Dana Holgorsen Wants West Virginia's Receivers To Become More Physical

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

Football:

What Dana Holgorsen is willing to say about West Virginia's receivers is they are the fastest he's been around in a career that's included three Biletnikoff Award winners and a lengthening line of professional pass-catchers. What he won't allow to be said of the same group is that they are the most physical group he's coached.

In his senior season, Darrien Howard is finally going to realize his dream of being a full-time starter, though a few years ago he never could have imagined it would be on the defensive line, or just how important his presence there would be.

Justin Arndt's fifth preseason camp at West Virginia reminds him how he barely withstood his first. Outsized and completely out of the running for practice reps—much less playing time—he was an invited walk-on who considered walking away. A high school football hero turned insignificant. Counting the list of linebackers ahead of him became a depressing practice ritual.

West Virginia Athletics:

The No. 6-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team will face Michigan in its lone home exhibition match of the 2016 season on Monday, Aug. 8, at 1 p.m., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.

It remains surreal for West Virginia University rifle team member Ginny Thrasher, so much that she still looks down every little bit at the gold medal now permanently in her possession, reminding herself that, yes, it really did happen. A year ago, she was getting used to college life. Now she has to get used to her new title — Olympic champion.

Although college coaches have turned most of their attention to their own teams and high school prospects around the country are preparing for their own preseason practices, August is still a big month for visits in the world of college football recruiting.

Around The Big XII:

As the Big 12 moves through expansion talks this summer, schools of different sizes and different chances of joining the league have made their interest known. While expansion frontrunners like BYU have put their cards on the table, so have long shots like East Carolina and SMU. You can now add New Mexico to the latter category.

Around The NCAA:

Vanderbilt faces a major opportunity in 2016, with a tremendous defense and an SEC East in flux. But the odds are pretty good that offensive deficiencies will again hold the Commodores back. And that's a shame, because the defense is bowl-worthy.

Barry Odom's first Tiger team should feature another great defense, but offensive line performance and the development of QB Drew Lock will dictate whether Mizzou bounces back from a chaotic 2015 with a bowl bid.

Maybe one of these DC Comics movie will eventually live up to the hype.

Today's Miss Throwdown is a Dutch model that has appeared in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and is now Playboy's Miss August 2016. CLICK HERE for Valerie van der Graaf's Instagram.