Ocean Lakes Junior QB/ATH Earns Early Offers September 9, 2009 Senior wide receiver Justin Hunter has received much of the headlines in Chris Scott's Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) program, and deservedly so, but another national recruit is emerging. Junior quarterback Lafonte Thoroughgood, a 6-2, 212-pound prospect, has earned three official offers already with a fourth likely on the way any day. more
Alabama Game Analysis: Hokies not Sharp Enough to Beat Tide September 8, 2009 It was a tough game with a disappointing finish and there are a lot of things that need to be improved, but there were also some positives to take away as well. It is easy to look at the lack of offensive production and conclude that another frustrating year is ahead. It is also easy to look at all the missed tackles and big plays given up by the defense and wonder if expectations are too high on that side of the ball. more
Star WR Considering Six September 8, 2009 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) standout wide receiver Brandon Coleman is focused on six schools right now, including four ACC programs and two Big East programs. The 6-6, 200-pound senior remains in no rush to commit, instead choosing to focus primarily on his senior season. more
Monday Thoughts: Alabama September 7, 2009 I saw a lot of encouraging signs Saturday night for the 2009 Hokies, but I also saw a lot more of the same-old-same-old. On the positive side, Tech played hard and played with composure, and one new player in particular, Ryan Williams, really stood out. But on the offensive side of the ball, the team once again struggled with many of the same issues we have seen for three years running now. more
Around the ACC: September 7, 2009 September 7, 2009 The ACC was supposed to be better this year, but it looks the same after one week of play. Conference teams lost all of their big games to non-conference foes, and two teams even managed to get knocked off at home by 1-AA competition. It's not a good start to the 2009 season. more
Tide Overpower Hokies, Pull Away Late for 34-24 Win September 6, 2009 Atlanta, GA -- Virginia Tech led 17-16 heading into the fourth quarter of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff, but Alabama blew up the Hokies for 18 fourth-quarter points and won going away, 34-24. The Tide overpowered the Hokies and leveraged huge margins in time of possession, offensive plays, and total yards for the win. more
Leal Ready for Tough Opener September 4, 2009 Quarterback Mark Leal's future team, Virginia Tech, kicks off its regular season tomorrow night against a tough opponent. Leal's current team, Atlantic High School (Delray Beach, FL), will do the same tonight.
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Keys to the Game and Matchups to Watch: Alabama September 3, 2009 In the most anticipated opening game in Virginia Tech football history, the seventh-ranked Hokies travel to Atlanta to face the fifth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night. Tech will be on the main stage in college football's opening weekend with high expectations throughout the Hokie Nation. Can Tyrod Taylor lead VT to a big win against one of college football's most storied programs? Can Bud Foster's defense contain dynamic playmaker Julio Jones? These questions and more will soon be answered in Atlanta. more
Dinwiddie DL Scores First Official Offer September 3, 2009 Dinwiddie (VA) defensive lineman Corey Marshall received verbal offers from the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech in June...on the same day, actually. Yesterday, he received an official offer from Tech, and he expects Virginia to come through shortly. The 6-1, 255-pound prospect plans to dive right into the recruiting process this fall. more
Top Junior CB Awaits Two Official Offers September 2, 2009 It's a big week for junior Demetrious Nicholson, who is currently basking in Bayside's (Virginia Beach, VA) 21-17 opening game win over Green Run. Nicholson, like juniors all across the country, is checking his mailbox this week for official offer letters from FBS programs. The 5-11, 165-pound prospect expects at least two offers in the very near future. more
Football Game Preview: #7 Virginia Tech vs. #5 Alabama September 2, 2009 Presented by Kent Square Condominiums: Since this game was announced on December 19, 2008, it's been the biggest thing on the minds of Virginia Tech fans. The Orange Bowl against Cincinnati was just a minor distraction. This is the game Tech fans have been waiting for. It's a chance for the Hokies to prove themselves on national television against a major opponent. It would help the perception of the program nationally, and it would help the Hokies take that ever-elusive "next step." more
Martin Plans to Visit Finalists Once More September 1, 2009 Roanoke Rapids (N.C.) defensive end Kareem Martin couldn't settle on one school prior to the start of his senior season, so he has decided to visit each of his five finalists at least one more time. Roanoke Rapids head coach Russell Weinstein revealed Martin's initial plans and discussed the 6-6, 240-pound prospect's performance so far this season. more
PreSeason Report: Midlothian's Matt Arkema August 31, 2009 Midlothian (VA) opens up its 2009 regular season next Friday, meaning less than two weeks remain before Matt Arkema takes the field for the first game of his senior season. The 6-3 1/2, 290-pound rising senior has come a long way since his first varsity football game, which was two years ago as a sophomore. A key ingredient to Arkema's success - he has accepted a scholarship offer to play at Virginia Tech - is the effort he puts out on and off the field. more
Monday Thoughts: The Reasons This Game is Important August 31, 2009 It's opening game week. And this year, it isn't Northwestern, Central Florida, Arkansas State, or even East Carolina the Hokies open the season with. It's Alabama. The ESPN hype gods have lined up a huge week of promotion for the Chick-fil-A Classic, and the Hokies are at the center of it, matched up with the Tide. It's Tech's biggest season opener since the USC Trojans in 2004, and it has galvanized Hokie Nation to look forward to the season opener more than ever before. How important is this game? Let us count the ways. more
Around the ACC: August 31, 2009 August 31, 2009 The summer is over, and college football is here. The season kicks off in prime time on Thursday night with a big ACC-SEC battle, and continues on Saturday with an even bigger battle between the two leagues. ACC teams will also be facing foes from the Pac-10 and Big 12 during the opening week of the season. more
Alabama Update: Crimson Tide Have Questions at Quarterback and Offensive Line August 28, 2009 You've spent the month of August learning about Virginia Tech's football team, but you might be curious as to what's been happening in practice in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide have been preparing for this football game as hard as Virginia Tech, and today we'll bring you an Alabama update. more
Robinson Puts Recruiting on Hold August 28, 2009 Recruiting has taken a backseat for Alcoa (TN) tight end/defensive end Tyler Robinson, who is now focused on finishing out his high school career in style. The 6-3 1/2, 255-pound senior, Class 2A Mr. Football lineman in Tennessee last season, looks to help Alcoa capture its sixth straight 2A state title. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: Projected Standings August 28, 2009 With every other website and newspaper making their preseason predictions, it's about time for TSL to jump on the bandwagon. Here are the projected records and standings for ACC football in 2009. more
2011 Profile: Osbourn Park's Dominique Terrell August 27, 2009 Dominique Terrell has emerged as one of the top overall prospects in the state of Virginia's 2011 class; in fact, he is rated number one overall right now by VirginiaPreps.com. College coaches have taken notice of the 5-10 1/2, 165-pound Osbourn Park (Manassas, VA) standout, who has been verbally offered by Liberty, Maryland, Pitt, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. more
Andy Ross: Representing Hokies in the NFL August 27, 2009 Four long years ago, TSL ran an interview with Andy Ross, a sports agent with the Octagon Agency. A Virginia Tech grad, Ross represents several high-profile NFL players, including four Hokies. His four Tech clients are Xavier Adibi, Duane Brown, Brandon Flowers and Macho Harris. Ross checks in to update their status, as well as to describe his relationship with them. more
Bonner Talks VT Visit, Senior Season August 26, 2009 Three of Virginia Tech's 2010 class recruits committed to the Hokies before ever stepping foot in Blacksburg. Two of those prospects, including Luella (Locust Grove, GA) cornerback Detrick Bonner, have since visited Tech. And like Atlantic (Delray Beach, FL) quarterback Mark Leal, Bonner left Blacksburg with a good feeling. more
2009 Preseason Practice Report: Top Storylines August 26, 2009 After another week of practice, the Virginia Tech coaching staff has almost set their playing rotation. The Hokies have decided that five true freshmen may have a chance to travel with the team and play this year. All five will have one final shot to impress the coaching staff during today's scrimmage, which is in Lane Stadium and closed to the public. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: All-ACC Team August 26, 2009 After yesterday's ACC unit rankings, today it's time for the 2009 TSL Preseason All-ACC team. The Hokies are represented on offense and defense, and 11 of the 12 conference teams have at least one player on the list. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: Unit Rankings August 25, 2009 Unit rankings aren't easy to do, and you'll rarely find any two individuals who will be in complete agreement. Nevertheless, they are fun to do. Here are TSL's ACC unit rankings for the 2009 football season. more
Hargrave Notes: Norman and Rhodes Looking Good August 25, 2009 There is no question about it. Theron Norman and DeAntre Rhodes would much rather be suiting up for the maroon and orange of Virginia Tech than the black and orange of Hargrave Military Academy. But both prospects, recruits in Tech's 2009 class, are embracing the Hargrave experience as much as possible... and they are determined to enroll at Virginia Tech in January of 2010. more
Senior wide receiver Justin Hunter has received much of the headlines in Chris Scott's Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) program, and deservedly so, but another national recruit is emerging. Junior quarterback Lafonte Thoroughgood, a 6-2, 212-pound prospect, has earned three official offers already with a fourth likely on the way any day.
It was a tough game with a disappointing finish and there are a lot of things that need to be improved, but there were also some positives to take away as well. It is easy to look at the lack of offensive production and conclude that another frustrating year is ahead. It is also easy to look at all the missed tackles and big plays given up by the defense and wonder if expectations are too high on that side of the ball.
Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) standout wide receiver Brandon Coleman is focused on six schools right now, including four ACC programs and two Big East programs. The 6-6, 200-pound senior remains in no rush to commit, instead choosing to focus primarily on his senior season.
I saw a lot of encouraging signs Saturday night for the 2009 Hokies, but I also saw a lot more of the same-old-same-old. On the positive side, Tech played hard and played with composure, and one new player in particular, Ryan Williams, really stood out. But on the offensive side of the ball, the team once again struggled with many of the same issues we have seen for three years running now.
The ACC was supposed to be better this year, but it looks the same after one week of play. Conference teams lost all of their big games to non-conference foes, and two teams even managed to get knocked off at home by 1-AA competition. It's not a good start to the 2009 season.
Atlanta, GA -- Virginia Tech led 17-16 heading into the fourth quarter of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff, but Alabama blew up the Hokies for 18 fourth-quarter points and won going away, 34-24. The Tide overpowered the Hokies and leveraged huge margins in time of possession, offensive plays, and total yards for the win.
Quarterback Mark Leal's future team, Virginia Tech, kicks off its regular season tomorrow night against a tough opponent. Leal's current team, Atlantic High School (Delray Beach, FL), will do the same tonight.
In the most anticipated opening game in Virginia Tech football history, the seventh-ranked Hokies travel to Atlanta to face the fifth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night. Tech will be on the main stage in college football's opening weekend with high expectations throughout the Hokie Nation. Can Tyrod Taylor lead VT to a big win against one of college football's most storied programs? Can Bud Foster's defense contain dynamic playmaker Julio Jones? These questions and more will soon be answered in Atlanta.
Dinwiddie (VA) defensive lineman Corey Marshall received verbal offers from the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech in June...on the same day, actually. Yesterday, he received an official offer from Tech, and he expects Virginia to come through shortly. The 6-1, 255-pound prospect plans to dive right into the recruiting process this fall.
Roanoke Rapids (N.C.) defensive end Kareem Martin couldn't settle on one school prior to the start of his senior season, so he has decided to visit each of his five finalists at least one more time. Roanoke Rapids head coach Russell Weinstein revealed Martin's initial plans and discussed the 6-6, 240-pound prospect's performance so far this season.
Midlothian (VA) opens up its 2009 regular season next Friday, meaning less than two weeks remain before Matt Arkema takes the field for the first game of his senior season. The 6-3 1/2, 290-pound rising senior has come a long way since his first varsity football game, which was two years ago as a sophomore. A key ingredient to Arkema's success - he has accepted a scholarship offer to play at Virginia Tech - is the effort he puts out on and off the field.
Dominique Terrell has emerged as one of the top overall prospects in the state of Virginia's 2011 class; in fact, he is rated number one overall right now by VirginiaPreps.com. College coaches have taken notice of the 5-10 1/2, 165-pound Osbourn Park (Manassas, VA) standout, who has been verbally offered by Liberty, Maryland, Pitt, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
Four long years ago, TSL ran an interview with Andy Ross, a sports agent with the Octagon Agency. A Virginia Tech grad, Ross represents several high-profile NFL players, including four Hokies. His four Tech clients are Xavier Adibi, Duane Brown, Brandon Flowers and Macho Harris. Ross checks in to update their status, as well as to describe his relationship with them.
After another week of practice, the Virginia Tech coaching staff has almost set their playing rotation. The Hokies have decided that five true freshmen may have a chance to travel with the team and play this year. All five will have one final shot to impress the coaching staff during today's scrimmage, which is in Lane Stadium and closed to the public.
There is no question about it. Theron Norman and DeAntre Rhodes would much rather be suiting up for the maroon and orange of Virginia Tech than the black and orange of Hargrave Military Academy. But both prospects, recruits in Tech's 2009 class, are embracing the Hargrave experience as much as possible... and they are determined to enroll at Virginia Tech in January of 2010.
