West Virginia's Kyzir White Staking His Claim As A Starter

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

Football:

Physical Kyzir White stakes claim at Spur safety | WV MetroNews
From the moment KJ Dillon played his final snap for West Virginia in last January’s Cactus Bowl, the Spur position seemed Kyzir White’s to lose. And White didn’t arrive on campus until May.

WVU safeties moving forward in Dravon Askew-Henry’s absence | Charleston Gazette-Mail
It has been 16 days since West Virginia’s best defensive player was lost for the season to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. No one feels better about what happened to free safety Dravon Askew-Henry in practice Aug. 10. No one feels better about the months of long and sometimes painful rehabilitation the junior faces. But the team’s mood has improved as it relates to moving on without the 2013 freshman All-American.

WVU’s Dana Holgorsen among college coaches entering 2016 season on the hot seat | Charleston Gazette-Mail
To consider Les Miles on the dreaded hot seat at LSU entering this season suggests a lot about job security among college football coaches these days — especially those in the Southeastern Conference. Around the country, several other coaches enter the season in need of some wins and a change of trajectory to keep their jobs.

Around The Big XII:

2016 season preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders | ESPN
Behind QB Patrick Mahomes, the Red Raiders are hopeful they can become a factor in the Big 12 race for the first time in eight years.

2016 season preview: TCU Horned Frogs | ESPN
TCU enters another season with high expectations, and will need strong play from QB Kenny Hill and a win vs. Oklahoma to reach its lofty goals.

2016 season preview: Texas Longhorns | ESPN
Texas coach Charlie Strong has another roster filled with young talent, but needs it to mature in time to hold up against a tough early schedule.

Around The NCAA:

Hey, new College Football Playoff rankings will come out during the middle of Election Night | SBNation
Prepare for the hollering-est night in the history of the internet.

Alabama's 2016's projected best team, but Clemson's got the best Playoff chances | SBNation
College football's back! Let's crunch some numbers.

Why we love the silly, irrational, ridiculous, beautiful world of college football | SBNation
In this excerpt from his book, SB Nation's Bill Connelly, along with other college football experts, details what makes the sport, and everything that surrounds it, so special.

Why are Cal and Hawaii opening the college football season in Australia? | SBNation
California took a 14-hour flight just to get to its season opener. So why the trip Down Under?

East Mississippi CC assistant Clint Trickett talks 'Last Chance U' | ESPN
Former West Virginia and Florida State quarterback Clint Trickett entered the coaching business last year as quarterbacks coach at East Mississippi Community College. And his first season was a doozy. The Netflix documentary "Last Chance U" went behind the scenes for EMCC's insane 2015 season as the team chased its third consecutive NJCAA national championship.

No. 6 WVU Opens Home Slate with Top-10 Battle | WVU Athletics
The No. 6-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team opens its 2016 home season at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium this weekend with a pair of matches. The Mountaineers (1-0-1) kick the weekend off against No. 8-ranked Clemson (2-0) on Friday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m., before hosting Saint Francis (0-2) on Sunday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m.

Softball Game Set For Friday | WVU Athletics
Mountaineer fans are invited to Monongalia County Ballpark on Friday, Aug. 26 for the third annual WVU men’s basketball charity slow pitch softball game.

Men's Soccer Season Begins vs. Pair of Top-15 Teams | WVU Athletics
The West Virginia University men’s soccer team opens the 2016 season with a pair of neutral site contests against two top-15 opponents in Akron, Ohio, this weekend. The season kicks off on Friday, Aug. 26, as WVU faces No. 14 Seattle at 4:30 p.m. ET. The opening weekend concludes vs. No. 10 Georgetown on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both contests will take place at Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs. Cal Golden Bears
Tonight at 10PM on ESPN. Hawaii and Cal are traveling to the land down under to bring us the first official college football game of the 2016 season. FOOTBALL BACK

Ok, so it's not a video, but IT'S TIME TO GET HYPE

Run The Jewels is the best.

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Swedish-Australian-Indian Victoria's Secret Angel, and Playboy's Miss September 2016. CLICK HERE for Kelly Gale's Instagram.