The Shotgun/Throwdown (5/7/19): Mountaineer Coaching Staff is Working to Dominate In-State Recruiting

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

Football

WVU recruiting: In-state prospects have Mountaineers high on their lists | WVU Gameday | wvgazettemail.com
When new WVU football coach Neal Brown arrived in Morgantown back in January, he and his staff made recruiting the Mountain State a top priority for the program. The Mountaineer coaching staff has followed through on that promise this spring.

WV MetroNews Running back shaping up as West Virginia's strongest position in 2019 - WV MetroNews
There's little question which position Neal Brown considers his strongest in his first year at West Virginia.

James Heads Into 2019 As One of the Next Guys Up At Receiver - West Virginia University Athletics
It's a regular deal in college football. When one player leaves the program another guy has to take his place. At West Virginia, life after standout wide receivers David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr. is about to fall onto the shoulders of players such as junior T.J. Simmons and youngster Sam James.

WVU football: Offensive lineman Michael Brown makes big strides for Mountaineers | WVU Gameday | wvgazettemail.com
WVU offensive lineman Michael Brown never even played high school football, and now he is making great progress as a Mountaineer.

WV MetroNews Junior college offensive lineman John Hughes signs with West Virginia - WV MetroNews
West Virginia filled its need for another offensive lineman by signing a Texas junior college product.

WV MetroNews Where Neal Brown will look after QB Beau Allen pledges to Kentucky - WV MetroNews
West Virginia missed out on a talented quarterback who wanted to stay home, but other options remain available. Let's take a look at a couple other quarterback candidates that West Virginia is trying to impress.

Baseball

Manoah named National Pitcher of the Month by NCBWA
After having an incredible month in April, Alek Manoah has been recognized as the National Pitcher of the Month by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

West Virginia Basebal Falls, But Stays Ranked After TCU Series - The Smoking Musket
A tough series against a down, but still good Horned Frog team saw the Mountaineers fall in this week’s rankings.

WV MetroNews Morale boost: Darius Hill's walkoff HR helps Mountaineers avoid sweep - WV MetroNews
West Virginia scored five times in its final three at-bats to beat TCU on Sunday.

West Virginia Athletics

2018-19 Season Review - West Virginia University Athletics
The West Virginia rifle team ended its 2018-19 season with many accomplishments. For the first time ever, the Mountaineers hosted the NCAA Rifle Championships at the WVU Coliseum and finished second overall.

WVU’s NCAA Bid a Major Step for Golf Program - West Virginia University Athletics
West Virginia has made it, this representing the program's most significant step since its rebirth after WVU joined the Big 12. WVU coach Sean Covich has been a part of NCAA Tournament teams as an assistant coach at Mississippi State, but this one holds extra-special meaning to him.

Mountaineers Win 10 in Regular-Season Finale - West Virginia University Athletics
The West Virginia track and field team closed the 2019 outdoor regular season by earning 10 wins at the Mountaineer Open this past weekend.

Rowing Selects Award Winners for 2018-19 - West Virginia University Athletics
Eight members of the West Virginia rowing team earned awards at the team's annual banquet on Sunday.

Meet the Mountaineers: Marielena Somoza - West Virginia University Athletics
Throughout the spring semester, Mountaineer fans will have the unique opportunity to get acquainted with the West Virginia volleyball team. Next up is Marielena Somoza.

Grading the Fits of West Virginia's Draftees - The Smoking Musket
The 2019 NFL Draft featured five Mountaineers and saw a handful more sign with teams as free agents. Let's take a look at who landed in the best situations.

Former Mountaineers earn Women's World Cup roster spots
Two alumni of WVU women's socceer have earned roster spots in the 2019 Women's World Cup, and there could be more former Mountaineers also joining World Cup rosters.

Around the Big 12

Georgia, Oklahoma Announce Huge Non-Conference Series
Oklahoma and Georgia are two of the top programs in the country and have reached new heights in the last two years. On Monday, a deal between the two teams for a home-and-home series was announced.

Sooners Earn Eighth Straight Big 12 Title - The Official Site of Oklahoma Sooner Sports
#1 Oklahoma softball claimed its eight consecutive Big 12 regular season title on Saturday night with a 3-0 victory over #12 Oklahoma State.

Texas baseball hits Big 12 rock bottom at Kansas
The Longhorns faced a must-win series against eighth place Kansas this weekend and are leaving Lawrence swept after a 10-6 loss in Sunday's series finale.

Around the NCAA

Hugh Freeze and Liberty: There might not be a better fit - SBNation.com
Hugh Freeze’s path takes him to Lynchburg, where he and Liberty should win quite a few games.

UMass football preview 2019: Walt Bell has a full-on Year Zero - SBNation.com
Walt Bell has been seen as an up-and-coming coach for years. At UMass, he’ll need to harness every bit of his potential.

By following the odds, Army has somehow broken my math - SBNation.com
Jeff Monken’s fourth-down friendly Black Knights should ride odds, a strong quarterback, and a cakey schedule to another big season in 2019.

Arizona didn’t pay Deandre Ayton enough - SBNation.com
As the second trial in the FBI’s college basketball corruption case continues in Manhattan, Deandre Ayton’s name has become synonymous with the black market perpetuated by wildly antiquated NCAA bylaws that continues to determine talent distribution in the sport.

Kentucky Derby results 2019: 65-1 longshot Country House upset is all-time bad beat for Maximum Security bettors - SBNation.com
The most exciting two minutes in sports turned into 25 minutes as controversy resulted in a huge upset at the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Pre-race favorite Maximum Security won the race, but was subsequently disqualified for straying from his lane.

Kawhi Leonard is the most earnest athlete in sports - SBNation.com
Kawhi Leonard’s entire being as the most modest, non-confrontational superstar in a league full of attention-seekers is as refreshing as it is surprising.

Big 3 teams, graded ahead of season 3 - SBNation.com
The Big 3 is entering its third season with four new teams and a talented group of incoming players joining the league for the first time. Play will kick off on June 22 when the Big 3 begins an expanded 18-city tour that now includes a broadcasting contract with CBS.

How Daniel Jones can develop into the franchise QB the Giants think he is - SBNation.com
Daniel Jones was widely considered a reach, but he can still end up a solid quarterback in the NFL.

All 23 players on the USWNT World Cup roster ranked by importance - SBNation.com
Everyone’s good, but a handful of stars will be counted on to perform at their best.

How can the XFL learn from the AAF mistakes? - SBNation.com
The XFL can learn from the AAF’s mistakes as it gets ready to open its league next year. Here are four lessons the XFL can take away from the catastrophe known as the AAF.

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