HokieCentral - Football Recruiting Flash Updates

Football Recruiting Round-Up Report
by James Arthur, HokieCentral
2/6/00

On Saturday, February 5th, Greg Roberts' Sports Club and Boomer's Deli in Roanoke held their 3rd Annual Recruiting Round-Up rally, much to the delight of over 300 Virginia Tech football recruiting fans in attendance.

Throughout the day, over the course of three sessions, Hokie fans were treated with an entertaining look at the incoming recruiting class, and also enjoyed some surprise guests along the way. Shayne Graham, Keith Short, and John Engelberger were the special "player-guests", and I would like to take just a moment to thank them on behalf of all Hokie fans for not only being at the rally, but for their great careers as Hokies. They were polite, entertaining, gracious, and went out of their way to make sure everyone in attendance that wanted a picture, or autograph, was not disappointed. These fine young men are Hokies in every sense of the word, and will represent Virginia Tech well at the next level.

Additionally, Corey Moore had been scheduled to be in attendance, but the New York Jets made arrangements at the last minute for Corey to be in New York on Saturday for a pre-draft workout. Corey was gracious enough, however, to allow Greg Roberts to bring his Lombardi and Nagurski awards to the event for everyone to see up-close and get a few pictures. The awards are very impressive. Once again, on behalf of all Hokie fans, congratulations Corey, and good luck in the draft. HokieCentral.com would also like to thank Greg Roberts, and all of the staff at Greg Roberts Sports Club and Boomer's Deli for staging this event. HokieCentral.com was proud to be a part of the event by providing the sound equipment and monitoring. Now, on to the juicy stuff!

I would like to break up the report into two sections: the recruiting class information and observations, and additional information about the current Virginia Tech team.

Please allow me to make a brief disclaimer. Much of this information is my observations, especially about the recruiting class. I will not be directly quoting any coaches or football staff members that were in attendance, and much of the information about the current team is a tentative snap-shot of where we stand at this time. Spring practice is expected to bring lots of opportunity for many players on the Virginia Tech team, so much of this information can and will change over the course of the next few months.

The Recruiting Class

I continue to be impressed with the Virginia Tech incoming recruiting class, even more so now that I've had a chance to see some of them on tape. Additionally, you'll be happy to know all members, except one, of the incoming class are NCAA Div I qualified at this time. The lone unqualified member is expected to qualify at a later date. The one unqualified recruit's name was not released, and it's really not important. If the coaches are not worried about it, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Here are my observations on the incoming recruits:

Name	Posn	HT	WT	40	High School
Mikal Baaqee	LB	6'0	217	4.5	Hyattsville-DeMatha MD
Strong, physical linebacker that seems to run well and has quick feet. Will need more weight, and will need to get stronger. Seemed to play with intensity. HC speculates he'll redshirt.
Ronald Burns	P	6’0	175	4.4	St. Augustine HS LA
Goes by "Vinnie". Impressive looking punter on tape. Showed the ability to boom long punts, as well as get good hang time on short punts (attempts to pin opposing team deep). Will get the opportunity to compete for punter position in August. Hard to predict a redshirt or not, with punter position being so wide open.
Travis Conway	OL/C	6'4	235	4.9	JR Tucker HS Richmond VA
Good looking prospect on the offensive line, and his long-snapping is indeed impressive. Really rockets the ball back to the punter. Will likely win our special teams snapping duties, both long-snapper and short-snapper. HC predicts he will not redshirt.
Chad Cooper	LB	6'3	205	4.6	Fairfax Oakton HS VA
Wore # 41. Shades of George DelRicco both in his jersey number and on the field. Looked physical, powerful and hit hard. Showed good lateral movement. It will be interesting to see in August how he does. Too difficult to tell if he'll redshirt at this time. A productive two-a-day camp could get him on the field in September.
Mike Daniels	DB	6'1	180	4.5	Fairfax HS, VA
Lousy film quality, thus hard to tell much. Did see him make an athletic interception from the free safety position. Will get looks at free safety in August. HC predicts a redshirt, but again, two-a-days could be interesting.
James Davis	DE	6'4	250	4.7	FUMA (Highland Springs Va)
HC liked the way he hustled on every play. Physical. HC predicts he'll be in the defensive end mix in September.
Jason Davis	QB	6'2	195	4.5	Sevierville-Seymour HS, TN
No tape. He will get a chance to compete for punter/kicker duties. Redshirt or not may depend on the special teams situation.
Jonathan Dunn	OL	6'7	315	5.2	Tallwood HS Va Beach VA
Just huge. Dwarfed some of the others on the field with him. Some good pancake blocks, and jokes were cracked about him playing guard and tackle at the same time. HC predicts redshirt, but is excited to watch him develop over the next few years. Impressive size.
Sam Fatherly	DB	6'0	185	4.5	Williamsport HS, PA
No tape. Is expected to get first looks at cornerback, and then safety this spring. Redshirt or not is too hard to predict due to not enough information.
Vincent Fuller	ATH	6'2	170	4.4	Woodlawn HS Balt. MD
Very impressive athlete. VT offered him while he camped at VT last summer. Excellent speed, shifty runner in the open field. HC predicts he will play somewhere on the team as a true freshman.
Eric Green	WR/CB	6'0	178	4.4	Clewiston HS, Clewiston, FL
Another very impressive athlete, and HC considers this to be a huge "get" due to the WVU situation. Played QB on the tape and had some very "Vick-like" moves while scrambling. Seemed to have excellent field vision, and the "juke" ability. Will get his first looks at receiver, but may get looks at defensive secondary. HC predicts he'll play as a true freshman somewhere, probably defensive secondary.
Michael Jackson	TE	6'4	240	4.5	Moeller HS Cincinnati OH
Interesting to note his excellent film clips in quality and quantity. It is obvious that national high school powerhouse, Moeller, has a better budget for film than most. Also noted one time VT target and visitor, Michael Munoz, on the clips as well and he was very big. Jackson looked good blocking, and showed nice movement on his pass routes. Seemed to have good hands. Blocked well on special teamsl. HC predicts he'll redshirt due to depth at TE and OL.
Richard Johnson	DB/WR	6'0	180	4.4	Milford Mills HS Balt. MD
Exceptional athlete! At times he looked like he was just "toying" with the opposing team from the QB position. Like Green, he showed excellent speed and moves, with outstanding field vision and running ability. Again, flashes of "Vick-like" moves with that uncanny ability to sense and escape sure tackles. It was joked that the only thing VT coaches could do with Johnson was mess him up. HC was very impressed with him on tape. It will be hard not to play him as a true freshman. HC predicts he'll begin at receiver, and end up seeing playing time at cornerback.
Jason Lallis	DE/TE	6'3	230	4.6	Hyattsville-DeMatha HS MD
Showed more film at DE than TE. Looked physical and seemed to pursue well. Will get looks at DE in August. HC predicts redshirt just to get bigger and stronger.
Jared Mazzetta	TE	6'4	245	4.8	Hunterdon CHS Flemingtn NJ
No tape. It was mentioned he has good hands. HC predicts redshirt at this time due to depth at TE and OL.
Kevin McCadam	DB	6'2	205	4.5	Grossmont CC, El Cajon, California
No tape. McCadam was a late signee to this class, and was not discussed at this function because he hadn't officially signed when the function took place.
James Miller	DE	6'5	240	4.6	Fort Lauderdale HS FL
Limited tape. Only 2 clips, so hard to get a good feel for abilities. Seemed to be strong. HC predicts redshirt.
Robert Ramsey	OL	6'4	300	5.2	Montour HS McK-Rocks PA
Looked big on the OL. Limited amount of film, but seemed to block well. HC predicts redshirt.
Channing Reed	DL	6'3	285	na	Montgomery JC, Rock. MD
HC was impressed with Reed on tape. Quick for a big man, and looked strong. Will have 2 years to play 2 at VT, so he'll be in the DT mix in August.
Josh Spence	ATH	6'1	205	4.5	Floyd HS VA
Already one of HC's favorites. Good looking tailback with an excellent first move. Hard to tackle, and seemed to be tough as nails. At linebacker, showed excellent speed on LB blitz's, and seemed to be an aggressive hitter. Will get first looks at VT at tailback in August. Too hard to predict redshirt or not on Spence at this time.
Malcolm Wooldridge	DL	6'3	295	5.0	Hargrave Military/BR FL
No tape. The delay on his LOI was that his parents in Florida had to sign it as well. Thus, the extra day or so was needed to get it to Virginia Tech. Is expected to get his first looks on the defensive line. Too hard to predict redshirt at this time due to needed depth on defensive line.

In summary, HokieCentral.com was most impressed with Fuller, Green, and Johnson due to overall athletic ability and excitement level, but was very impressed with all of the recruits shown on film. This is an outstanding recruiting class for Virginia Tech.

The Current Team

First and foremost, HokieCentral.com is sad to report it is very unlikely that Reggie Samuel will play football for Virginia Tech again. His knee injury and operation has resulted in serious scar tissue that makes it highly unlikely he'll return to the team. The amount of scar tissue resulting from the operation is rare, but in Samuels' case, it's severe. Samuels' continues to rehabilitate his knee, but he will not be participating in Spring drills. Good luck Reggie, from your fans at HokieCentral.com.

HokieCentral.com would also like to put a rumor to rest about linebacker Thomas Woodley. Woodley was suspended from the team in the Fall for academic reasons. He is still a Virginia Tech student, and he has been asked back by the coaching staff to participate in Spring drills. If Woodley takes care of business off the field in the Spring, he will continue to be a member of the team. HokieCentral.com is very hopeful that Woodley will continue to be a Hokie football player, because we've been told that he is a "heck-of-a player that can hit so hard, he can break some of the equipment."

Along those lines, there are also a few current members of the team that need to "step it up" in the classroom, and are expected to do so. HokieCentral.com will not speculate on these players by name, and feel it is inappropriate to do so on the message board. HokieCentral.com requests that all message board posters refrain from speculating about current players academic status unless the school releases information for public knowledge, such as the Andre Kendrick situation. HokieCentral.com did however want to put a stop to the rumor-mongering about Woodley.

On offense, there won't be many changes to look for other than the absence of Andre Kendrick. At tailback, look for Suggs, Ward, Burnell, and Easlick to have opportunities to shine. HokieCentral.com has been told to keep an eye on Easlick, as he could be the surprise of the Spring at tailback. If the Hokies had to play a game next week, Lee Suggs would be the starting tailback.

At fullback, Marvin Urquhart will not be moving to another position. HokieCentral.com has been told he is a "natural" at fullback, but he must lose weight off his current 270 lb frame. Along with Hawkins and Furguson, there is also no plans to move Ryan Angelo or Joe Wilson. Everyone, especially the younger players will see action at fullback in the spring.

At quarterback, HokieCentral.com has been told that Dave Meyer will be returning for his final season of eligibility, and is the solid number two QB behind Vick. Grant Noel still has some development in front of him to become more consistent. Jason Davis will see some practice time in the Spring at quarterback.

At receiver, there are currently no plans to move Deon Provitt or Shawn Witten to defensive back this spring. They will continue to compete for time at receiver, along with Davis, Parham, Johnson, Wilford, Harrison, and others. Harrison will be participating in spring drills and continues to develop. HokieCentral.com has been told to tell all the fans to keep an eye on Ernest Wilford as he will be the next "great" receiver at Virginia Tech.

At tight end, Keith Willis has indeed dropped basketball, and will be hitting the weight room with a vengeance.

On the offensive line, right now Steve DeMasi would start at center over Jake Grove due to game experience. The coaching staff is working hard at getting a scholarship lined up for DeMasi, and have stated they will make sure DeMasi is "taken care of." The rest of the offensive line starters and second string won't change much at all. Anthony Nelson needs practice reps on the field, because he has had to deal with lots of nagging injuries that have kept him from getting in the necessary reps. Jacob Gibson will continue to get offensive line reps.

On Special Teams, specifically the kicking game, everything is going to be up for grabs, but many are very high on walk-on Carter Warley at kicker. Shayne Graham has stated that Warley has a very strong leg, and at times in the past has beat Graham in practice contests. Warley needs to continue to work on consistency and the mental aspects of kicking, such as confidence level.

On defense, look for lots of competition everywhere. Spring practice is going to be both interesting and fun for Hokie fans to follow in regards to the defense due to so many positions being "up for grabs".

On the defensive line, look for Pugh, Beasley, Thenus Franklin, Dan Wilkenson, and Kevin Lewis to see lots of time at defensive tackle. In a bit of a surprise to HokieCentral.com, look for Derrius Monroe and Nathaniel Adibi to compete with each other for one defensive end spot, and Ron Cook, Lamar Cobb, and Cols Colas to compete at the other defensive end spot. Also, keep an eye out for walk-on Mark Costeen at defensive end.

At linebacker, look for Jake Houseright to move into the front-runner spot for the MIKE linebacker spot, and Ben Taylor to be the front-runner at the BACKER position, with Vegas Robinson and Chris Buie working hard for back-up positions. Brian Welch will not be participating in spring drills due to continued rehab on his injured knee. He is expected back in August. Additionally, look for Nick Sorensen to move up closer to the line at the WHIP linebacker spot, as well as T.J. Jackson and Philip Summers. Michael Crawford could see spring action at both whip and rover.

At free safety, there's going to be lots of competition among many of the younger players to see who fits in well. Watch for Willie Pile to continue his progress made in the JV games this past season, and get lots of looks at free safety. Also, keep an eye out for walk-on Billy Hardee, as Hardee has impressed the coaches thus-far.

At cornerback, watch for Garnell Wilds to continue to develop. The coaches are hopeful that they'll be able to reach the point where Whitaker and Wilds would be a solid CB duo, allowing the staff the ability to slide Larry Austin over to safety, if needed, similar to the way Anthony Midget was played this past season. Austin is a versatile player, and is believed to be able to handle the "double-duty". Wilds continues to impress the staff in his development, and was literally an injury to a starter or backup CB away from playing this past season, and was dressed out for that reason.

As stated earlier, much of this can and will change over the course of the next 3 or 4 months during Spring drills. Stay tuned.

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