Welcome to The Shotgun/Throwdown, your daily West Virginia sports roundup (that we didn’t already talk about in another article) with some sophomoric humor and daily distractions thrown in for good measure. And if there’s something we missed, be sure to talk about it in the comments.
MOVING THE CHAINS
West Virginia ran through an 80-play scrimmage on Saturday, the last big checkpoint before the focus fully shifts to Robert Morris. The younger guys got most of the work as Rich Rod and his staff start trimming the roster
and setting scout teams by the time classes begin Wednesday. Rodriguez said the defense looked solid, but there were still too many unforced errors that need cleaned up.
The outside receivers showed some juice, with Jordan McCants, Christian Hamilton, and Cyrus Traugh all making contested grabs and hauling in deep touchdowns. Rodriguez stressed these scrimmages aren’t about winning or losing, but about figuring out who’s ready. He and his coaches will spend the next few days putting together “answer sheets” — the game-day plan that sets assignments and rotations — while narrowing reps to the guys who’ll play early.
With students back in town, Rodriguez reminded his team to be smart off the field too. “Town is going to get packed, people know who the football players are. We tell them, ‘don’t be an idiot,’” he said. With a roster loaded with seniors, Rodriguez feels like this group has the maturity to stay locked in as game week approaches.
MOUNTAINEER ROUNDUP
- Rich Rodriguez says WVU has plenty of ways to guard against sign stealing, from quick huddles and changing signal callers to mixing up play signals. With tempo as both a risk and an advantage, Rodriguez noted the Mountaineers can use “bait calls” to throw defenses off.
- WVU is moving to first-come, first-served student seating at home football games. The first 2,200 students through the east gate will get wristbands for lower-level sections 109 and 110, with the rest seated in upper sections 205-211 or lower section 121.
- Inside receivers coach Logan Bradley is settling into his first season at WVU, praising Rich Rodriguez’s fast-paced offense and the depth of his slot receivers. Bradley highlighted Rodney Gallagher, Oran “Man Man” Singleton, and Jarod Bowie as a trio capable of changing games with their playmaking ability.
- Nickel/Sam assistant coach Henry Weinreich is leaning on his chemistry degree to coach the nickel/sam spot. He says football isn’t always black and white — sometimes you have to “win in the gray” when a block or route isn’t perfectly defined — so he focuses on teaching concepts instead of memorization
- Fan day has been rescheduled for Friday, Aug. 22, from 4:45–5:45 p.m. at the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility. Rich Rodriguez, his staff, and players will sign autographs, with each fan limited to one item. Posters and magnets for the 2025 season will also be available.
- Ross Hodge announced the signing of Evans Barning Jr., a 6-foot-7 forward from Toronto. Barning played at Archbishop Carroll in D.C., where he averaged 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds and posted several double-doubles, including 20 and 11 against Concordia Prep. He also played AAU for Team Durant in the Nike EYBL, finishing with a 29-point game against Bradley Beal Elite.
- Kickoff times have changed for Thursday’s soccer doubleheader at Dick Dlesk. The men will now face Manhattan at 3:30 p.m., followed by the women taking on Akron at 7:30 p.m.
- WVU tennis has announced its 2025 fall schedule, highlighted by a home appearance at the Martha Thorn Invitational in Morgantown on Oct. 3-5. The Mountaineers also compete in the Bedford Cup, Thunder in the Mountains, the Wahoowa Invite, and the ITA Atlantic Regional. The roster features three returners led by grad student Julie Bousseau, along with four newcomers.
CROOTIN’
- Rich Rodriguez has added another piece to the 2025 roster with the commitment of junior college offensive lineman Jude Edwards. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Texas native played last season at Trinity Valley CC, earning preseason All-America recognition, and can play center or guard. He becomes the sixth newcomer since the start of camp.
MOUNTAINEERS IN THE PROS
- Garrett Greene continues to make his case with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching all three of his targets for 25 yards in a preseason win over Pittsburgh. The former WVU quarterback now has five grabs in two games as he pushes for a roster or practice squad spot. Beanie Bishop added a tackle and pass breakup for Tampa Bay in the same game.
- David Sills V — who famously committed to USC as a quarterback as a 7th grader — is making a push for a roster spot with the Falcons. He caught two passes on the opening drive against Tennessee before being held out the rest of the game — a sign coaches already know what he can offer. Sills earned a team-best 90.8 PFF grade in limited snaps.
- Kole Taylor was among the players the Jets brought in for workouts last week. While most of the headlines focused on the team’s search for veteran quarterbacks after Tyrod Taylor’s knee surgery, New York also kicked the tires on Taylor, who’s looking for a shot to stick on an NFL roster.
- This one slipped under the radar on me, but Erik Stevenson has signed with Casademont Zaragoza in Spain. Stevenson spent last season with the Capital City Go-Go in the G League, averaging 16.2 points in 46 games, and also played summer league with the Miami Heat.
- Ryan Bergert turned in another solid outing for the Royals, striking out seven over 5.1 innings in Sunday’s win against the White Sox. Bergert owns a 2.75 ERA this season
AROUND THE LEAGUE (AND BEYOND)
- ESPN reports the Big Ten has floated an idea to expand the College Football Playoff to as many as 24 or 28 teams, eliminating conference title games and giving heavy auto bids to the power leagues. In a 28-team model, the Big Ten and SEC would each get seven bids, the ACC and Big 12 five apiece, plus two for non-Power 4 conferences and two at-larges.
- Michael Vick is back in the 757 as Norfolk State’s new head coach, taking over a program with just one winning season since 2011. The former NFL star has reshaped the roster with 42 new players, will be featured in a BET docuseries this fall, and says his focus is on building discipline and culture. Vick has been open with his players about his past mistakes, calling his journey one of resilience and second chances as he works to elevate the Spartans in the MEAC.
VIDEO(S) OF INTEREST
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