The Shotgun/Throwdown (8/17/18): West Virginia has top five potential, according to Joel Klatt

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

Football

FoxSports expert Joel Klatt says West Virginia has top five potential | EerSports
FoxSports college football expert Joel Klatt is running through his preseason Top25 this month. The former college quarterback has been a big proponent of West Virginia football in recent years, and this is no different, naming the Mountaineers No. 19 heading into the year.

Lyons confirms Duquesne will fill FCS slot on 2023 football schedule | WV MetroNews
West Virginia has finalized its 2023 nonconference football schedule by adding FCS opponent Duquesne, athletics director Shane Lyons confirmed Thursday.

Grier Named to Manning Award Watch List | West Virginia Athletics
West Virginia University football redshirt senior and Heisman Trophy Award candidate quarterback Will Grier was named to The Manning Award Watch List, announced Thursday by the organization.

Where does Leddie Brown fit into WVU’s 2018 plans? | WV MetroNews
For the past two seasons he has been the top-ranked high school running back in Delaware and then Pennsylvania. Soon we’ll see where Leddie Brown fits in at West Virginia.

With No. 16 off his back, WVU's Avery set for breakout | Charleston Gazette-Mail
When it comes to WVU’s secondary, one thing is certain.Toyous isn’t playing around in 2018.

Basketball

WVU men's basketball player Wesley Harris facing battery charges | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Wesley Harris, who started every game for WVU’s Sweet 16 basketball team last season, is facing misdemeanor battery charges following a July 16 incident in Morgantown.

West Virginia Athletics

No. 9 Mountaineers Open Season Friday | West Virginia Athletics
The No. 9-ranked West Virginia University women's soccer team opens its 2018 season against No. 4 Penn State at Jeffrey Field on Friday, Aug. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

Tough test awaits WVU in regular season opener | WV Illustrated
WVU women’s soccer is about to open a new campaign against the team that ended its season last November. When the No. 9 Mountaineers take the field against No. 4 Penn State, that NCAA tournament defeat will be on the players’ minds.

WR Shelton Gibson Stays Hot Against Patriots | Philadelphia Eagles
This time, wide receiver Shelton Gibson kept the football. And he doesn’t want to let it go anytime soon.

Around the Big 12

What you need to know about the Big 12 | ESPN
Gearing you up for kickoff with the biggest conference games, strongest position groups, team with the most to prove and more around the Big 12.

Sam Ehlinger: “I 100-percent know” the Texas offense will improve | Burnt Orange Nation
Entering Year Two, the Longhorns quarterback has confidence that the offense will be better.

Baylor Football Announces Home-and-Home Series with Auburn in 2025 and 2026 | Our Daily Bears
2025 in Waco, 2026 at Auburn.

TCU, Ohio State and the wonderful world of star ratings | Frogs O' War
This wouldn’t mark the first time in 2018 that star ratings have become a headline around the Horned Frogs.

Around the NCAA

JT Daniels, the Next Great USC Trojans QB, Shouldn’t Even Be in College | The Ringer
The five-star recruit is currently battling to replace Sam Darnold as the Trojans starter. He should still be in high school math class. After reclassifying to begin his college career a year early, though, the prodigy is attempting not only to replace a legend, but to fend off failure so that he can become one himself.

I REALLY WISH THE NUMBERS ON OREGON’S NEW JERSEYS WERE BIGGER | SBNation
PRETTY HARD TO TELL WHICH PLAYER IS WHICH.

Notre Dame’s Yankees-themed alternate uniforms are sure to be polarizing | SBNation
You probably either love or hate one of these teams already, so why not both?

TO HELL WITH EVERY BIT OF THIS | Every Day Should Be Saturday
THE BRAVE ANONYMOUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOOSTER

Jordan McNair’s parents say DJ Durkin should be fired and ‘shouldn’t be able to work with anybody else’s kid’ | SBNation
McNair’s parents talked to Michael Strahan Thursday on Good Morning America, and are putting their words in action.

Investigation involving Urban Meyer 'finished when it's finished' | ESPN
The president of Ohio State University said the school's ongoing investigation involving the football program and coach Urban Meyer "will be finished when it's finished."

Not even Google algorithms understand Coach O | Red Cup Rebellion
Coach O’s accent gravel meets Google machinery.

TODAY’S FBS TEAM PREVIEW BY BILL C

As always, SB Nation’s Bill Connelly is working his way through every Division I FBS football team, from Georgia State to Alabama. Check out the teams Bill has already previewed by clicking HERE.

Nick Saban can’t keep this up forever ... right? | SBNation
The dynasty looked vulnerable in January and on Signing Day, but there’s no better 2018 Playoff bet. As usual.

NFL preseason 2018: Highlights and results from Week 2 | SBNation
Three games down, 13 more to go this weekend. Let’s get you caught up with what’s happened so far.

MLB misses a chance to prove a point by only suspending Jose Ureña 6 games for beaning Ronald Acuña Jr. | SBNation
This would have been the perfect chance for a culture shift.

John Elway -- Colin Kaepernick had chance to be with Denver Broncos, 'passed' | ESPN
If the Broncos decide to sign a veteran backup to quarterback Case Keenum, it won't be Colin Kaepernick. "He's had his chance to be here. He passed it," John Elway said Thursday.

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