Mountaineer Morning Links: Tuesday (6/30/15) Edition

A few football news & notes, some new WVU pros updates, a look at the Big 12, and what happens when you put Dana Holgorsen, Tony Gibson and Owen Schmitt together in the great West Virginia outdoors?

By Michael Miller@michaelmillerWV Jun 30, 2015, 8:44am EDT

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Country Roots from Tennessee Brew Works.

Year in Review: Ten Memorable Moments | WVU Athletics
The 10 most memorable moments from another memorable year in WVU sports.

Football:

"Coach Barber" Back to Lead Experienced Defense | EerSports
West Virginia linebacker Jared Barber talks about his role as a coach last year, his return to the field this fall, and where this defense ranks compared to others.

Former WVU running back Garrison headed to Fresno State | Charleston Daily Mail
Former West Virginia University running back Dustin Garrison is transferring to Fresno State, the player announced on his Twitter account Monday afternoon.

WATCH: Wild Wonderful Wolfman | West Virginia Illustrated
"Wolfman", Dale Wolfley, decided he needed a break from his den. Wolfley accompanied WVU head football coach, Dana Holgorsen, defensive coordinator, Tony Gibson, and a few other friends, including the "run-a-way beer truck" himself, Owen Schmitt, on an adventure showcasing all the natural beauty West Virginia has to offer

Vegas’ predicts WVU football will win 7.5 games | The Dominion Post
College football is still months away, but its betting season has officially arrived. The Golden Nugget, a Las Vegas-based sportsbook, on Friday, June 26, released its initial odds for 150 games on the college gridiron slate, including five WVU games.

FURFARI: WVU suit settlement seemingly raises more questions than were answered | Times West Virginian
West Virginia University last weekend finally announced that the lawsuit filed by the West Virginia Radio Corp. (WVRC) against West Virginia University, the Board of Governors, then-Athletic Director Oliver Luck and others in 2013 has been settled.

Big 12 Recruiting Scorecard | ESPN
There were plenty of pledges across the Big 12 region this week, and recruiting classes are really starting to take shape.

McKoy to decide this weekend | BlueGoldNews
Kennedy McKoy has narrowed his list of schools to five. The 9th-ranked running back in North Carolina, who will make his decision this week, gave Scout the latest.

Undaunted by position switch, Akron’s Shaquille Riddick ready to give back to his hometown | Akron Beacon Journal
Akron native Shaquille Riddick believes football is all about challenges. So what could be a daunting switch from college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker actually excites him.

Joe Klecko rips Geno Smith, says Jets' defense can be 'No. 1 in the league' | NJ.com
Joe Klecko, one of the greatest Jets to ever wear the green and white, is pretty excited about the team's defense this year. But his take on quarterback Geno Smith and outside linebacker Quinton Coples? Not so much.

Why Geno Smith’s last chance won’t be like the others | New York Post
In his second season, Smith remained maddeningly inconsistent for the Jets coaches. He had some really positive moments (a perfect QB rating in the season finale with the Dolphins) and some downright awful ones (three interceptions in 12 plays against the Bills in Week 8).

Ron Jaworski likes the Jets’ future with Geno Smith | ProFootballTalk
Jets quarterback Geno Smith hasn't found many admirers in his first two NFL seasons, but the Jets haven't found a surefire replacement for the 2013 second-round pick which means that he's the favorite to be under center when they start the 2015 season as well.

WVU’s Alex Ruoff signs with team in Spain | College to Pro Sports
Alex Ruoff will spend his sixth professional season in Spain, after spending the last two years in Germany.

Jedd Gyorko will rejoin Padres after stay in AAA | Gaslamp Ball
Just about an hour ago Jedd Gyorko was pulled in the bottom of the 2nd inning after just one at bat. He'd been down in AAA El Paso for the past 19 days trying to get his swing back together after struggling against right-handed pitchers in the Bigs.

Oklahoma State: Dream and nightmare scenario | ESPN
Whether Mason Rudolph succeeds or struggles early will have a big impact on the Cowboys' overall success.

Baylor building boom reflects Bears' surging success ESPN
It's no accident that commitment to facilities has translated into recruiting success.

OU president David Boren says Joe Mixon, Frank Shannon will be 'better | ESPN
Boren says both have met standards set forth in order to return, likens institution's role to parents disciplining their children.

Tuberville on Big 12 expansion, title game: 'No reason not to do it' | Sporting News
Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville doesn't even coach in the Big 12 anymore, but that didn't stop him from offering his opinions about the conference on Sirius XM College Sports Nation on Monday.