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Karl Joseph Evolving As A Tackler

West Virginia safety Karl Joseph, the Big 12's fiercest hitter, savors a reputation he built blow-by-bruising blow over the past three seasons. Improving his NFL draft stock, however, might mean fewer highlight hits as a senior.

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

News Of Note

Football:

Karl Joseph on quest to be surer tackler | WV MetroNews
Marquis Goodwin lying knocked out on the turf at Texas. Oklahoma’s Justin Brown playing the body in a body-slam. BJ Catalon stumbling toward TCU’s sideline with a concussion. All made wobbly by one missile of a man: West Virginia safety Karl Joseph.

Howard looks to prove doubters wrong as starter | The Daily Athenaeum
West Virginia University’s football team will be led not only by head coach Dana Holgorsen, but by new junior quarterback Skyler Howard on Saturdays.

Skyler Howard Carrying ‘Potato-Sized’ Chip on His Shoulder | WV Illustrated
Tuesday’s media session was filled with WVU coaches and players speaking on topics ranging from the defensive game plan against Georgia Southern’s potent rushing attack, all the way to punter Nick O’Toole’s uncanny ability to grow a beard that rivals the actual Mountaineer mascot. And then quarterback Skyler Howard was asked about his confidence.

WVU cornerbacks, receivers learn from one another in practice | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Only during practice plays are West Virginia’s cornerbacks and receivers enemies. Any other time they are together, teammates trying to help one another get better.

WVU, Baylor, Big 12 and learning lessons | Charleston Gazette-Mail
WVU athletic director Shane Lyons spent Monday and Tuesday of this week at Big 12 meetings in New Orleans. The league has a partnership with the Sugar Bowl, which hosted a dinner, and it was a good time for the ADs to get their heads together. In fact, the timing couldn’t have been better.

WVU's Surefire, Splashy Players Talk Opener | Blue Gold News
West Virginia has both proven and promising talent. Here, both are on display as proven commodities like Daikiel Shorts and Daryl Worley, as well as a promising talent in Xavier Preston, discuss camp and dissect their own games, as well as the initial opponent in Georgia Southern.

Elijah Wellman Vying For Solid Contributions | Blue Gold News
With little more than a week left until the season opener, West Virginia's position battles are reaching their final stages and the depth chart is beginning to shake itself out. But there's one player - and one position - that seems as locked as any, and that's due to a state native.

West Virginia Athletics:

WVU Hosts Navy, USF in Season Opener | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University men’s soccer team opens the 2015 season at home this weekend vs. Navy and San Francisco. The Mountaineers welcome the Midshipmen to Morgantown on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. before WVU closes the weekend against the Dons on Sunday at Noon at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

No. 11/15 WVU Prepped for Busy Weekend | WVU Athletics
The No. 11/15 West Virginia University women’s soccer team concludes its season-opening road trip on Friday, Aug. 28, at Maryland, before opening its 2015 home season at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 30, against Duquesne.

Mountaineers to Open Season at Michigan Invite | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University volleyball team will open the season and kick off the Reed Sunahara era this weekend when the Mountaineers head to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Michigan Invitational this weekend. The team will face Oakland on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Cliff Keen Arena before taking on George Washington (11 a.m.) and Michigan (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday.

WVU has bright future in 20th season of soccer | The Daily Athenaeum
Coming home from Indiana this weekend, the Mountaineers have a lot to look forward to. Despite finishing the Hoosier Classic with a 1-1 record and a drop in the rankings, there is nothing but optimism for this team.

Around The League

Around The Big 12:

SHUTDOWN FULLCAST 3.17: THE BIG 12 EPISODE - Every Day Should Be Saturday
is week's Shutdown Fullcast covers the Big 12, a conference of such astonishing depth and interest we didn't have time to get to reader questions. We'll double down on them next week, but we apologize: Iowa State is JUST that fascinating.

Outrageous College Football Predictions for the Big 12 in 2015 | AthlonSports.com
Every season of college football starts out the same way. We have all of these things that we think are knowns — lead-pipe locks as one popular radio host calls them. Then, by midseason, we're all wrong, sitting around wondering what happened to all that we thought was written in stone.

Yes, Kirk Herbstreit is picking Oklahoma Sooners to make the playoff | ESPN
ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit turned heads across the Big 12 Thursday morning -- especially those in Norman, Oklahoma.

Around The NCAA:

Yes, coaches might actually be able to fine college athletes. But they shouldn't. | SBNation
If the NCAA wants to insist athletes aren't employees, maybe it should stop this right now.

Cincinnati might withhold cost of attendance money for rules violations | Sporting News
Cincinnati's football players can receive more than $7,000 annually in "cost of attendance" benefits, but bad behavior could cost them.

Bud Foster joins Tommy Tuberville in wanting to dock players cost of attendance money | Sporting News
Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville is considering withholding some cost-of-attendance money for off-the-field violations, and Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said Wednesday that the Hokies are considering the same thing.

College Football's Top 30 Defensive Backfields for 2015 | AthlonSports.com
Finding and evaluating cornerbacks and safeties is one of the most difficult jobs for any college football coaching staff. Competition level and a variety of offenses in high school create a several obstacles in player evaluation. But for some programs, finding the next stars at defensive back is an easy task.

College Football 2015 Conference, Playoff and National Championship Predictions | AthlonSports.com
The start of college football’s 2015 season is less than 10 days away. The 2015 season officially begins on Thursday, Sept. 3 and ends on Jan. 11 with the national championship in Glendale, Ariz. The first season of the College Football Playoff was a huge success and the second year should have just as much intrigue.

How will new QB starters fare in 2015? | SI.com
Fall camp means many things in college football, but quarterback battles often take center stage. Some coaches prefer to tab new starters during spring practice. Others wait until days before kickoff. Either way, a number of new quarterbacks across the country will undoubtedly steal the spotlight thisyear.

Tennessee WR Pig Howard suspended for opener | Sporting News
Tennessee's top returning receiver from last season will sit out the Vols opener against Bowling Green, Butch Jones announced Thursday.

Video Of Interest

Our very own SmithFire13 previewed the upcoming season with MarkRogersTV

Miss Throwdown

Today's Miss Throwdown is a model/actress that has appeared in Maxim, numerous Comedy Central shows, and Two and a Half Men. CLICK HERE for Caitlin O'Connor's Instagram.