After tearing his Achilles last season, Kenny Lewis has gone through two surgeries to help heal the torn muscle but now Lewis will have to go through another surgery before the season starts. What exactly he's having surgery on wasn't discussed but it appears likely that Lewis's playing days at VT are over. Tough break for a kid who was a good RB for us last year and a helluva leader on the sidelines.
Also Duan Perez-Means, who is an incoming freshman messed up his shoulder in the Virginia All Star game a few weeks ago and has decided to have surgery before enrolling at Virginia Tech. Means will now greyshirt and enroll this coming January.
Friday, July 31
Friday, July 17
Hokies Keep on Rollin, Land big time Linebacker out of VA
Brian Laiti, LB out of Robinson High School, has committed to Virginia Tech.
More coming soon.
More coming soon.
Thursday, July 16
Hokies add Peach State CB
After evaluating some of the defensive backs at this past weekend's camp, the coaches were ready to make some of their final recruiting decisions. One of their decisions was to offer Detrick Bonner, a player who has yet to visit Blacksburg.
After receiving word of his VT offer, Bonner committed immediately and is now the 14th player in the Hokies 2010 recruiting class.
Bonner held offers from Michigan, Louisville, Toledo, Troy, Western Kentucky, and UCF. Tennessee, Clemson, Mississippi State, and Georgia Tech were all on the verge of offering him as well.
Bonner is a bit on the thin side as he is listed at 6'0", 170 lbs but his film is what garnered him an offer from the Virginia Tech coaching staff.
I'll have more info on Tech's newest commitment tomorrow.
After receiving word of his VT offer, Bonner committed immediately and is now the 14th player in the Hokies 2010 recruiting class.
Bonner held offers from Michigan, Louisville, Toledo, Troy, Western Kentucky, and UCF. Tennessee, Clemson, Mississippi State, and Georgia Tech were all on the verge of offering him as well.
Bonner is a bit on the thin side as he is listed at 6'0", 170 lbs but his film is what garnered him an offer from the Virginia Tech coaching staff.
I'll have more info on Tech's newest commitment tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 15
Dominique Patterson Article from Roanoke Times
By Doug DoughtyDominique Patterson, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back from King's Fork High School in Suffolk, Va., committed to Virginia Tech on Monday night.
Tech was the first school to offer Patterson, who attended the Hokies' one-day camp this past Saturday. He said Tuesday that East Carolina and Marshall joined Tech in his final three.
Patterson suffered a broken left wrist in the first game of the 2008 season and was limited to defense after that, collecting 60 tackles and eight sacks.
He ran 40 yards in 4.48 seconds at Tech on Saturday.
"I was confident that I would earn a scholarship once I got up there," Patterson said.
"I talked to Coach [Curt] Newsome and all he told me was, 'Just run fast.' "
Patterson's coach at King's Fork is Joe Jones, a former tight end at Tech.
"He said he wanted to keep his emotions inside of him," Patterson said.
"He said the decision was up to me and he didn't want it to seem like he influenced me.
"That was before I committed. When I called him after I committed [Monday] night, he said he was glad and that I had done the right thing."
Jones said he kept in touch with Patterson during his trip to Blacksburg.
"I said, 'Think of the other schools and who would you pick over Tech if they offered you,' " Jones said.
"He said, 'No one, really.' I didn't have to say any more."
Jones said he felt Patterson might have been "under the radar" as a prospect because of the injury. He only carried the ball in one game.
"With the running back positions comes touchdowns and stats, and I think that would have given him more media attention," Jones said.
"It sounds kind of dumb for me to say, but he's a football player. He's got great football instincts. He just makes plays."
3 Star CB Commits to Virginia Tech
A 5-foot-11, 160-pound cornerback, Kyle Fuller of Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) has accepted an offer from Virginia Tech for the Class of 2010.Duke, Maryland, Syracuse and Kansas also offered.
Fuller tallied four interceptions as a junior, returning two for touchdowns. He also scored twice on punt and kickoff returns.
Kyle is the younger brother of former Hokie defensive back Vincent Fuller II.
Virginia Tech now has 13 commitments.
Tuesday, July 14
Robert Brown is a Hokie
From the Orlando Sentinel:
Diana Neal, coach of the Showtime Ballers/Florida Assault travel team, reports that Rob Brown, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard heading into his junior year at Clermont East Ridge, orally committed Monday to Virginia Tech.
Brown, who averaged 20 points and shot over 45-percent from 3-point range as a sophomore, is the first commit in the Class of 2011 for the Hokies.
Rivals, which confirmed the commitment, ranks Brown as the No. 3 rising junior in Florida behind Winter Park's Austin Rivers, who committed to Florida following his freshman season, and Dr. Phillips' Shane Larkin, who is undecided.
Diana Neal, coach of the Showtime Ballers/Florida Assault travel team, reports that Rob Brown, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard heading into his junior year at Clermont East Ridge, orally committed Monday to Virginia Tech.
Brown, who averaged 20 points and shot over 45-percent from 3-point range as a sophomore, is the first commit in the Class of 2011 for the Hokies.
Rivals, which confirmed the commitment, ranks Brown as the No. 3 rising junior in Florida behind Winter Park's Austin Rivers, who committed to Florida following his freshman season, and Dr. Phillips' Shane Larkin, who is undecided.
Rivals.com Boston College 2009 Season Preview
COACH: Frank Spaziani (first season).
LAST SEASON: 9-5 overall, 5-3 in ACC (first in ACC Atlantic). Lost to Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game. Lost to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl.
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 29th.
KEEP AN EYE ON: The suspension and resulting transfer of sophomore QB Dominique Davis – who started late last season – means that junior college transfer Codi Boek, redshirt freshman Justin Tuggle or redshirt freshman Alexander Atiyeh will open the season as Boston College's starting quarterback. The Eagles' chances of contending for a third consecutive Atlantic Division title depend in large part on whether one of those candidates can do an adequate job. The Eagles also need LB Mike McLaughlin to recover quickly from an Achilles injury, particularly now that 2008 ACC defensive player of the year Mark Herzlich has been diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a form of cancer found in bone or soft tissue; Herzlich's career appears to be over. McLaughlin's injury caused him to miss all of spring practice and has left his status uncertain for the start of the season.
STAR POWER: T Anthony Castonzo and C Matt Tennant are two of the best offensive linemen in the ACC. Their presence could open up plenty of running room for Montel Harris and Josh Haden, sophomore running backs with loads of potential.
STRENGTHS: BC annually boasts one of the best offensive lines in the ACC, and this season ought to be no exception. The Eagles return four starting linemen who should control the line of scrimmage all season. BC has enough firepower to run the ball effectively, though the lack of a proven quarterback could cause opposing defenses to stack the line to stop the run. BC also returns three starters from a secondary that helped the Eagles tie for the NCAA lead with 26 interceptions last season.
WEAKNESSES: The uncertainty at quarterback overshadows everything else on offense and could haunt BC all season. Will anyone respect BC's passing attack? The health problems of Herzlich and McLaughlin at linebacker turned a potential strength into a major weakness. Boston College also will have trouble replacing first-round draft pick B.J. Raji and second-round selection Ron Brace at defensive tackle.
THE BUZZ: Few college programs in recent memory have endured offseasons as discouraging as what BC has gone through this year. First came the firing of coach Jeff Jagodzinski after he interviewed for an NFL head-coaching job; Jagodzinski led the Eagles to division titles in each of his two seasons on the job. New coach Frank Spaziani was one of the nation's most underrated defensive coordinators, but he's an unknown quantity as a head coach. Then came the heartbreaking news involving Herzlich, who would have opened the season as an All-America candidate. Finally, there was Davis' departure. BC has proved the experts wrong by reaching the ACC championship game each of the past two seasons. If BC makes it again this season, it would represent this program's most stunning accomplishment yet.
LAST SEASON: 9-5 overall, 5-3 in ACC (first in ACC Atlantic). Lost to Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game. Lost to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl.
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 29th.
KEEP AN EYE ON: The suspension and resulting transfer of sophomore QB Dominique Davis – who started late last season – means that junior college transfer Codi Boek, redshirt freshman Justin Tuggle or redshirt freshman Alexander Atiyeh will open the season as Boston College's starting quarterback. The Eagles' chances of contending for a third consecutive Atlantic Division title depend in large part on whether one of those candidates can do an adequate job. The Eagles also need LB Mike McLaughlin to recover quickly from an Achilles injury, particularly now that 2008 ACC defensive player of the year Mark Herzlich has been diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a form of cancer found in bone or soft tissue; Herzlich's career appears to be over. McLaughlin's injury caused him to miss all of spring practice and has left his status uncertain for the start of the season.
STAR POWER: T Anthony Castonzo and C Matt Tennant are two of the best offensive linemen in the ACC. Their presence could open up plenty of running room for Montel Harris and Josh Haden, sophomore running backs with loads of potential.
STRENGTHS: BC annually boasts one of the best offensive lines in the ACC, and this season ought to be no exception. The Eagles return four starting linemen who should control the line of scrimmage all season. BC has enough firepower to run the ball effectively, though the lack of a proven quarterback could cause opposing defenses to stack the line to stop the run. BC also returns three starters from a secondary that helped the Eagles tie for the NCAA lead with 26 interceptions last season.
WEAKNESSES: The uncertainty at quarterback overshadows everything else on offense and could haunt BC all season. Will anyone respect BC's passing attack? The health problems of Herzlich and McLaughlin at linebacker turned a potential strength into a major weakness. Boston College also will have trouble replacing first-round draft pick B.J. Raji and second-round selection Ron Brace at defensive tackle.
THE BUZZ: Few college programs in recent memory have endured offseasons as discouraging as what BC has gone through this year. First came the firing of coach Jeff Jagodzinski after he interviewed for an NFL head-coaching job; Jagodzinski led the Eagles to division titles in each of his two seasons on the job. New coach Frank Spaziani was one of the nation's most underrated defensive coordinators, but he's an unknown quantity as a head coach. Then came the heartbreaking news involving Herzlich, who would have opened the season as an All-America candidate. Finally, there was Davis' departure. BC has proved the experts wrong by reaching the ACC championship game each of the past two seasons. If BC makes it again this season, it would represent this program's most stunning accomplishment yet.
Rivals.com Maryland 2009 Season Preview
COACH: Ralph Friedgen (64-36 in eight seasons).
LAST SEASON: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in ACC (tied for third in ACC Atlantic). Beat Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl.
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 34th.
KEEP AN EYE ON: WR Torrey Smith set an ACC single-season record with 1,089 kickoff return yards last season. This season, he should make more of an impact on offense. Smith caught 24 passes for 336 yards last season, which makes him the Terps' top returning receiver. RB Davin Meggett showed plenty of big-play potential while rushing for 457 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman. He should emerge as a nice complement to Da'Rel Scott in the backfield. Phil Costa, one of the Terps' only experienced offensive linemen, is shifting from guard to center.
STAR POWER: Scott ran for 1,133 yards last season and ranked second in the ACC with 94.4 rushing yards per game. He sat out the first half of the Humanitarian Bowl and still managed to gain 174 yards on just 14 carries. Maryland's inexperience on the line and the emergence of Meggett could prevent Scott from matching his 2008 totals, but he still should emerge as one of the ACC's most dangerous runners.
STRENGTHS: Scott and Meggett could give Maryland one of the nation's most effective running back tandems. Smith's presence ought to give the Terps a dangerous kick-return unit. P Travis Baltz should be one of the best in the nation at his position. Maryland's strength against ranked opponents last season shows that Friedgen has a way of getting his team fired up for big games.
WEAKNESSES: Maryland lost five of its top seven offensive linemen, including three-year starting C Edwin Williams. LT Bruce Campbell is the only returning starter on the line playing the same position he did last season. The losses of Dave Philistin, Moise Fokou, Chase Bullock and Rick Costa leave the Terps untested at linebacker. QB Chris Turner is a returning starter, but he has struggled with consistency for much of his career.
THE BUZZ: Maryland was one of the most unpredictable teams in the nation last season, as the Terps went 4-1 against teams ranked in The Associated Press poll yet also lost to Middle Tennessee, struggled to beat Delaware and got waxed 31-0 by Virginia. Maryland now must gain consistency after losing a bunch of experience. The Terps return six starters on offense and four on defense. Scott and Meggett are dynamic players, but how much running room will they find when the line is young and the passing game is lackluster? The answer to that question could determine whether Maryland earns a bowl bid. After opening on the road at California, Maryland plays its next four – and five of its next six – at home
LAST SEASON: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in ACC (tied for third in ACC Atlantic). Beat Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl.
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 34th.
KEEP AN EYE ON: WR Torrey Smith set an ACC single-season record with 1,089 kickoff return yards last season. This season, he should make more of an impact on offense. Smith caught 24 passes for 336 yards last season, which makes him the Terps' top returning receiver. RB Davin Meggett showed plenty of big-play potential while rushing for 457 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman. He should emerge as a nice complement to Da'Rel Scott in the backfield. Phil Costa, one of the Terps' only experienced offensive linemen, is shifting from guard to center.
STAR POWER: Scott ran for 1,133 yards last season and ranked second in the ACC with 94.4 rushing yards per game. He sat out the first half of the Humanitarian Bowl and still managed to gain 174 yards on just 14 carries. Maryland's inexperience on the line and the emergence of Meggett could prevent Scott from matching his 2008 totals, but he still should emerge as one of the ACC's most dangerous runners.
STRENGTHS: Scott and Meggett could give Maryland one of the nation's most effective running back tandems. Smith's presence ought to give the Terps a dangerous kick-return unit. P Travis Baltz should be one of the best in the nation at his position. Maryland's strength against ranked opponents last season shows that Friedgen has a way of getting his team fired up for big games.
WEAKNESSES: Maryland lost five of its top seven offensive linemen, including three-year starting C Edwin Williams. LT Bruce Campbell is the only returning starter on the line playing the same position he did last season. The losses of Dave Philistin, Moise Fokou, Chase Bullock and Rick Costa leave the Terps untested at linebacker. QB Chris Turner is a returning starter, but he has struggled with consistency for much of his career.
THE BUZZ: Maryland was one of the most unpredictable teams in the nation last season, as the Terps went 4-1 against teams ranked in The Associated Press poll yet also lost to Middle Tennessee, struggled to beat Delaware and got waxed 31-0 by Virginia. Maryland now must gain consistency after losing a bunch of experience. The Terps return six starters on offense and four on defense. Scott and Meggett are dynamic players, but how much running room will they find when the line is young and the passing game is lackluster? The answer to that question could determine whether Maryland earns a bowl bid. After opening on the road at California, Maryland plays its next four – and five of its next six – at home
Rivals.com UVA 2009 Season Preview
COACH: Al Groh (56-44 in eight seasons; 82-84 in 14 seasons overall).
LAST SEASON: 5-7 overall, 3-5 in ACC (fifth in ACC Coastal).
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 61st.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Vic Hall spent most of his junior year as an effective starting cornerback for Virginia, but he moved to quarterback for the season finale against Virginia Tech and performed well enough to stay there through spring practice. Hall will open the season as Virginia's No. 1 quarterback if he can beat out 2007 starter Jameel Sewell, who was out of school last year for academic reasons. Hall remains an unproven passer, but his performance against Virginia Tech revealed he had the running ability to cause headaches for opposing defenses.
STAR POWER: Junior Ras-I Dowling has established himself as one of the top cover corners in the ACC. If the third-year starter continues his rapid rate of improvement, Dowling has an outside chance of competing for All-America honors this season. OT Will Barker is another All-ACC contender who should continue Virginia's recent tradition of sending offensive linemen to the NFL.
STRENGTHS: Barker leads an offensive line that returns four starters. Virginia also has plenty of experience on the defensive line, even though the Cavaliers don't have a whole lot of star power up front. The presence of Dowling and the return of CB Chris Cook after a one-year absence should fortify the Cavaliers' secondary. Virginia should be able to run the ball effectively with either Hall or Sewell joining TB Mikell Simpson in the backfield.
WEAKNESSES: The passing attack is a huge concern. Hall and Sewell are outstanding runners, but can either throw the ball with consistent accuracy? Virginia also must replace its top four receivers from last season. The departures of Clint Sintim, Antonio Appleby and Jon Copper leave a major hole at linebacker. The kicking game must get a whole lot better; every field-goal attempt was an adventure for the Cavaliers last season.
THE BUZZ: Virginia is counting on the arrival of new offensive coordinator Gregg
Brandon to help spark a team that averaged just 16.1 points per game last season. Virginia has ranked outside the top 100 in total offense each of the past three seasons. The offense should be more exciting under Brandon, a spread proponent who spent the past six seasons as Bowling Green's coach. Virginia probably will need to score more points this season because the defense isn't likely to be as effective after losing so much talent at linebacker. After a "gimme" opener against William & Mary, the Cavs play three tough games in a row: TCU, at Southern Miss and at North Carolina. It looks as if a 2-2 start is the best Virginia can hope for, and 1-3 wouldn't be a surprise. If the Cavs start 1-3, it will be a long season.
LAST SEASON: 5-7 overall, 3-5 in ACC (fifth in ACC Coastal).
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 61st.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Vic Hall spent most of his junior year as an effective starting cornerback for Virginia, but he moved to quarterback for the season finale against Virginia Tech and performed well enough to stay there through spring practice. Hall will open the season as Virginia's No. 1 quarterback if he can beat out 2007 starter Jameel Sewell, who was out of school last year for academic reasons. Hall remains an unproven passer, but his performance against Virginia Tech revealed he had the running ability to cause headaches for opposing defenses.
STAR POWER: Junior Ras-I Dowling has established himself as one of the top cover corners in the ACC. If the third-year starter continues his rapid rate of improvement, Dowling has an outside chance of competing for All-America honors this season. OT Will Barker is another All-ACC contender who should continue Virginia's recent tradition of sending offensive linemen to the NFL.
STRENGTHS: Barker leads an offensive line that returns four starters. Virginia also has plenty of experience on the defensive line, even though the Cavaliers don't have a whole lot of star power up front. The presence of Dowling and the return of CB Chris Cook after a one-year absence should fortify the Cavaliers' secondary. Virginia should be able to run the ball effectively with either Hall or Sewell joining TB Mikell Simpson in the backfield.
WEAKNESSES: The passing attack is a huge concern. Hall and Sewell are outstanding runners, but can either throw the ball with consistent accuracy? Virginia also must replace its top four receivers from last season. The departures of Clint Sintim, Antonio Appleby and Jon Copper leave a major hole at linebacker. The kicking game must get a whole lot better; every field-goal attempt was an adventure for the Cavaliers last season.
THE BUZZ: Virginia is counting on the arrival of new offensive coordinator Gregg
Brandon to help spark a team that averaged just 16.1 points per game last season. Virginia has ranked outside the top 100 in total offense each of the past three seasons. The offense should be more exciting under Brandon, a spread proponent who spent the past six seasons as Bowling Green's coach. Virginia probably will need to score more points this season because the defense isn't likely to be as effective after losing so much talent at linebacker. After a "gimme" opener against William & Mary, the Cavs play three tough games in a row: TCU, at Southern Miss and at North Carolina. It looks as if a 2-2 start is the best Virginia can hope for, and 1-3 wouldn't be a surprise. If the Cavs start 1-3, it will be a long season.
Monday, July 13
2011 4 Star Shooting Guard commits to Virignia Tech
Robert Brown, a talented guard out of Florida, has committed to Virginia Tech.
Brown is the first commitment of the 2011 class.
More coming later.
Brown is the first commitment of the 2011 class.
More coming later.
Thursday, July 9
Hokies Land Talented Point Guard
4 star small forward Jarell Eddie has been the lone member of the Hokies 2010 basketball recruiting class for over a year now but today he will finally have a tag team partner heading into Virginia Tech. Tyrone Garland, a 3 star point guard out of Philadelphia, has verbally committed to Virginia Tech this afternoon.
Tyrone is a bit on the small side at 6'0", 160 pounds but his film shows that he definitely has the ability to drive the lane and make shots at the top of the key.
Garland boasted offers from Virginia Tech, Drexel, Nebraska, Temple, St Bonaventure, La Salle, and held verbal offers from Seton Hall, Butler, and Providence.
Notes:
(From Eddie Griffin 2008 camp notes)- Tyrone Garland (2010, 6-1 PG/SG)
Tyrone was another player who got off to a bit of a slow start, as he could not get his jump shots to fall. In the second half he started hitting his shots and his game really came alive. He hit a pair of pull up, deep three pointers almost back to back. Once he hit those jumpers, the defense really began to respect his shot, which allowed him to drive to the basket more. Tyrone drove by his man on one occasion and then hit a lay up high off the glass with some spin on it, in order to get the attempt off over a taller defender. He also scored a couple times out on the break, one of which he dunked on. With time running out, Tyrone brought the ball up and the defense was focused on preventing him from shooting. He then found Dominic Morris wide open under the hoop for the game tying bucket.
(From MDV vs Philly All Star Game Notes) -Tyrone Garland (2010, 5-11 PG)
When his jumper is on, Tyrone is one of the most deadly players in Philly. Unfortunately, he is also very streak and wasn't "on" during this evening. Tyrone knocked down a few pull up jumpers, including a three pointer. He missed on quite a few more of those type of shots though. His quickness did draw some fouls and he was effective converting from the charity stripe. This scorer certainly wasn't at his best, but he did still produce some.
Tyrone Garland (2010, 5-11 PG)
We caught the first half of this game and Tyrone really struggled. When his pull up game is on, there are few better players around than him. Tyrone can be streaky and score in bunches. On this night though, he was missing shot after shot. He was effective attacking the rim on a couple plays. Although he's more of a scorer than a setup man, Tyrone did throw a nice pass too.
Tyrone Garland (2011, 5-11 PG)
Tyrone is quick ascending his way up the ladder and asserting himself as one of the top guards in Philadelphia. This evening he showed exactly what makes him so special. He almost single-handedly beat a talented All-Stars squad. Tyrone scored 36 points in the victory and was virtually unguardable. The springy guard can get into the lane with ease off the dribble. He changes directions and makes adjustments with such grace. His not the biggest guard, but Tyrone is very tough to stop when he's on. He loves shooting runners and pull up jumpers. Those are two shots which are very tough to defend. He's very good at attacking left and quickly switching the ball to his right hand for a finger roll finish. He did this several times. Tyrone also went directly at shot blocker Malcolm Gilbert (see below) and converted with a scoop finish. Tyrone had a stellar pull up game on this night. He hit shot after shot of that variety from all over the court. He has a pretty quick release.
Tyrone Garland (2010, 5-11 PG)
We expected big things from Tyrone, but he was surprisingly quiet. He struggled to find his shot in this contest. He actually looked to distribute the ball more and made several fine passes to his teammates. Tyrone was even missing some runners in the lane. He did grab a couple steals defensively. He’s certainly had and will have better days.
Rivals.com Duke Blue Devils 2009 Season Preview
COACH: David Cutcliffe (4-8 in one season; 48-37 in seven seasons overall).
LAST SEASON: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in ACC (sixth in ACC Coastal).
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 79th.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Re'quan Boyette led the Blue Devils in rushing in 2006 and '07, but he sat out the '08 season with a knee injury. If he stays healthy, Boyette could help awaken a dormant rushing attack. Duke hasn't averaged more than 3.2 yards per carry and hasn't featured a 500-yard rusher since 2003.
STAR POWER: Senior QB Thaddeus Lewis enters his fourth year as a starter having thrown for more than 2,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. He leads all ACC active players in career passing yards (6,735), touchdown passes (47), 300-yard passing games (four) and total offense (6,609). After getting picked off 16 times as a freshman, Lewis has had a 36-to-16 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the past two seasons. Lewis faces an additional challenge this season as he looks for a new favorite target following the departure of Eron Riley.
STRENGTHS: Lewis gives Duke one of the better quarterbacks in the ACC, though the losses of Riley and Raphael Chestnut in the receiving corps could hinder the passing game. DT Vince Oghobaase is one of the nation's most underrated defensive linemen; he has 29 career tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, which ranks him below only North Carolina State DE Willie Young among active ACC players. Duke's biggest strength may be its coaching staff. Cutcliffe's arrival has helped give Duke a sense of legitimacy that was apparent in the Blue Devils' improved record. Cutcliffe's arrival also has paid off on the recruiting trail, which eventually should make Duke more competitive within the conference.
WEAKNESSES: Duke has struggled to run the ball for the past five years and likely won't be able to leave the Coastal Division basement until it can establish some semblance of a rushing attack. The Blue Devils could struggle to solve that problem this season with only two returning starters on the offensive line. Duke also must do a better job of stopping people after ranking last in the ACC in pass efficiency defense and 11th in run defense last season.
THE BUZZ: Duke clearly is on the right track. By going 4-8 in Cutcliffe's first season, the Blue Devils matched their win total from the previous four years combined. The question is whether Duke can take that next step by challenging for a bowl bid. That goal might be a bit too ambitious this season. The Blue Devils lack experience on the offensive line and in the receiving corps, and their defense could have a tough time replacing star LB Michael Tauiliili. Duke ought to win three of its first four games before beginning its conference schedule, but the Blue Devils could have a tough time winning more than one league game.
LAST SEASON: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in ACC (sixth in ACC Coastal).
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 79th.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Re'quan Boyette led the Blue Devils in rushing in 2006 and '07, but he sat out the '08 season with a knee injury. If he stays healthy, Boyette could help awaken a dormant rushing attack. Duke hasn't averaged more than 3.2 yards per carry and hasn't featured a 500-yard rusher since 2003.
STAR POWER: Senior QB Thaddeus Lewis enters his fourth year as a starter having thrown for more than 2,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. He leads all ACC active players in career passing yards (6,735), touchdown passes (47), 300-yard passing games (four) and total offense (6,609). After getting picked off 16 times as a freshman, Lewis has had a 36-to-16 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the past two seasons. Lewis faces an additional challenge this season as he looks for a new favorite target following the departure of Eron Riley.
STRENGTHS: Lewis gives Duke one of the better quarterbacks in the ACC, though the losses of Riley and Raphael Chestnut in the receiving corps could hinder the passing game. DT Vince Oghobaase is one of the nation's most underrated defensive linemen; he has 29 career tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, which ranks him below only North Carolina State DE Willie Young among active ACC players. Duke's biggest strength may be its coaching staff. Cutcliffe's arrival has helped give Duke a sense of legitimacy that was apparent in the Blue Devils' improved record. Cutcliffe's arrival also has paid off on the recruiting trail, which eventually should make Duke more competitive within the conference.
WEAKNESSES: Duke has struggled to run the ball for the past five years and likely won't be able to leave the Coastal Division basement until it can establish some semblance of a rushing attack. The Blue Devils could struggle to solve that problem this season with only two returning starters on the offensive line. Duke also must do a better job of stopping people after ranking last in the ACC in pass efficiency defense and 11th in run defense last season.
THE BUZZ: Duke clearly is on the right track. By going 4-8 in Cutcliffe's first season, the Blue Devils matched their win total from the previous four years combined. The question is whether Duke can take that next step by challenging for a bowl bid. That goal might be a bit too ambitious this season. The Blue Devils lack experience on the offensive line and in the receiving corps, and their defense could have a tough time replacing star LB Michael Tauiliili. Duke ought to win three of its first four games before beginning its conference schedule, but the Blue Devils could have a tough time winning more than one league game.
Georgia Tech Season Preview
From cfn.scout.com
If last year was supposed to be a messy transition period, and the team went 9-4, what does that make this year?
By all accounts, 2008 was expected to be an awkward season for the Yellow Jackets. The coaching staff was new. The system on both sides of the ball was new. And there were divots just about everywhere on the depth chart, including special teams. It all added up to a rebuilding year, yet Tech went 9-4, stayed in the Coastal Division hunt all season, and snapped a seven-year skid versus Georgia. In all, it was a banner debut for head coach Paul Johnson, ratcheting up expectations for the 2009 season.
Read the rest of the article here
http://cfn.scout.com/2/859852.html
If last year was supposed to be a messy transition period, and the team went 9-4, what does that make this year?
By all accounts, 2008 was expected to be an awkward season for the Yellow Jackets. The coaching staff was new. The system on both sides of the ball was new. And there were divots just about everywhere on the depth chart, including special teams. It all added up to a rebuilding year, yet Tech went 9-4, stayed in the Coastal Division hunt all season, and snapped a seven-year skid versus Georgia. In all, it was a banner debut for head coach Paul Johnson, ratcheting up expectations for the 2009 season.
Read the rest of the article here
http://cfn.scout.com/2/859852.html
Tuesday, July 7
William Alvarez, Khalil Latif Leave Program
Offensive lineman Will Alvarez and defensive end Khalil Latif have decided to transfer according to Beamerball.com.
Alvarez was listed as a backup behind Greg Nosal this spring at the left guard position but with Render returning he would have fallen to 3rd on the LG depth chart.
Latif struggled to put on the necessary weight to play either on the offensive line or the defensive line at the division one level.
On a positive note, Zach Luckett will be walking on to the team this fall. After being suspended for a year and ultimately dismissed after a DUI last August, Luckett says his demons are behind him and will do everything possible to make an impact somewhere on the field this fall.
Alvarez was listed as a backup behind Greg Nosal this spring at the left guard position but with Render returning he would have fallen to 3rd on the LG depth chart.
Latif struggled to put on the necessary weight to play either on the offensive line or the defensive line at the division one level.
On a positive note, Zach Luckett will be walking on to the team this fall. After being suspended for a year and ultimately dismissed after a DUI last August, Luckett says his demons are behind him and will do everything possible to make an impact somewhere on the field this fall.
Saturday, July 4
July 11th Camp Notes
The Virginia Tech coaching staff held their first summer camp four weeks ago, back on June 6th. Now, it's time for the coaches to hold their 2nd summer camp next weekend... and if the indicators are right, this camp will be a big one. The June 6th had a small turn out due to a few factors, the SAT's were that Saturday and Wake Forest and a few other surrounding schools were also holding camps that day.
However, next weekends camp will be uncontested, which will lead to some big names possibly showing up.
Perhaps one of the more nationally known recruits, Florida commit and 5 star athlete Matt Elam could be making his way to Blacksburg with his teammate Robert Clark. Elam is ranked as the 5th best player in the 2010 class according to Rivals.com but has admitted that he will more than likely follow his teammate around why he takes his visits.
Clark is a talented athlete in his own right as he holds 11 total offers including one's from Louisville, Auburn, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. There's no guarantee that these two guys will come next weekend but it's a safe bet that they will visit sometime this summer.
Virginia Tech commit Mark Leal will be heading up to Blacksburg next weekend and he will bring his teammate and 4 star wide receiver James Louis along with him. Louis already has a VT offer in hand and currently has Tech in his top 5. With both Jayron Hosley and Mark Leal recruiting him for VT, I wouldn't be surprised to see Tech pull out in front for the "Eddie Royal like" wide receiver.
The Hokies still need to find another offensive lineman in this class and one player to keep in eye on is Jake Schaap from the great state of New York. Schaap is a bit on the short side for a lineman at 6'2", but he makes up for it with his strength and use of leverage on the line. Jake could play either guard or center at the collegiate level and if he earns a VT offer, look for him to go ahead and commit.
Braxton Deaver, a tight end out of Charlotte, North Carolina, will be on campus next weekend. Deaver is an interesting prospect as he has a similar mold to that of Logan Thomas in last years class. Braxton does have good hands and seems to be pretty athletic on film so I wouldn't be too surprised to see him earn an offer as well next weekend. Currently the tight end has four scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, East Carolina, Wake Forest, and Marshall.
Dominique Guinn-Bailey, a defensive end out of Churchland High School in Portsmouth, VA, will attend the camp next week. Dominique pulled in his first offer earlier this week from UVA so it will be interesting to see how the Hokies respond next weekend. The coaches are still looking to take one more defensive end in this class so Guinn-Bailey has a good chance to earn an offer.
Speaking of defensive ends, Kareem Martin will be on campus next weekend as well. Martin is a 3 star recruit out of Roanoke Rapids, NC. The talented defensive end has an impressive offer list as he holds an offer from Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, NC State, Penn State, Stanford, UVA, Virginia Tech, ECU, and Wake Forest. Kareem seems to be fairly open to all schools right now but hopefully Tech can make an impression on him next weekend. He certainly would be a nice pickup and would complete a great defensive line hall for 2010.
Tech will also be hosting a few talented 2011 recruits next weekend. Corey Marshall is going to be a highly recruited defensive tackle from Dinwiddie next year but it wouldn't surprise me to see Marshall wrap up his recruitment fairly early especially since the Hokies have already verbally offered him. Marshall is a tad undersized right now at 6'1", 255 pounds but he's just a rising Junior so he still has two years left to fill out his frame a little more.
Dominique Patterson will be a name to watch next weekend as he could be a player that earns an offer by competing in the camp. Patterson is a little on the thin side at 6'2", 205 lbs but he has a nice frame and has the speed to play either outside linebacker or rover at the collegiate level. Since he doesn't currently hold any offers, if he were to receive one from Tech, he could end his recruitment next weekend as well.
Two cornerbacks to watch next weekend will be from Bethel high School here in Virginia and Kyle Fuller from Maryland. Fuller is the younger brother of a Hokie great Vincent Fuller who of course, played here back in 2002 and 2003. Walker's recruitment has been surprisingly slow so far even though he seems like a talented player on film. With Louis Young committing to Stanford, Tech still needs to find one or two more cornerbacks in this class so Rijo has a great chance to earn an offer. Fuller already holds an offer from Virginia Tech but has added a Duke, Kansas, Maryland, and Syracuse offer since then.
Finally, Nick Dew, the ESPN 150 member will be on campus next weekend. Dew stated that he will more than likely commit to Virginia Tech this summer but wanted to take his time and make sure he was making the right choice. Dew is a heat seeking missile at safety (so you can see why Coach Foster likes him so much) and will more than likely be a rover, free safety, or outside linebacker at Virginia Tech.
That's a brief rundown of some of the confirmed recruits that will be on campus on July 11th. There will probably be around 100 kids there overall including most of those who have committed in the 2010 class already. Zack McCray, Nick Acree, Tahrick Peak, Derrick Hopkins, Ricardo Young, Mark Leal, and Caleb Farris will all be in Blacksburg next weekend as well.
However, next weekends camp will be uncontested, which will lead to some big names possibly showing up.
Perhaps one of the more nationally known recruits, Florida commit and 5 star athlete Matt Elam could be making his way to Blacksburg with his teammate Robert Clark. Elam is ranked as the 5th best player in the 2010 class according to Rivals.com but has admitted that he will more than likely follow his teammate around why he takes his visits.
Clark is a talented athlete in his own right as he holds 11 total offers including one's from Louisville, Auburn, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. There's no guarantee that these two guys will come next weekend but it's a safe bet that they will visit sometime this summer.
Virginia Tech commit Mark Leal will be heading up to Blacksburg next weekend and he will bring his teammate and 4 star wide receiver James Louis along with him. Louis already has a VT offer in hand and currently has Tech in his top 5. With both Jayron Hosley and Mark Leal recruiting him for VT, I wouldn't be surprised to see Tech pull out in front for the "Eddie Royal like" wide receiver.
The Hokies still need to find another offensive lineman in this class and one player to keep in eye on is Jake Schaap from the great state of New York. Schaap is a bit on the short side for a lineman at 6'2", but he makes up for it with his strength and use of leverage on the line. Jake could play either guard or center at the collegiate level and if he earns a VT offer, look for him to go ahead and commit.
Braxton Deaver, a tight end out of Charlotte, North Carolina, will be on campus next weekend. Deaver is an interesting prospect as he has a similar mold to that of Logan Thomas in last years class. Braxton does have good hands and seems to be pretty athletic on film so I wouldn't be too surprised to see him earn an offer as well next weekend. Currently the tight end has four scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, East Carolina, Wake Forest, and Marshall.
Dominique Guinn-Bailey, a defensive end out of Churchland High School in Portsmouth, VA, will attend the camp next week. Dominique pulled in his first offer earlier this week from UVA so it will be interesting to see how the Hokies respond next weekend. The coaches are still looking to take one more defensive end in this class so Guinn-Bailey has a good chance to earn an offer.
Speaking of defensive ends, Kareem Martin will be on campus next weekend as well. Martin is a 3 star recruit out of Roanoke Rapids, NC. The talented defensive end has an impressive offer list as he holds an offer from Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, NC State, Penn State, Stanford, UVA, Virginia Tech, ECU, and Wake Forest. Kareem seems to be fairly open to all schools right now but hopefully Tech can make an impression on him next weekend. He certainly would be a nice pickup and would complete a great defensive line hall for 2010.
Tech will also be hosting a few talented 2011 recruits next weekend. Corey Marshall is going to be a highly recruited defensive tackle from Dinwiddie next year but it wouldn't surprise me to see Marshall wrap up his recruitment fairly early especially since the Hokies have already verbally offered him. Marshall is a tad undersized right now at 6'1", 255 pounds but he's just a rising Junior so he still has two years left to fill out his frame a little more.
Dominique Patterson will be a name to watch next weekend as he could be a player that earns an offer by competing in the camp. Patterson is a little on the thin side at 6'2", 205 lbs but he has a nice frame and has the speed to play either outside linebacker or rover at the collegiate level. Since he doesn't currently hold any offers, if he were to receive one from Tech, he could end his recruitment next weekend as well.
Two cornerbacks to watch next weekend will be from Bethel high School here in Virginia and Kyle Fuller from Maryland. Fuller is the younger brother of a Hokie great Vincent Fuller who of course, played here back in 2002 and 2003. Walker's recruitment has been surprisingly slow so far even though he seems like a talented player on film. With Louis Young committing to Stanford, Tech still needs to find one or two more cornerbacks in this class so Rijo has a great chance to earn an offer. Fuller already holds an offer from Virginia Tech but has added a Duke, Kansas, Maryland, and Syracuse offer since then.
Finally, Nick Dew, the ESPN 150 member will be on campus next weekend. Dew stated that he will more than likely commit to Virginia Tech this summer but wanted to take his time and make sure he was making the right choice. Dew is a heat seeking missile at safety (so you can see why Coach Foster likes him so much) and will more than likely be a rover, free safety, or outside linebacker at Virginia Tech.
That's a brief rundown of some of the confirmed recruits that will be on campus on July 11th. There will probably be around 100 kids there overall including most of those who have committed in the 2010 class already. Zack McCray, Nick Acree, Tahrick Peak, Derrick Hopkins, Ricardo Young, Mark Leal, and Caleb Farris will all be in Blacksburg next weekend as well.
Thursday, July 2
Article on VT Signee David Wilson
I'll be honest here, ever since I started following recruiting and really paying attention to high school football each fall; there are a lot of kids out there that are special athletes. However, a lot of those kids fail to realize the potential they have and end up not living up to that hype or lose interest because the lack the toughness to push themselves to be great.
David Wilson isn't one of those kids. He is just one of those players that make you say "wow" every time he touches the football. I was really excited when we signed Ryan Williams back in 2008, I was ecstatic when Tech signed David Wilson last year.
Clemson can keep thunder and lightening because Tech has a trio of running backs now that will give defensive coordinators migraines for the next 4 years.
Now after that introduction, here is a great article one of our newest Hokies, David Wilson.
http://www.cantonrep.com/highschool/x135736365/Todd-Porter-Team-USAs-Wilson-leaves-them-feeling-red-white-and-blue
Wednesday, July 1
Justin Taylor Commits to Virginia Tech
The Hokies received a bit of a surprise commitment on Wednesday as three star defensive end Justin Taylor decided to commit to Virginia Tech.
Taylor was scheduled to visit North Carolina State again this week but decided that Blacksburg was the place for him. Justin trimmed his list to just NC State and Virginia Tech back in early June.
The three star defensive end was very highly recruited even though he has only played one year of organized football. He held offers from Virginia Tech, NC State, Arkansas, East Carolina, Kentucky, and Auburn.
Taylor's head coach Luke Little touched on his talented defensive end
“Justin has only played football one year, but he is being looked at as a linebacker or quick end,” Little told the News Observer.
In Virginia Tech's system, Justin will more than likely be a defensive end and could play either the STUD or the weakside end position.
Taylor is the 11th commit of the Hokies 2010 recruiting class.
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