clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Skyler Howard Poised For A Breakout Season

With Clint Trickett gone, Dana Holgorsen has placed Skyler Howard in command of his offense. The junior quarterback is poised for a breakout season, and hungry to lead the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Brittney-shotgun-with-can_1_medium

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.

News Of Note

Football:

Skyler Howard Poised for a Breakout Season in Morgantown | Heartland College Sports
As we approach another football season, some fans may view the Mountaineers as having another questionable and unknown quarterback situation. But, we do know that Skyler Howard will be the starter and William Crest Jr. will be the backup.

QB Howard hungry to lead WVU’s offense | The Dominion Post
This past season, Skyler Howard, who started two games, was expected to operate the offense ably when called upon. But he was never looked to as the unit’s unquestioned leader. Now, Clint Trickett is gone and head coach Dana Holgorsen has placed Howard, a former junior-college quarterback in his own right, in command of his offense as well as the 10 men he’ll huddle up with.

Bosch, Matteo locked in important position battle | The Exponent Telegram
s experienced a team as Dana Holgorsen has this season at West Virginia, his personnel decisions have been quite limited. But he comes into the final couple of weeks with three positions still unsettled — each of them because they involve first-year players in the system.

Thomas-Williams ‘hasn’t done enough’ in camp, slips to fourth string | WV MetroNews
Wendell Smallwood looks better than Charles Sims, and Rushel Shell looks better than a year ago. But West Virginia’s presumed No. 3 running back, Donte Thomas-Williams, shows why presumptions are tricky.

Pass rush is one of WVU’s biggest questions | The Daily Athenaeum
Among all the challenges that face the West Virginia University football team in the upcoming season, few are as important as this one: will the Mountaineers be able to generate a consistent pass rush?

Mountaineers not rushing Douglas into action | Charleston Gazette-Mail
After missing the first three weeks of practice at West Virginia, cornerback Rasul Douglas has practiced three times. That’s not enough time for Mountaineer coaches to learn much about the newly available junior college All-American, but they already know Douglas doesn’t have much time to get ready, either.

Hot Reads: On The Run | WVU Athletics
When in doubt, run the football. It’s a mantra that has served West Virginia University well for ages. The annals of WVU football are brimming with big moments forged on the ground.

West Virginia Athletics:

Tucker Stephenson brings in undeniable potential to WVU | The Daily Athenaeum
Many freshmen need time to adjust to the collegiate scene, but for the case of West Virginia freshman sensation Tucker Stephenson, it’s been as seamless as ever.

Swim and dive begins preseason practice | The Daily Athenaeum
With the 2015-16 season around the corner in October, the West Virginia University women’s swimming and diving team began preseason practice this week.

Sunahara Anxious to Get Started at WVU | WVU Athletics
New West Virginia University coach Reed Sunahara has a simple formula for building a Mountaineer volleyball program that is still seeking its first NCAA tournament appearance in program history - recruit, recruit and recruit some more.

Around The League

Around The Big 12:

Brothers bonded for life: Josh Stewart & J.W. Walsh's story | Sporting News
College football season is just around the corner, and for a pair of Oklahoma State football players, this game has been the constant that has bonded them for life.

Men of many hats: Versatility's the word for Tech linebackers, defensive backs | Red Raiders
Time will tell if new Texas Tech defensive coordinator David Gibbs demands that players be versatile or if he simply inherited a group he thinks might have an aptitude for it. Whichever the case, at least a half dozen prominent players in the Red Raiders’ back seven have spent the spring and preseason practice preparing to play more than one spot.

Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph inspires confidence in teammates | ESPN
Mason Rudolph has already been anointed the next great quarterback at Oklahoma State. The sophomore’s impressive three-game stretch to end the 2014 season has earned him praise and even landed his name on lists of longshot Heisman contenders.

Around The NCAA:

You should watch North Dakota State vs. Montana, college football's real 2015 opener | SBNation
NDSU is one of the most dominant teams in the history of football. You should see the Bison take on Bob Stitt's wild Grizzlies offense.

Hurricane Katrina & Les Miles at 10: Still Weathering the Storm | And The Valley Shook
Looking back on the dawn of the Les Miles Era through the eye of a hurricane.

What if the entire BCS era had a Playoff committee instead? Each season's tough choices | SBNation
Much of the time, the committee would've ended up arguing about one Playoff spot, not four. Just as it did in 2014.

Daniel Tosh still bitter about Nick Saban's departure from the Dolphins | Sporting News
No one knows Nick Saban better than Nick Saban, except for maybe Comedy Central funny man Daniel Tosh. A new Saban biography was released recently, so who better than Tosh do a bit of fact-checking?

Steve Sarkisian does up-downs as punishment for conduct at Salute to Troy | Sporting News
USC football coach Steve Sarkisian appears to have taken his first steps toward treatment by accepting punishment — from his players — for his conduct last week at the school's Salute to Troy event, where he slurred words and let loose an expletive to boosters and fans.

West Virginia Pros

Colts Punter Pat McAfee Makes Fun Of Russell Wilson’s ‘Miracle Water’ With Tweet, Remains Biggest Bro In The NFL | BroBible
Take a seat, Gronk. Time and time again, Colts punter Pat McAfee proves that he's the biggest Bro in the NFL. Need proof? Here, here, here, here, and here.

Scooter Berry Overcomes Injury to Play for AFL Title | WV Illustrated
Scooter Berry clutched a conference championship trophy, a smile spread across his face. It was a photo of a moment that one year ago would have only been found in his dreams.

Video Of Interest

Miss Throwdown

Today's Miss Throwdown is rumored to be the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model. CLICK HERE for Charlotte McKinney's Instagram.