West Virginia
Jackson one of several players set for increased role along defensive line – WV MetroNews
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia suffered its first significant injury hit of this season in Saturday’s 49-14 win against Albany.
Defensive lineman Edward Vesterinen was shaken up on a play halfway through the second quarter after he and Tyrin Bradley joined forces to bring down the Great Danes’ Faysal Aden for a 1-yard loss.
Vesterinen never returned to the contest, and after it, WVU head coach Neal Brown confirmed the team already magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results back, and that Vesterinen would “probably be out a few weeks.”
That starts with Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. affair at Pitt in the 107th edition of the Backyard Brawl from Acrisure Stadium.
Dating back to the start of the 2023 season, Vesterinen had started 15 straight games at defensive tackle. A native of Helsinki, Finland, the senior has appeared in 35 contests since 2021.
“We’ll miss Eddie and his leadership and the motor he plays with,” Brown said, “but we have guys up there.”
In his absence, Brown confirmed T.J. Jackson is set to get his first start as a Mountaineer.
A Troy transfer in his first season at WVU, Jackson has made a strong early impression. He recovered a fumble in the first quarter of a season-opening loss against Penn State. To this point, it’s the only turnover the Mountaineers have forced.
Jackson also has five tackles, including three for loss, and one sack.
“He’s probably been our most productive lineman through two weeks,” Brown said.
Defensive end Sean Martin and nose tackle Fatorma Mulbah figure to join Jackson on the first unit, though the Mountaineers will ask for more out of several other players — namely Asani Redwood and Hammond Russell.
“Asani Redwood’s reps will increase. Sean Martin has some flexibility to play the field and the boundary. He did that in the [Albany] game and we’ll continue to move him around,” Brown said. “Russell’s role will increase and I’ve been really pleased with how he’s played through two weeks. We hate it for Eddie, but we have enough guys that are quality players to be able to pick up the slack.”
Martin’s 79 defensive snaps through two games are the most of any player on the defensive line. Jackson has logged 65 and Redwood 58, while Russell has impressed through 54.
“We’re built very similar across the front in what we’re trying to do,” WVU defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley said. “TJ’s had two good games. We’ll just keep rolling.”
Jackson and Martin, with one sack apiece, have combined for all of the Mountaineers’ production in that area. West Virginia has struggled to affecting quarterbacks with any sort of consistency, and Brown hinted opportunities will also be available for less experienced players up front.
Several got the chance to showcase their capabilities against Albany, including a pair of true freshmen in Nate Gabriel and Elijah Kinsler.
Gabriel logged 25 snaps and Kinsler 18, while the duo combined for three tackles.
“Nate Gabriel is going to continue to play. We got him in the second or third series. He can play,” Brown said. “He’s big enough. He got some good push. Where Hammond has some position flexibility and he can play in the boundary as well, Nate can play the nose for us. I was pleased with him. Elijah Kinsler is another guy we got in. His role will have to increase if Eddie is going to miss any time.”
Regardless of which lineups the Mountaineers settle on along the defensive front, the unit as a whole will be tasked with trying to slow the Panthers’ newly-implemented fast-paced offense under first-year coordinator Kade Bell.
Bell spent the previous three seasons at Western Carolina, but his presence has changed Pitt’s offensive approach.
Early results are favorable, with the Panthers scoring 55 points in a season-opening win against Kent State, before overcome a 21-point deficit to rally for a 28-27 victory at Cincinnati in Week 2.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein, an Alabama transfer, has thrown for 638 yards and six touchdowns through his first two games as a Panther. Speedy tailback Desmond Reid has 293 rushing yards on only 33 carries.
“They’re playing really fast, using wide splits and they’re a little bit different each week,” Brown said. “The tempo is what sets them apart.”
West Virginia
Body found in Ohio River identified as Wheeling man, investigation continues
WHEELING, W.Va. — The West Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office in Charleston has confirmed the identity of the individual discovered in the Ohio River on Jan. 5 near the I-470 Bridge as 37-year-old George Zachary Lekanudos, of Wheeling.
Body found in Ohio River near I-470 bridge, cause of death unknown
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The Wheeling Police Department is continuing its investigation, and the cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
West Virginia
Milos Uzan’s 17 points leads No. 7 Houston in 77-48 win over West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia Online Casino Payout Methods: Best Withdrawal Options In 2026
Online casino revenue has never been higher in West Virginia.
That means plenty of customers are making deposits and playing games.
But, one of the keys to being among the top online casinos in West Virginia is having reliable and secure payout methods.
Online players need to know they will be able to receive their winnings in a timely and legal fashion. While iGaming platforms often promote their deposit methods, we’re taking a closer look at the available withdrawal options.
Top WV Online Casino Payout Methods
Options for withdrawing funds from a West Virginia online casino are a little more limited than deposit options.
Online casino operators are also slower to provide a withdrawal than a deposit, as they tend to review with payout to ensure the funds are going to the right person in a secured way.
Here’s a breakdown of the available withdrawal options for WV online casino players.
Online Banking
Online casinos typically use a company like Trustly to complete secure online banking transfers to make payouts.
This method will see the winnings deposited directly into the bank account that you provide.
Thousands of banks participate in these programs, so your bank is likely covered. Withdrawals can take 24 hours for online casinos to review, then 3-5 business days for your bank to process the funds.
eCheck/ACH
Most online casinos use VIP Preferred as a banking method option. This is a way to transfer funds through an electronic check that is done through ACH (Automated Clearing House). It’s the same option many companies use for making direct deposit payments to employees.
Electronic checks take 1-2 business days to be processed.
Debit Card
Debit cards are payment cards linked directly to your bank account. Most WV online casinos accept Visa and Mastercard from customers.
In many cases, the operator will require a user to make a deposit with the debit card before accepting any withdrawals being credited to the card. Payouts using a debit card will send the funds directly to your bank account.
Transactions using a debit card should appear in under 24 hours.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay is an option that is available. It is a virtual wallet that holds debit and credit cards for customers. It is a convenient option for iPhone users that use mobile online casino platforms.
Payouts using Apple Pay are typically reflected in under 24 hours.
PayPal
PayPal is a virtual wallet that users can attach their debit cards or bank accounts to.
Online casinos require customers to have a Personal or Premier PayPal account if they are looking to use it as a payout method.
Withdrawals using PayPal take 1-2 business days to appear in your account.
Venmo
Another virtual wallet option that is owned by PayPal, Venmo links a user’s bank account and banking cards.
Just one Venmo account is allowed per customer at a given WV online casino.
Venmo withdrawals take 1-2 business days to appear in your account.
Play+
Play+ is an account that customers fund and then use those funds for various things like online gaming or online gambling.
West Virginia iGamers can fund and make deposits to their Play+ account through online casinos. In order to get a payout with your Play+ account, you must first make a deposit using the same account.
Payouts using Play+ should appear in your account in 24-48 hours.
Cash at Casino
Some online casinos will work with their retail partners for deposit and withdrawals.
Users have the option to visit the participating the retail casino location, make a cash withdrawal from their online account based on the funds they have available.
For this option, customers will need to have a valid ID photo and a transaction ID number from the online casino.
Wire Transfer
A wire transfer moves funds electronically from one account to another. However, this method is typically used for large sums or international banking.
West Virginia online casinos require large minimums in order to make a withdrawal using this method. These minimums are thousands of dollars.
Wire transfers tend to take 1-2 business days to take effect.
Check by Mail
If no other options work for you, West Virginia online casinos in most cases are willing to send you a paper check with your winnings.
Most require a certain minimum amount in order to use this method. Checks can take up to 14 business days to reach a user once sent.
Drew Ellis has experience covering the gambling industries in North America and around the world. Decades of media experience provide him with the background to handle the complexities of different gambling laws and policies around the United States and North America. Ellis has primarily focused on online and retail casino news since 2021. Prior to working in the gambling industry, Ellis spent over 20 years in the newspaper industry, covering sports and the gambling. His work for The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun and The Oakland Press was recognized with awards by the Associated Press and other media organizations. Drew has also contributed to the Detroit Free Press and the Associated Press.
-
Montana4 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Technology1 week agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Delaware5 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX6 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Virginia4 days agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB
-
Education1 week agoVideo: This Organizer Reclaims Counter Space
-
Iowa1 week agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star