2009 Preseason Practice Report: Smooth Sailing, So Far August 10, 2009 The Virginia Tech football team will practice in full pads for the first time this afternoon, but there is already plenty of information flowing out of Blacksburg. Some comes from the newspapers, and some comes from our sources. We'll summarize it all in our first preseason practice report of the 2009 season. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: Miami August 10, 2009 Miami returns a lot of experience, and they should be better at just about every position on the field. They will have some experience at quarterback and wide receiver this year, unlike last year, and they have two capable running backs in Graig Cooper and Javarris James. They also have arguably the best offensive lineman in the ACC in left tackle Jason Fox. more
30 Hokies Compete in NFL Camps August 7, 2009 NFL training camps have begun, and 30 former Virginia Tech players are vying for spots on rosters across the league. Some have guaranteed spots, while others are scratching and clawing their way for just a chance on the practice squad. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: Maryland August 7, 2009 Maryland suffered huge losses in the offseason. The Terps lost their biggest playmaker in Darrius Heyward-Bey, the first round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders. They lost most of their offensive line, their top four defensive ends, top two defensive tackles, two starting linebackers and two defensive backs. Maryland has been gutted, and their chances of having a good season in an improving ACC are not strong. more
Preseason Report: Loudoun County's Chase Williams August 7, 2009 Loudoun County's (Leesburg, VA) 2008 season was a successful one, with then second-year head coach Todd Hill guiding the Raiders to a 6-5 record that included the school's first playoff appearance since 1999. Virginia Tech recruit Chase Williams racked up 163 tackles last season as a junior, in what was his first full season at linebacker. He did well on offense, too, hauling in 36 receptions and scoring five touchdowns from the tight end spot. more
The Latest on Zach Zwinak August 7, 2009 Linganore (Frederick, MD) running back/linebacker Zach Zwinak has earned offers from top programs throughout the country, including Boston College, California, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Stanford and Virginia Tech, among many others. The 6-1, 225-pound rising senior may be thinking seriously about at least narrowing his list of schools before the start of the 2009 season. more
End of a Quiet Offseason August 6, 2009 With a top ten ranking and one of the most difficult schedules in the country, the 2009 Hokies are justifiably part of the preseason national championship discussion. This brings back memories of the 1999 Hokies, who had the talent and leadership to navigate the pitfalls of an entire season and make the championship game. But there's another reason the 2009 Hokies bring back memories of 1999, at least for us: this offseason was the quietest in a decade. more
Checking in with 2009 Recruit Kory Gough August 6, 2009 TechSideline.com's Phil Martin attended last month's action-packed VHSCA all-star game in Hampton. Following the East squad's 38-31 victory, Phil had positive things to say about Virginia Tech offensive line recruit Kory Gough, a standout out of Liberty High School in Bealeton. Gough, who will enroll at Tech in January of 2010, looks to continue what has been a positive off-season before heading to Blacksburg. more
2009 Virginia Tech Football Preview: Offensive Line August 6, 2009 This time every year we talk about the Virginia Tech offensive line and how they should be better in the upcoming season. Well, it's time to say it again. This Tech offensive line should be better in 2009. The Hokies have good individual talent in their starting lineup and more depth than usual. The big question mark is whether that will translate to improved performance on the field. more
In-State Recruiting Analysis, Part 3 August 5, 2009 The first two articles in this series have provided a quantitative, "macro-level" view of recruiting in the state, but the one aspect that this analysis does not address is the quality of the recruits at an individual level. The next two articles will provide a "micro-level" view of recruiting by evaluating individual players. This article will provide a "re-ranking" of the players in the 2001-2002 through 2003-2004 recruiting classes to see who really won the recruiting battles in-state earlier this decade. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: Georgia Tech August 5, 2009 Georgia Tech finished the 2008 season with a 9-4 record, an impressive showing in Paul Johnson's first year. They were able to run their flexbone offense with much greater efficiency than anyone thought, and they've got almost their entire team returning for the 2009 season. more
2011 Target: LB Trey DePriest August 4, 2009 Springfield (OH) linebacker recruit Trey DePriest heads into his junior season having enjoyed nice recruiting success this off-season.
"The schools that have offered are Cincinnati, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. Ohio State called and said he will have an official offer on September 1st and so did Alabama," said Springfield defensive coordinator John Cupps. more
2009 Virginia Tech Football Preview: Defensive Line August 4, 2009 Virginia Tech returns three of four starters on the defensive line, and preseason practice will pick up right where spring practice left off. Defensive line coach Charley Wiles will attempt to create some depth at both defensive end and defensive tackle. The Hokies were thin at both positions last year, and they can't afford any major injuries up front this year. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: Florida State August 3, 2009 Florida State returns eight starters on offense and should be much improved on that side of the ball. There are some gaps to fill on the defensive side, but Mickey Andrews puts a stout defense on the field every year. FSU will be in contention for the Atlantic Division Championship. more
Martin Makes Final Visit, Eyes Decision August 1, 2009 Roanoke Rapids (N.C.) rising senior Kareem Martin, one of the top defensive end prospects in the East, trekked to Virginia Tech yesterday for what likely will be his last college visit before committing. The 6-6, 230-pound prospect hopes to know his college destination by the end of the month. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: Duke July 31, 2009 Duke was an improved football team last season under first year head coach David Cutcliffe. The Blue Devils went 4-8, with a 31-3 win over Virginia, as well as a 10-7 road win against eventual Music City Bowl Champion Vanderbilt. They were very close in a number of games, losing to Northwestern by four, Wake Forest by three, NC State by 10, Virginia Tech by 11 and North Carolina by eight. more
Farmer Boasts Nine Major 1A Offers July 31, 2009 South Columbus (Tabor City, N.C.) jumbo athlete Ethan Farmer was a force on offense and defense last season as a junior, accumulating 15 catches for 275 yards and three touchdowns at tight end and 55 tackles as a defensive lineman. The 6-4, 262-pound rising senior has potential at a number of positions on the next level, including tight end, interior offensive lineman, defensive end and defensive tackle, though most college coaches project him initially as a tight end or defensive tackle.
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In-State Recruiting Analysis, Part 2 July 31, 2009 In 2000, Al Groh became the head coach at UVA with an expressed goal of dominating the state in recruiting. The Cavaliers achieved some initial success with an aggressive recruiting strategy, and Frank Beamer was forced to respond by making changes in the Hokies' recruiting approach. After eight full recruiting seasons, Virginia Tech clearly has taken the lead in the heated in-state battle with the Wahoos, and Al Groh is now on the proverbial "hot seat" as the coach at UVA. more
2009 Virginia Tech Football Preview: Linebackers July 30, 2009 For the second year in a row, there is a lot of player turnover at the inside linebacker positions. Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall departed following the 2007 season, while Purnell Sturdivant and Brett Warren were seniors in 2008. The whip linebacker spot is in capable hands, but the inside spots will fall to a couple of inexperienced sophomores who are backed up by players with even less experience. more
Big-Time WR Target Considers Options July 30, 2009 Before September, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) wide receiver Brandon Coleman still hopes to narrow his list of double-digit scholarship offers to single digits, but as of now the 6-6, 200-pound prospect has yet to do so. The talented athlete continues to consider all 13 Division 1A offers he received. more
NC Star Plans to Visit VT on Friday July 29, 2009 Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, N.C.) defensive end/linebacker Prince Shembo told TechSideline.com this evening that he "probably" will visit Virginia Tech on Friday. Barring a change of heart, this will be the final visit before the 6-2, 235-pound rising senior makes a college commitment. more
2009 ACC Football Preview: Clemson July 29, 2009 Clemson was supposed to win the ACC last year, but they had a bad offensive line that was decimated by injuries, and it cost them some games. They finished 7-6 with a loss to Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. Tommy Bowden only lasted seven games, and interim coach Dabo Swinney was hired to run the program full time at the end of the season. more
2009 Virginia Tech Football Preview: Defensive Backs July 28, 2009 Certain schools are associated with certain positions because they are known for sending outstanding players at that position into the NFL. Auburn and Miami are both known as "Running Back U", while Penn State is "Linebacker U". That begs the question: when is Virginia Tech going to finally become known as "DB U"? more
In-State Recruiting Analysis, Part 1 July 28, 2009 A critical goal of every major college football coach is to dominate the recruiting of the immediate geographic area. Frank Beamer has always stated that the Hokies need to control the Commonwealth of Virginia in recruiting to become a consistent national title contender, and Al Groh, when hired, emphasized that a recruiting fence needed to be constructed around the state for UVA to become a national power. more
Star Athlete Considering VT for an Official July 28, 2009 6-2, 195-pound Josh Furman, an exceptional athlete who posted an electronically-timed 4.36-second 40-yard dash at a Scout.com combine earlier this year, has earned 13 official Division 1 offers but is looking to narrow his list of schools by August 15th, the first day of Old Mill High School's (Millersville) preseason practice. more
The Virginia Tech football team will practice in full pads for the first time this afternoon, but there is already plenty of information flowing out of Blacksburg. Some comes from the newspapers, and some comes from our sources. We'll summarize it all in our first preseason practice report of the 2009 season.
Miami returns a lot of experience, and they should be better at just about every position on the field. They will have some experience at quarterback and wide receiver this year, unlike last year, and they have two capable running backs in Graig Cooper and Javarris James. They also have arguably the best offensive lineman in the ACC in left tackle Jason Fox.
Maryland suffered huge losses in the offseason. The Terps lost their biggest playmaker in Darrius Heyward-Bey, the first round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders. They lost most of their offensive line, their top four defensive ends, top two defensive tackles, two starting linebackers and two defensive backs. Maryland has been gutted, and their chances of having a good season in an improving ACC are not strong.
Loudoun County's (Leesburg, VA) 2008 season was a successful one, with then second-year head coach Todd Hill guiding the Raiders to a 6-5 record that included the school's first playoff appearance since 1999. Virginia Tech recruit Chase Williams racked up 163 tackles last season as a junior, in what was his first full season at linebacker. He did well on offense, too, hauling in 36 receptions and scoring five touchdowns from the tight end spot.
Linganore (Frederick, MD) running back/linebacker Zach Zwinak has earned offers from top programs throughout the country, including Boston College, California, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Stanford and Virginia Tech, among many others. The 6-1, 225-pound rising senior may be thinking seriously about at least narrowing his list of schools before the start of the 2009 season.
With a top ten ranking and one of the most difficult schedules in the country, the 2009 Hokies are justifiably part of the preseason national championship discussion. This brings back memories of the 1999 Hokies, who had the talent and leadership to navigate the pitfalls of an entire season and make the championship game. But there's another reason the 2009 Hokies bring back memories of 1999, at least for us: this offseason was the quietest in a decade.
TechSideline.com's Phil Martin attended last month's action-packed VHSCA all-star game in Hampton. Following the East squad's 38-31 victory, Phil had positive things to say about Virginia Tech offensive line recruit Kory Gough, a standout out of Liberty High School in Bealeton. Gough, who will enroll at Tech in January of 2010, looks to continue what has been a positive off-season before heading to Blacksburg.
Georgia Tech finished the 2008 season with a 9-4 record, an impressive showing in Paul Johnson's first year. They were able to run their flexbone offense with much greater efficiency than anyone thought, and they've got almost their entire team returning for the 2009 season.
Florida State returns eight starters on offense and should be much improved on that side of the ball. There are some gaps to fill on the defensive side, but Mickey Andrews puts a stout defense on the field every year. FSU will be in contention for the Atlantic Division Championship.
Roanoke Rapids (N.C.) rising senior Kareem Martin, one of the top defensive end prospects in the East, trekked to Virginia Tech yesterday for what likely will be his last college visit before committing. The 6-6, 230-pound prospect hopes to know his college destination by the end of the month.
Duke was an improved football team last season under first year head coach David Cutcliffe. The Blue Devils went 4-8, with a 31-3 win over Virginia, as well as a 10-7 road win against eventual Music City Bowl Champion Vanderbilt. They were very close in a number of games, losing to Northwestern by four, Wake Forest by three, NC State by 10, Virginia Tech by 11 and North Carolina by eight.
Clemson was supposed to win the ACC last year, but they had a bad offensive line that was decimated by injuries, and it cost them some games. They finished 7-6 with a loss to Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. Tommy Bowden only lasted seven games, and interim coach Dabo Swinney was hired to run the program full time at the end of the season.
