MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia redshirt-freshman Ja’Quay Hubbard, a transfer from Virginia, announced on Twitter late Monday the NCAA granted his waiver for immediate eligibility, while head coach Neal Brown confirmed Tuesday.
“Thanks to the NCAA for granting my waiver for the 2020 season. I’m going to continue to grind each week and learn #TrustTheClimb,” Hubbard tweeted.
Hubbard, a 6-foot-5 and 335-pound offensive lineman, was a 4-star recruit out of high school. He spent one season at U.Va. before deciding to transfer, ending up at WVU just before fall camp in late July.
Brown said Hubbard, a Sharpsville, Pa., native, missed the last two weeks dealing with a family emergency, and Hubbard tweeted Sept. 19 his mother suffered a stroke. On Sept. 27, he said his mother was “starting to take steps in the right direction.”
Brown also said Tuesday that Middle Tennessee State transfer receiver Zack Dobson received a waiver for immediate eligibility, while Maryland transfer defensive lineman Bryce Brand will be eligible beginning the week of the Texas Tech game Oct. 24.
Arizona safety transfer Scottie Young will sit out due to transfer rules but will redshirt.
Stills earns another award
The Maxwell Football Club announced that WVU senior defensive lineman Darius Stills was named the Chuck Bednarik Award National Player of the Week for his four tackles, including three solo stops, 2 1/2 sacks and 3 1/2 tackles for loss performance in WVU’s 27-21 double-overtime win over Baylor last Saturday.
Stills, who is on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List which is awarded annually to college football’s top defensive player, also was named the Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Over the last two years against Baylor, Stills has recorded 14 tackles, including 10 unassisted, 5 1/2 sacks and 6 1/2 tackles for loss.
For the 2020 season, Stills has seven tackles, including six solo stops, 2 1/2 sacks and 4 1/2 tackles for loss. He is ranked No. 21 nationally in tackles for loss and No. 45 in sacks.
- Baylor award winners
- Offensive lineman player of the week — senior Chase Behrndt
- Special teams player of the week — linebacker Exree Loe
- Defensive player of the week — linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo
- Offensive player of the week — running back Leddie Brown
- Blue-Collar Award winner — tight end Mike O’Laughlin
- Scout team players of the week — special teams, Devell Washington; defense, Scottie Young; offense, Matt Cavallaro
- Juice Award — Eddie Watkins Jr., Sam Brown, Jordan White and Charles Finley
