West Virginia

WVSports – West Virginia LB Cutter making gains, growing

Published

3 months ago

June 9, 2024

WVSports – West Virginia LB Cutter making gains, growing

Ben Cutter found out a lot about himself and his game as a true freshman.

The North Carolina native was thrust into a large role than perhaps he might have initially expected due to the depth of the position.

Cutter played in 11 games and saw a total of 464 snaps but understands that even despite that experience he has a lot of learning still to do.

“I’m glad it happened though because I got a step forward on what I need to fix. I made a lot of mistakes but also did some good things. The mistakes are what I’m trying to focus on,” he said.

One of the biggest areas of focus for Cutter has been improving in the pass game. The 6-foot-0, 225-pounds, wasn’t asked to do much in pass coverage at the high school level with it basically restricted to dropping to the hash when the offensive lineman pass blocked.

At this level, linebackers are asked to understand route concepts and what’s happening on a play. And the faster that you can recognize what is unfolding, the faster it will allow you to play on the field.

It’s something that Cutter had to learn first hand in his first experience at the college level against Duquesne when he was playing the boundary and had to take wide receiver Tedy Afful in man coverage and carry him to the end zone. But at the start of the play, Cutter made a step toward the line of scrimmage and the Dukes’ wide receiver was able to get step on him and haul in a touchdown.

It’s not that Cutter played him all that bad, but it’s a wake-up call for how fast things happen at this level and the smallest mistake can lead to points for the opposition.

“Knowing route combinations, knowing where I need to be to affect the quarterback and bait them up. Just playing fast and playing comfortable,” he said.

Some of that is simply putting more effort into his film study in order to prepare and understand exactly what the opposing offense is trying to do on every play. That allows him to play faster.

Cutter has made leaps with his strength as well as a better understanding of how to use his hands. He also learned that taking care of your body in the weight room is something that is a necessity at this level in order to play at your best.

Cutter also has been working on his angles to the ball and avoiding some of the situations that occurred last season with his hips turned out and trying to tackle a running back with his hips squared to him. Mistakes are going to happen but it’s about growing from them.

“When you make the mistakes more than once you realize it and need to fix it,” Cutter said.

And that’s a good thing because the competition and depth in the linebacker room is as good as it’s been in recent years with a group that is hungry and fighting for reps. Cutter is hoping to make a sizeable leap forward and has been preparing as if he is going to be a starter, so he is ready for whatever role.

Cutter was a lower-rated three-star prospect coming out of high school and uses that to help propel his preparation in the off-season. He might not be the most talented option at all times, but he’ll make up for it in other areas that he can control.

“I wasn’t going to be outworked,” he said.

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West Virginia

Penn State football-West Virginia weather updates: Latest on Lions’ delayed football game

Published

4 hours ago

August 31, 2024

Press Room

Penn State football-West Virginia weather updates: Latest on Lions’ delayed football game

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. − The new, improved Penn State football offense was beginning to fide its stride in the season-opener before a weather delay shut everything down.

Thunderstorms with potential lightning rolling in from the West forced a stoppage of play here at halftime of Top 10 Penn State’s uneven but still overall impressive start against the West Virginia Mountaineers in Milan Puskar Stadium.

The game was suspended a few minutes into the break after a lightning strike was reported nearby. The stadium was evacuated with most seeking shelter under the stands.

A re-start time has not yet been announced.

Penn State is on the verge of pulling away, ahead 20-6 at the half, led by the Drew Allar-to-Tre Wallace-connection on offense and the dynamic safety combination of Jaylen Reed and KJ Winston on defense.

Allar completed 8-of-13 first-half passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns − nearly all of the work going to the finally-healthy Wallace. The junior wideout pulled in five of those passes for 117 yards and two scores.

On defense, Reed and Winston each had eight tackles in the first half. Reed was the top defender on the field with a tackle for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Penn State’s last weather delay?

That was in 2017 at Michigan State. Lighting strikes caused that eventual last-play loss to the Spartans to be delayed by three hours and 22 minutes.

Penn State football vs. West Virginia weather updates

This section will be updated. All times Eastern.

2:04 p.m.: Penn State’s season-opener at West Virginia is delayed for an impending storm with lightning strikes shortly after halftime begins.

2:30 p.m.: Heavy rains washing over Milan Puskar Stadium. Stadium announcer reveals that re-start game clock will not begin for at least another 30 minutes.

3:05 p.m.: Lightning strikes force the 30-minute weather delay clock to re-start once more. Officials have not yet determined when the game plans to resume, according to the stadium announcer.

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

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West Virginia

Gameday Coverage: No. 8 Penn State Vs. West Virginia

Published

15 hours ago

August 31, 2024

Press Room

Gameday Coverage: No. 8 Penn State Vs. West Virginia

It’s finally here, folks.

Penn State opens its season Saturday against West Virginia at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. In the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff, the Nittany Lions are facing immense pressure to earn their spot in the 12-team field.

Before that, though, James Franklin and Co. first have to get past the Mountaineers. Here’s everything you need to know about today’s season opener.

Television

After being the featured FOX game twice last year, Penn State will open the 2024 season on the network for Big Noon Kickoff. Gus Johnson will provide the play-by-play while Joel Klatt will provide color commentary with Jenny Taft as the sideline reporter.

Radio

Penn State Sports Network — Steve Jones and Jack Hamm
Local: 99.5 & 103.7 FM/ 1450 AM, Sirius/XM/Internet: 83/83/80

Weather

Saturday will be a mix of clouds and sun with an 86% chance of precipitation and a high of 86º, according to AccuWeather. There is also a chance of a late thunderstorm, which could delay the football game.

Last Meeting

Penn State opened its season last year at home against West Virginia, winning 38-15. In his debut as the starting quarterback, Drew Allar racked up 325 yards and three touchdowns.

Injuries

Over the offseason, Franklin said both quarterback Jaxon Smolik and wide receiver Peter Gonzalez suffered “long-term” injuries and would miss significant time. On Monday, Franklin said wide receiver and punt returner Kaden Saunders was dealing with some “bumps and bruises,” but was hopeful for Saturday’s game.

Betting Lines

The Nittany Lions are -8.5-point favorites over West Virginia with a -316 moneyline, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 51.5 points.

Media Coverage

Onward State will have you covered throughout today’s game. Find big plays, analysis, photos, and more on our main Twitter account @OnwardState as well as play-by-play commentary from @OnwardStSports.

Football writers CJ Doebler (@CDoebler) and Mitch Corcoran (@MitchCorc18) will provide you with coverage from inside the press box, while Nolan Wick (@nolan_wick) will do the same from State College.

Photographers Hailey Stutzman (@stutzhailey) and Mikey DeAngelis (@mikey_deangelis) will provide visual updates from the field.

Onward State

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West Virginia

Nick Saban breaks down West Virginia vs. Penn State Week 1 showdown

Published

1 day ago

August 30, 2024

Press Room

Nick Saban breaks down West Virginia vs. Penn State Week 1 showdown

Penn State Vs West Virginia Game Predictions

The Penn State vs. West Virginia rivalry will renew on Saturday as the Mountaineers host James Franklin’s club in Morgantown. West Virginia fans are fired up for the matchup and showed up and showed out as former WVU player Pat McAfee hosted his show in Morgantown on Friday.

McAfee had West Virginia native and ESPN analyst Nick Saban on to preview the matchup and discuss a number of topics. Saban believes the Mountaineers are capable of pulling off the upset.

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“Well, I think West Virginia’s proven that they can run the ball effectively against just about anybody they play. I think that’s going to be the challenge for them against Penn State,” Nick Saban said. “Penn State’s a pretty good defensive team and they like to pressure a lot and create negative plays. So I think if the quarterback for West Virginia can create a little balance in the game for them, throw the ball effectively, that’ll have a huge impact on the game.”

Garrett Greene is the West Virginia starting quarterback and he’s getting a little Heisman buzz after accounting for more than 3,100 total yards and scoring 29 total touchdowns in 12 games a year ago.

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The dual-sport star could give Penn State some issues, as could the WVU crowd.

Saban discussed how the energy and noise in Morgantown could give Penn State some trouble.

“There’s a buzzsaw in Morgantown. That’s a hard place to play,” Saban said. “The fans there have great passion. It’s going to make it very difficult for Penn State, especially in the opener, to manage the noise, to manage the game, to be able to stay focused on execution and not get sidetracked by any of the other things that are going on, because it’s going to be difficult for them.”

Saban added that the fact that the game is the opener for Penn State will make it even more difficult.

Penn State does have a veteran at quarterback in junior Drew Allar, but there are some young players on the Nittany Lions roster who will have to step up in a tough environment.

“You’re always worried as a coach in your first game about how your team’s going to execute,” Saban said. “And that’s going to be really, really the challenge for them, playing on the road, at West Virginia, in the first game.”

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