The West Virginia Mountaineers have a great opportunity to get that bad taste out of their mouth from the season-opening loss to Penn State by hosting the Albany Great Danes out of the FCS level.

This week’s game will kick off at approximately 6 p.m. EST on Big 12 Now/ESPN+ where Richard Cross and Barrett Brooks will serve as the play-by-play and color analyst. Brooks played his college ball at Kansas State and spent over ten years in the NFL as an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

WVU head coach Neal Brown’s hope and ultimate goal is to grab firm control of this one in the early going so that he and his staff can log a healthy chunk of reps to their reserves and walk-ons who probably won’t get to see much action throughout much of the season, if at all.

In their FCS game a year ago against Duquesne, walk-on wide receiver Hudson Clement busted out with five receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns which earned him a scholarship in the locker room shortly after the game. Although WVU may not have a walk-on on the verge of breaking out, they hope to find more depth along the defensive line, secondary, and tight end.

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2025 three-star guard CJ Shaw is targeting a visit to West Virginia next weekend, he told WV Sports Now on Thursday night. Shaw, 6-foot-4, added that he’s trying to confirm the visit officially.

Shaw is also in talks with UC Santa Barbara, Utah State, UNLV, New Mexico State and Saint Mary’s for visits as well.

2025 3-star guard CJ Shaw is targeting to visit West Virginia next week, he tells me

Shaw’s final six schools include Saint Mary’s, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, Utah State, WVU and Xavier pic.twitter.com/lRRmbPH28s

— Ethan Bock (@ethanbock_) September 5, 2024

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Shaw is a native of Las Vegas and currently attends Mojave High School while playing circuit ball for Vegas Elite. Shaw picked up an offer from West Virginia on July 16. The 2025 guard included West Virginia in his top six schools along with Saint Mary’s, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, Utah State and Xavier.

Shaw mentioned that WVU associated head coach Chester Frazier has been in talks with him during his recruitment.

“Wherever I go, I just want to enjoy the moment since it’s only once in a lifetime,” Shaw told WVSN.

“I’ll commit by November, for sure [before National Signing Day],” he added.

WVU hosted a pair of 2025 guards last weekend, including four-star guard Kelvin Odih. Odih enjoyed his time on campus while Morgantown was rumbling for the WVU-Penn State football game.

“Everything was great. I really enjoyed my time over there. The coaching staff was very welcoming,” Odih said to WVSN.

Odih went into detail about his visit, including conversations with Darian DeVries and Deuce McBride.

‘Everything Was Great’: 4-Star Kelvin Odih Recaps West Virginia Visit

WV Sports Now will continue to provide updates on West Virginia basketball recruiting news this offseason.

Robert R. “Rusty” Hutson Jr. (left) and Steven R. Ruby officially joined the WVU Board of Governors during a virtual Sept. 5 special meeting. Their respective Board terms run through June 30, 2028.
(WVU Graphic)

A transformative business leader with deep West Virginia roots and a former federal prosecutor and veteran of nationally noted cases are the two newest members of the West Virginia University Board of Governors. Robert R. “Rusty” Hutson Jr. and Steven R. Ruby joined the BOG for a special meeting held virtually Thursday (Sept. 5). 

Hutson has been appointed to a term ending June 30, 2028, and succeeds Taunja Willis-Miller. A Harrison County native, Hutson began his career in banking and founded Diversified Energy in 2001, and under his leadership the company has grown to global prominence. Hutson was named 2019 West Virginia Oil and Gas Man of the Year and his strategic vision, commitment to excellence, impact on the Mountain State’s economic landscape and focused philanthropy earned him a place in the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame in 2023.

“I am committed to helping build a stronger West Virginia for future generations and I am honored to serve as a member of the WVU Board of Governors and the State’s flagship, land-grant University,” Hutson said.

Ruby also joins the BOG for a term ending June 30, 2028, and succeeds Tom Jones. A lawyer with a long and distinguished career, Ruby is currently with the Charleston-based firm Carey Douglas Kessler & Ruby PLLC. He is a sixth-generation West Virginian who began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Robert B. King of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, then worked at one of the nation’s top litigation firms before returning home to serve as a federal prosecutor. Since leaving public service, Ruby’s practice spans civil litigation, criminal defense, gaming regulation, and state and federal administrative law.

“I can think of no greater privilege than to have the opportunity to be a steward of West Virginia University, becoming part of its rich history and helping to steer it toward a brighter future,” Ruby said.

Dr. Patrice Harris, BOG vice-chair, has also been reappointed to the Board by Gov. Jim Justice for a term ending June 30, 2028. Harris also serves as chair of the Presidential Search Committee which is conducting Listening Sessions this month to gain insights and feedback from University stakeholders as part of the search for the next WVU president.

Lesley Cottrell and Charlie Long began their respective terms as Faculty and Student representatives.

The Board approved committee structures and other board assignments for 2024-2025 during Thursday’s meeting, and approved adjustments to deferred maintenance projects at WVU Potomac State College and the WVU Institute of Technology to reprioritize funding for more pressing projects on those campuses.

View the Sept. 5 BOG special meeting agenda and materials.

The next regular BOG meeting is scheduled for Sept. 20.

-WVU-

ak/9/5/24

MEDIA CONTACT: April Kaull
Executive Director of Communications
University Relations
304-293-3990; April.Kaull@mail.wvu.edu

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