The Shotgun/Throwdown (9/27/18): Will Grier is a pro that just happens to be in college

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

Football

West Virginia’s Will Grier is a pro. He just happens to be in college. | The Washington Post
The nation's second-rated college quarterback is 23, a graduate, husband and father.

Aggression, cohesion help WVU defense make big plays | WV Illustrated
The West Virginia defense is ranked first nationally in a defensive statistic, but what is that statistic and how have the Mountaineers been able to outshine all other teams in that category?

Big 12 shootout between West Virginia, Texas Tech could be decided by defense | NCAA Football | Sporting News
Could the Mountaineer defense be the deciding factor in who comes out on top this weekend in Lubbock?

WVU receiver Marcus Simms emerging as every-down threat | Charleston Gazette-Mail
West Virginia receiver Marcus Simms is expanding his game, and the results have added another facet to an already serious WVU passing attack.

NCAA Week 4 Big 12 Team of the Week | NFL Draft news and analysis | Pro Football Focus
See which three Mountaineers made the Pro Football Focus Big 12 Team of the Week.

United Bank Playbook – Texas Tech Preview | West Virginia Athletics
Let's take a look at this week's matchup against Texas Tech.

Major test awaits Mountaineers in Lubbock | WV Illustrated
West Virginia’s newfound depth on defense is helping the team exactly the way the coaching staff had hoped.

Week 5 college football picks, games, odds: West Virginia, TCU, Washington on upset alert | CBSSports.com
Could the Mountaineers be on upset alert this weekend? And how will the rest of WVU's schedule play into Will Grier's Heisman chances?

West Virginia braces for Texas Tech’s latest passing sensation | WV MetroNews
Texas Tech freshman Alan Bowman has thrown for 1,557 yards and 10 touchdowns, so how can the Mountaineer defense prevent those numbers from increasing?

Basketball

Huggins: Mountaineers Have Strength In Numbers | West Virginia Athletics
The Press Virginia era could continue without Jevon Carter, if coach Huggins is able to use the team's depth to his advantage.

Excitement over West Virginia newcomers reminds of 2011’s cautionary tale | WV MetroNews
Bob Huggins has brought in a very exciting recruiting class for this basketball season, but there is still work to be done now that the newcomers have arrived.

Depth still strength as ‘Press Virginia’ opens preseason practice | WV MetroNews
Logan Routt returns to walk-on status, but he is one of 15 players Bob Huggins could use in waves this season.

WVU basketball notebook: Mountaineers nursing nagging injuries as practice opens | Charleston Gazette-Mail
It was a rough offseason for the West Virginia men’s basketball team in a physical sense, so the Mountaineers are already facing injury issues as practice begins this fall.

What the new Big 12 schedule means for West Virginia's basketball team | Dominion Post
The Mountaineers will be forced to make an additional trip for the Big 12 play this basketball season, as a result of road game scheduling.

West Virginia Athletics

2018-19 Preseason Notebook | West Virginia Athletics
The WVU rifle team starts the season ranked first in the nation and it will also open the season this Saturday in Akron, Ohio.

Mountaineers Jump Back into Rankings | West Virginia Athletics
A five match win streak has pushed the West Virginia women's soccer team back into the national rankings. The Mountaineers are now 23rd in the nation.

Around the Big 12

IS TEXAS BACK? WE INVESTIGATE | Every Day Should Be Saturday
A question that has plagued college football fans for years.

Vasher doubtful, so shuffle likely for Tech receivers | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Texas Tech might be without one of its main weapons when the #25 Red Raiders host #12 West Virginia this week.

Tech football player arrested on misdemeanors | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Texas Tech football wide receiver Myller Royals was arrested Friday on two misdemeanor charges after a traffic stop on campus by a Texas Tech Police Department officer.

Around the NCAA

Virginia Tech and Virginia lost football’s and basketball’s biggest 2018 upsets | SBNation
These upsets may have confirmed that West Virginia is the "Best Virginia."

Why 2018 Alabama is much more terrifying than usual | SBNation
Alabama is now built to win shootouts, which is one of the few things that could trip them up in the past.

How the FBI’s college basketball investigation impacted every school involved | SBNation
Twelve months after an FBI investigation rocked college basketball, the six programs directly implicated all appear to be thriving.

North Texas un-retires Joe Greene jersey with Coca-Cola commercial remake | SBNation
North Texas will be sporting throwback uniforms this weekend, and they found a creative way to announce it.

Vance McDonald’s beautiful stiff arm may have ended Chris Conte’s season | SBNation
Could this be one of the biggest plays of this NFL season?

Why Baker Mayfield is the QB the Browns can finally feel good about | SBNation
Baker Mayfield may not have the size or cannon arm, but the rookie quarterback can make plays. The Browns’ future has never been so bright.

2018 Ryder Cup pairings: Cocky Tiger Woods is back, may play with cockier Patrick Reed | SBNation
Tiger is a winner again and he’s back to strutting in the way a 14-time major winner should. Now it appears his partner will be the most precocious American Ryder Cupper of this generation.

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