West Virginia
Coach's Take: Tyrell Russell a steal for West Virginia
Steve Ayers already knew the type of speed he was inheriting in new West Virginia commitment Tyrell Russell when he took the head coach job at Beechcroft this past season.
That’s because Ayers served as the track coach at Walnut Ridge and Russell is a four-year letterman.
“You can’t coach speed. That’s just one thing you just can’t coach. The way he puts his foot in the ground and explodes. And the way he shows a different gear, we just knew we had something special,” Ayers said.
Russell is a versatile athlete who can play multiple positions ranging from running back, wide receiver, kick returner and on the defensive side of the ball. And while he is likely to end up on defense with the Mountaineers, Ayers believes that over his 28 years Russell fits high on his list.
“He’s just an all-around football player,” he said.
But Ayers believes that Russell still has plenty of room to grow on the field as he adjusts from splitting his time between track and football and focuses solely on the latter. The head coach expects him to add some good weight to his frame and become even more intriguing as a prospect.
“Once he fills out with his speed it can be really, really scary,” he said.
The one area that he wants to see him continue to grow is handling the physicality of the college game because it is different from what he has experienced to date. But he has the toolkit to do just that.
“Once he figures that out he’ll be fine. Speed wise he can run with anybody in my eyes,” he said.
But while the physical attributes are there, Ayers has perhaps been just as impressed with how Russell has carried himself in terms of his character. The senior has embraced a leadership role on his team and has made a strong impression with how he goes about his business.
That especially showed itself in moments of adversity as Russell bought into the new leadership and the message that they were trying to pass onto the team.
The decision to commit to West Virginia didn’t necessarily surprise Ayers once Russell elected to take the visit and he is excited that he will have the chance to showcase what he can do at the highest level in Morgantown.
“He’s a kid with great character, great grades and will have an opportunity to shine at the next level. He has it. He is a kid with a good head on his shoulders and honestly I think they got a steal,” he said.
KINGWOOD, W.Va. (WBOY) — The West Virginia Strongman Corporation State Championship was held in Kingwood on Saturday.
More than 70 athletes competed in competitions such as the deadlift, yolk walk, overhead and “sandbags of suffering” in hopes that they would punch their ticket to the national strongman competition later this year.
More than 200 spectators were expected to stop by the Craig Civic Center and watch the display of strength, sportsmanship and friendly competition.
Stewart Reed, one of the organizers for the West Virginia state Strongman Championships, spoke with 12 News about the unique environment of the competitions.
“Strongman is very much a community that cares about each other but still want to compete. It’s a way to express your strength and express a very fulfilling and rewarding hobby actually,” Reed said.
Athletes from eight different states were in attendance, ready to show off the hard work they had put in leading up to the competition.
This year’s competition was hosted by the Lift Hard Strength Club out of Preston County.
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MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey made an announcement Friday about another mining-related fatality in the state within 24 hours – the latest in northern West Virginia.
The governor released the following statement:
“Denise and I were deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Darin Reece, who passed away following an accident at the Ohio County Mine. We extend our condolences to his family, his fellow miners, and all those who knew him. He served as a Continuous Miner Section Supervisor and was part of a workforce that takes on difficult and dangerous work every day.
“The impact of these events reaches far beyond the job site. It is felt by families, coworkers, and entire communities. That weight is even greater today, as this marks the second loss of life in West Virginia’s mining community in less than 24 hours.
“The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training is on site and conducting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.
“We ask West Virginians to keep Darin’s loved ones and the entire mining community in their thoughts during this difficult time.”
Earlier on Friday, Morrisey announced another mining-related death in Raleigh County in the southern part of the state.
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