able to keep himself healthy, but some guys just have an injury jinx and he has been one of those.

Maryland outcome important; Holgorsen calls Crest ‘dynamic’ - Charleston Daily Mail
Casazza's Notebook

Wednesday Walkthrough: Maryland - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Saturday’s goal is simple: Make plays!

Hickman: Orlosky wake-up call was a year ago - Charleston Gazette
For Orlosky, the 2013 game against the Terrapins was the beginning of the end of his significant contribution a year ago.

WVU center anchors revamped O-line - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
West Virginia lost to Maryland, 37-0, last season, and center Tyler Orlosky lost his job.

WVU CBs take lessons from 2013 loss to Terps - BGN
As Daryl Worley broke down film of last year's Maryland game with cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell Monday night at the Milan Puskar Center, the two of them came to a realization.

Lies, Darn Lies, Statistics - BGN
Maryland has, thus far, disproven the adage that turnovers are the one most deciding statistic in the game. The Terps, 2-0, have seven in the first two games -- a statistic they want to reverse vs West Virginia.

Understanding The WVU/Maryland Rivalry - BGN
Mountain State native Cody Clay said one of West Virginia's mental struggles against Maryland last season was its fundmamental misunderstanding of the rivalry - and that it even was one. That, combined with the 37-0 defeat, has infused this year's team with the jolting motivation perhaps badly needed.

WVU has 'something to prove' in Saturday's Maryland rematch - Register Herald: College Sports
WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen spent most of the offseason discussing the difficult task of motivating his team for the Towson game after opening up with national power Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

WVU Not Worried By Terps - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
West Virginia was doomed by its own missteps in a blowout loss to Maryland last year, and some Mountaineers are vowing to atone for it this week.

WVU has chance to make big statement - Martinsburg Journal
This is a big week for the West Virginia football program.

Loss to Terps still on ’Eers’ minds - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Depending on who you talk to, West Virginia may or may not be looking for revenge

Leak’s return gives Maryland 3 good options at wideout - Charleston Gazette
After sitting out last season, Maryland receiver Marcus Leak had a big impact in the Terps’ first two games.

Terps full of talent on special teams - Exponent Telegram
For Maryland, the return game is the most dangerous. Stefon Diggs and William Likely give the Terrapins home run threats in the kickoff and punt return games, respectively.

Are the Pieces in Place for West Virginia QB Clint Trickett? - AthlonSports.com
Second-year starter finally healthy, grasping Holgorsen's Air Raid

Buie climbing depth chart - Exponent Telegram
In one short week, West Virginia running back Andrew Buie has gone from non-factor to x-factor.

Q&A: West Virginia Mountaineers Kevin White - ESPN
He took a few minutes to chat with ESPN.com about last season, his chemistry with quarterback Clint Trickett and trying to avenge WVU's 37-0 loss to Maryland a year ago.

White noise: Talented receiver making catches, now needs to find end zone - Exponent Telegram
This physically gifted junior college transfer has also thrust his name onto the nation scene by catching 19 passes for 248 yards in the first two games.

Holgorsen, offense knows getting into the end zone is key moving forward - Daily Athenaeum
The offensive output by West Virginia this season has been huge.

Jarrod Harper Capitalizes on Opportunity in Sophomore Season - WVillustrated
Mountaineer safety gets a closer look this week after a strong performance against Towson, earning the trust of his teammates and coaches.

Week 3 power rankings for each college football conference - SBNation.com
#5

Past Mountaineers weigh-in on current team: Towson Edition - WVU Pros
Rasheed Marshall, Larry Ford, Glenn Gress weigh in with their insight on what they saw from the Towson game, and what they feel headed into the matchup with Maryland.

Recruiting:

Bob Huggins with the silencer - WVU Sports with Mike Casazza
Bob Huggins for the win. This is WVU’s biggest and best get since Devin Ebanks, and Huggins was in early and kept the lead despite formidable challenges.

Esa Does It - BGN
West Virginia made Esa Ahmad one of its top priorities in the 2015 class, and the Mountaineers got the commitment they were looking for on Wednesday when the forward announced his choice.

Mountaineers land pledge from Esa Ahmad, No. 41 player on ESPN 100 - WV MetroNews
Power forward with wing skills becomes the third commitment for WVU's class of 2015.

WVU Lands Ahmad - WVSports.com
Ahmad is the third commitment in the 2015 class joining James "Beetle" Bolden and Levi Cook was a priority for the Mountaineers since early in the process.

WVU Lands Prized Prospect Esa Ahmad for 2015-16 - WVillustrated
Following a weekend visit to Morgantown, 4-star forward Esa Ahmad picks Mountaineers over other high-profile offers.

2016 commit makes 2nd from western Pennsylvania - WV MetroNews
Jeremiah Jones is a 6-foot, 200-pound high school quarterback who projects as a defensive player in college.