Virginia
OFFICIAL: West Virginia Signs Kent State Wide Receiver Transfer
![OFFICIAL: West Virginia Signs Kent State Wide Receiver Transfer OFFICIAL: West Virginia Signs Kent State Wide Receiver Transfer](https://www.si.com/.image/t_share/MTk1MTM5MzU0OTkyMDYwMTMw/screen-shot-2023-01-13-at-14540-pm.png)
Former Kent State do-it-all menace, Ja’Shaun Poke fills two main wants for West Virginia – large receiver and kick returner. The Mountaineers have misplaced their high 4 receivers from the 2022 season as Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Sam James entered the 2023 NFL Draft whereas Kaden Prather and Reese Smith bolted for the portal.
James dealt with the kick return duties this previous season returning 11 kicks for 204 yards. Poke returned 14 kicks for 411 yards, averaging practically 30 yards per return whereas additionally hauling in 31 receptions for 362 yards and a landing. Relying on what different additions are made to the WVU receiver room, Poke may see an elevated position on offense.
Poke could have only one 12 months of eligibility remaining.
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Virginia
White House Wants an Extra $2B for FY24 Virginia-class Subs, Attack Boats Pair Cost $11.3B
![White House Wants an Extra B for FY24 Virginia-class Subs, Attack Boats Pair Cost .3B White House Wants an Extra B for FY24 Virginia-class Subs, Attack Boats Pair Cost .3B](https://news.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/VPM_firing_undersea.jpg)
Virginia
Virginia Football: Players to Watch in UVA’s Road Matchup Against Wake Forest
![Virginia Football: Players to Watch in UVA’s Road Matchup Against Wake Forest Virginia Football: Players to Watch in UVA’s Road Matchup Against Wake Forest](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4138,h_2327,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/cavaliers_now/01j6ytbmr7zce8k3xaby.jpg)
After a solid performance against Richmond, Virginia football drives down to Winston-Salem to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Here are our players to watch as the Cavaliers look to go 2-0:
#10 Anthony Colandrea – Quarterback, Virginia
In his first game of the season Colandrea played a near perfect game against Richmond throwing for 297 yards and two touchdowns with a 73.9 completion percentage in a game that was easily won. Against Wake Forest, Colandrea is going to need to be even sharper as the Wake defense will be a big step up in competition. The Demon Deacons return only five members of their secondary so it will be important for the Cavaliers to take advantage of that unit still discovering their chemistry. Watch to see if Colandrea throws the ball down the middle more as that was something the Cavaliers did not do much last week.
#15 Chico Bennett Jr. – DE, Virginia
The defensive line struggled last week against Richmond, only recording one sack. We’ve said it a bunch on this website that in 2022, Chico Bennett Jr. had seven sacks, which was momentous for the Virginia defense. The Wake Forest offensive line ranked 8th in the FBS last year and if the Cavaliers are going to win, Bennett Jr. and the other UVA pass rushers needs to disrupt the flow of the slow mesh offense.
#8 Malachi Fields – WR, Virginia
The senior from Charlottesville put on a show last Saturday night with five catches for 100 yards to achieve his first-ever 100-yard game in the blue and orange. If Colandrea and this offense want to continue to have success, Fields will need to assert himself early in this game to allow the Cavaliers to keep pace with a talented Wake Forest offense.
#9 Hank Bachmeier – Quarterback, Wake Forest
Bachmeier leads the charge for the Demon Deacons after playing a year at Louisiana Tech and four years at Boise State, a true product of the transfer portal. In his debut against North Carolina A&T, he went 18/28 for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Bachmeier is a pocket passer with an impressive arm and quick release which will be a step up from facing Kyle Wickersham last week against Richmond. To add, Wake Forest had the fourth highest rated offensive line in the power five last year according to Pro Football Focus and with three starters returning to that group Bachmeier should have plenty of time in the pocket.
#1 Demond Claiborne – Running Back, Wake Forest
Claiborne is once again the starting tailback for Wake Forest after leading the team with a career-high 620 rushing yards and five touchdowns. In the season opener, Claiborne further solidified his talent in the backfield with 135 rushing yards, one touchdown and a 48-yard rush. Claiborne also serves as a kick returner for the Demon Deacons and recorded one touchdown last year against Virginia Tech.
#2 Taylor Morin – Wide Receiver, Wake Forest
Pairing the explosive running back in Claiborne, Morin is a speedy wide receiver who recorded 41 catches for 617 yards and two receiving touchdowns last season. In his first game in 2024, Morin recorded six catches for 100 yards in addition to a 73 yard punt return touchdown.
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Virginia
West Virginia Still Gets Some Love in Newest AP Top 25 Poll
![West Virginia Still Gets Some Love in Newest AP Top 25 Poll West Virginia Still Gets Some Love in Newest AP Top 25 Poll](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1805,h_1015,x_942,y_305/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/mountaineers_now/01j6td9j5et7yb3rp8ae.jpg)
West Virginia was beaten soundly last Saturday against Penn State at home, 34-12. Despite the lopsided season-opener, the Mountaineers are still receiving two votes in the newest AP Top 25 poll. This is likely a nod to how good Penn State is and a couple of voters believe WVU will bounce back and still have a strong season.
The Mountaineers will look to get back on track this week with a home date with FCS opponent, Albany. West Virginia is 24-0 all-time against teams from the FCS level.
Here is this week’s AP Top 25 poll:
Last week: vs. Clemson W 34-4
This week: vs. Tennessee Tech
Last week: vs. Akron W 52-6
This week: vs. Western Michigan
Last week: vs. Colorado State W 52-0
This week: at Michigan
Last week: vs. Western Kentucky W 63-0
This week: vs. South Florida
Last week: at Texas A&M W 23-13
This week: vs. Northern Illinois
Last week: vs. Furman W 76-0
This week: vs. Middle Tenessee State
Last week: vs. Idaho W 24-14
This week: vs. Boise State
Last week: at West Virginia W 34-12
This week: vs. Bowling Green
Last week: vs. Murray State W 51-0
This week: vs. Buffalo
Last week: vs. Fresno State W 30-10
This week: vs. Texas
Last week: vs. Southern Utah W 49-0
This week: vs. Baylor
Last week: at Florida W 41-17
This week: vs. Florida A&M
Last week: vs. USC W 27-20
This week: vs. Utah State
Last week: vs. Chattanooga W 69-3
This week: vs. NC State
Last week: vs. Temple W 51-3
This week: vs. Houston
Last week: vs. South Dakota State W 44-20
This week: vs. Arkansas
Last week: vs. UT Martin W 41-6
This week: at Tulane
Last week: vs. USC L 20-27
This week: vs. Nicholls
Last week: vs. Lindenwood W 48-3
This week: at Illinois
Last week: vs. New Mexico W 61-39
This week: vs. Northern Arizona
Last week: vs. Illinois State W 40-0
This week: vs. Iowa State
Last week: vs. Austin Peay W 62-0
This week: vs. Jacksonville State
Last week: vs. Georgia State W 35-12
This week: at Syracuse
Last week: vs. Western Carolina W 38-21
This week: vs. Tennessee
Last week: vs. Georgia L 3-34
This week: vs. App State
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
Texas A&M 97, Boston College 49, Boise St. 47, Iowa St. 32, Memphis 27, Nebraska 27, SMU 23, Washington 20, Liberty 12, Vanderbilt 8, Wisconsin 8, Auburn 8, Tulane 4, North Carolina 4, UTSA 3, Appalachian St. 3, Kentucky 2, West Virginia 2, Arkansas 2, UNLV 1, Colorado 1.
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