MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Skyler Howard wasn’t the Big 12’s most fumble-prone quarterback over the course of last season. During back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, however, he lost the ball four times, leading to two scoop-and-scores.
So when assessing ball security this offseason, Howard heard assistant strength coach Darl Bauer had a surprise for him.
Thus began pinky training.
Bauer provided a grip-strengthening roller—an old-school, 3-inch-long wooden cylinder, handmade by one of his mentors, with a wrapped cord that supports a dangling weight.
Soon enough, West Virginia’s quarterback was working on becoming pinky-strong.