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Endless steak makes West Virginia’s plate runneth over

PHOENIX — Meals don’t come much bigger, or meatier, than the one West Virginia’s football team enjoyed Wednesday night at Fogo de Chão.

Several Mountaineers threatened to clean out the all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse.

“Oh boy,” said center Tyler Orlosky. “I was getting up and started to think maybe I ate too much.”

MORE: Cactus Bowl video from Thursday

Left tackle Yodny Cajuste reportedly was waiting on more cheesecake when the team began to depart, but it wasn’t just the 300-pounders doing damage.

“I put down a couple of steaks—I put down a couple of everything,” said running back Wendell Smallwood. “I couldn’t even pronounce some of the stuff I was eating.”

Among the skill position players, Smallwood said running back Rushel Shell was a beast.

“Shell definitely won at my table. I believe he was the last one to get up. He ate so much but I think he was going to try to run it off today.”

Not to worry, WVU fans, because even a stuffed Shell reportedly has looked quicker during bowl practices.

“Shell’s got his legs under him,” Smallwood said, “and I think he’s the fastest I’ve seen him all year.”

Orlosky awaiting NFL draft feedback: Joking that no one notices the offensive line, the junior’s petition to the NFL draft advisory board went unmentioned by coach Dana Holgorsen and unreported until Thursday.

“I didn’t make a big production about it because I have all the intentions of staying,” Orlosky said. “It was more just to see what was said. I have a good idea of what (scouts) will say, so I’m committed to stay another year.”

Holgorsen likes preparation: After a couple crisp workouts at nearby Chapparal High School, Dana Holgorsen said West Virginia’s workouts have equated to “a bunch of reminders to get ready for the game.”

The heavy preparation occurred in Morgantown, where he thought the focus was sharp.

“If we had to play the game before we left we would have been prepared to do that,” Holgorsen said.

Warm-and-cold: From 70-plus afternoon temperatures to sub-freezing nights, the Phoenix weather has featured daily swings. Luckily, the West Virginia team hotel features a pool heated to 80 degrees.

Holgorsen called it the “No. 1 bowl destination” in his opinion.

“It’s nice to come out here in December and be able to swim outside,” Orlosky said. “You can’t do that back East.”

WVU’s top lineman also noted that the striking Arizona landscape features stand-alone mountains, as opposed to the ones that are “connected” in West Virginia.

“It’s beautiful out here, but I still like Ohio,” Orlosky said. “I like to see the snow on the ground.”