virginia TEch
Head Coach Frank Beamer
2009
spring FootbalL
Spring Football 2009
virginia TECH Media Information
2009 Schedule Day
Date
Opponent
Location
TV
Sat.
Sept. 5
vs. Alabama†
Atlanta, Ga.
ABC
Sat.
Sept. 12
Marshall
Blacksburg, Va.
Sat.
Sept. 19
Nebraska
Blacksburg, Va.
Sat.
Sept. 26
Miami*
Blacksburg, Va.
Sat.
Oct. 3
at Duke*
Durham, N.C.
Sat.
Oct. 10
Boston College* (HC)
Blacksburg, Va.
Sat.
Oct. 17
at Georgia Tech*
Atlanta, Ga.
Thurs.
Oct. 29
North carolina*
Blacksburg, Va.
ESPN
Thurs.
Nov. 5
at East Carolina
Greenville, N.C.
ESPN
Sat.
Nov. 14
at Maryland*
College Park, Md.
Sat.
Nov. 21
NC STate* (Hall of Fame)
Blacksburg, Va.
Sat.
Nov. 28
at Virginia*
Charlottesville, Va.
Sat.
Dec. 5
ACC Championship
Tampa, Fla.
† Georgia Dome, Atlanta *ACC game Times & TV to be announced.
ITINERARY: Spring practice is scheduled to run from April 1 through April 25. The annual Spring Game is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field, beginning at 2 p.m. Media accommodations for the game are in the fifth level press box on the west side of the stadium. PRACTICE COVERAGE: Tech will practice each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On Mondays and Fridays, practices are closed to all. On Wednesdays, the stretching session and the first two periods are open to media. Saturday scrimmages are open to media and fans, but media are asked to stand on the East/visitor sideline, behind the end zones or sit in the stands. All practices, except for scrimmages on April 11 and 18, and the Spring Game, are closed to the general public. The Hokies will work out at the football practice fields behind the Merryman Center, or in the event of inclement weather, in Rector Field House. Scrimmages are scheduled to be held at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. Dates and times, listed on this page, are subject to change. Please note that the schedule does not include meeting and conditioning assignments. INTERVIEWS: Interviews with coaches, players and staff will be held in a 15-minute session after each Wednesday practice and then four players requested by media, plus coaches, will be available after the Saturday scrimmages. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Videographers and photographers may go into the stretching area, but must film only from the sidelines once the team goes into the first two periods. Please refrain from edging onto the playing field to avoid any injury to players and/or photographers.
2009 Spring Practice Schedule SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY March 29 March 30 March 31 April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 PRACTICE 1 PRACTICE 2 PRACTICE 3 4:30-6:30 p.m. 4:30-6:30 p.m. 11 a.m. April 5 April 6 April 7 April 8 April 9 April 10 April 11 PRACTICE 4 PRACTICE 5 PRACTICE 6 PRACTICE 7 4:30-6:30 p.m. 4:30-6:30 p.m. 4:30-6:30 p.m. 11 a.m. April 12 April 13 April 14 April 15 April 16 April 17 April 18 PRACTICE 8 PRACTICE 9 PRACTICE 10 PRACTICE 11 4:30-6:30 p.m. 4:30-6:30 p.m. 4:30-6:30 p.m. 11 a.m. April 19 April 20 April 21 April 22 April 23 April 24 April 25 PRACTICE 12 PRACTICE 13 PRACTICE 14 PRACTICE 15 4:30-6:30 p.m. 4:30-6:30 p.m. 4:30-5:30 p.m. 2 p.m. SPRING GAME
Tyrod Taylor
Tech Quick Facts
Location: Blacksburg, Va. Enrollment: 30,000 President: Charles W. Steger Director of Athletics: Jim Weaver Head Football Coach: Frank Beamer (VT ’69) Hokies’ 2008 Record: 10-4 overall; 5-3 ACC Beamer’s Overall Record: 219-112-4 (28 years) Beamer’s Record at Tech: 177-89-2 (22 years) Faculty Chairman of Athletics: Dr. Larry Killough Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference Nickname: Hokies Colors: Chicago maroon and burnt orange Media Relations: Dave Smith (540) 231-6726 Sports Information Fax: (540) 231-6984 Tech Athletics on the Internet: www.hokiesports.com
as of March 31
Pre-Spring Depth Chart
2009 Spring Outlook
Offense (Multiple) SE LT LG^ C RG RT TE QB FB TB FL
2009 Virginia Tech Football
Jarrett Boykin (6-2, 213, So.) Austin Fuller (6-2, 207, r-Fr.) Ed Wang (6-5, 301, r-Sr.) Nick Becton (6-5, 292, r-Fr.) Greg Nosal (6-6, 285, r-So.) William Alvarez (6-4, 326, r-So.) Beau Warren (6-3, 277, r-Jr.) Michael Via (6-6, 277, r-Fr.) OR Richard Graham (6-6, 292, r-Sr.) Jaymes Brooks (6-2, 300, r-So.) Vinston Painter (6-5, 310, r-Fr.) Blake DeChristopher (6-5, 303, r-So.) Andrew Lanier (6-5, 274, r-So.) Greg Boone (6-3, 287, r-Sr.) Chris Drager (6-3, 239, r-So.) Tyrod Taylor (6-1, 216, Jr.) Ju-Ju Clayton (6-0, 215, r-Fr.) Kenny Jefferson (5-9, 220, r-Sr.) Kenny Younger (5-11, 214, r-Jr.) Darren Evans (6-0, 213, r-So.) Josh Oglesby (5-11, 207, r-So.) Ryan Williams (5-9, 205, r-Fr.) Danny Coale (6-0, 205, r-So.) Dyrell Roberts (6-1, 192, So.)
^ returning starter Sergio Render will be held out (shoulder)
Defense (4-3) DE+ DT DT DE OLB* ILB ILB FC FS ROV BC
47 82 56 93 95 98 91 55 26 43 52 51 36 38 21 9 17 14 24 2 23 22 15
Nekos Brown (6-2, 252, Sr.) Steven Friday (6-4, 229, r-Jr.) Demetrius Taylor (6-0, 262, r-Sr.) Kwamaine Battle (6-0, 283, r-So.) Cordarrow Thompson (6-2, 308, r-Sr.) Antoine Hopkins (6-0, 295, r-Fr.) John Graves (6-3, 275, r-Jr.)@ Isaiah Hamlette (6-4, 242, r-Fr.) Cody Grimm (5-11, 202, r-Sr.) Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (6-2, 206, r-Fr.) Barquell Rivers (6-0, 230, r-So.) Bruce Taylor (6-2, 251, r-Fr.) Jake Johnson (6-1, 229, So.) Quillie Odom (6-1, 225, So.) Rashad Carmichael (5-10, 192, r-Jr.) Cris Hill (5-11, 185, r-So.) Kam Chancellor (6-4, 226, Sr.) Lorenzo Williams (6-2, 212, So.) Dorian Porch (5-11, 212, r-Sr.) Davon Morgan (6-0, 196, Jr.)# Matt Reidy (6-0, 210, r-Sr.) Stephan Virgil (5-11, 189, Sr.) Eddie Whitley (6-0, 187, So.)
+ returning starter Jason Worilds will be held out (shoulder) @ started at defensive tackle last season *returning starter Cam Martin will be held out (knee) # will be limited during the spring (knee)
Specialists PK 48 P 97 30 SN 50 63 H 97 30 16 KO 48
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30 35 77 54 75 76 60 67 64 68 71 62 72 8 33 5 12 42 31 32 25 34 19 11
Matt Waldron (5-11, 190, r-Sr.) Justin Myer (6-0, 198, So.) Brent Bowden (6-3, 201, r-Sr.) Brian Saunders (6-0, 197, r-Jr.) Collin Carroll (6-3, 243, r-So.) Matt Tuttle (6-0, 228, r-Sr.) Brent Bowden (6-3, 201, r-Sr.) Brian Saunders (6-0, 197, r-Jr.) OR Jeff Beyer (6-4, 225, r-Sr.) Justin Myer (6-0, 198, So.) Tim Pisano (5-9, 181, r-So.)
Offensive Line
Headlines
himself this spring, and should push for playing time.
Key Losses: Center Ryan Shuman; guard Nick Marshman
CENTER Beau Warren (r-Jr.) – Started three games since stepping onto campus … Is expected to solidify the center position … Has done good things in game situations … Will receive all the first-team reps this spring … Needs to work on the communication aspect of the position and should gain valuable experience.
Key Returnees: Guard Sergio Render; tackle Ed Wang; tackle Blake DeChristopher Render is entering his fourth season as a starter, while Wang is heading into his third. DeChristopher, who has 11 starts under his belt, is the least experienced of the three. With Render sitting out the spring following shoulder surgery, Wang will be called on to be a leader for a talented group of young players who the coaches hope will help solidify the offensive front. Battle to Watch: With Sergio Render out for the spring, the coaches are anxious to see if young Will Alvarez can solidify the backup spot at left guard. Other young players who will be rotating around the line will test Alvarez. Breakout Candidates: Redshirt freshmen Nick Becton, Vinston Painter and Michael Via will all get plenty of attention from the coaches during the spring, and all three have the potential to step up and earn an important role along the offensive front.
Ed Wang
Players LEFT TACKLE Ed Wang (r-Sr.) – Got better later in the season in 2008 … Finished off the season strong with impressive performances in the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl … Had a great off-season … Expected to be a senior leader on the offensive line … Will use this spring to play more physical. Nick Becton (r-Fr.) – Has a load of ability … Coaches are very excited about this spring for him and hope he can play on Saturdays as a redshirt freshman … Spring will be very important, and he needs as many reps as possible.
Michael Via (r-Fr.) – Has gained 17 pounds since arriving at Virginia Tech … Still slightly undersized … An athletic football player … Practiced at left tackle during the fall … Will get work at center during spring practice … This spring will prove very important for him. Richard Graham (r-Sr.) – A versatile player, who can play anywhere up front … Will be used at all five line positions this spring, especially at center … Has started 10 games in his Hokie career … A tough and smart player. Bo Gentry (r-Fr.) – Went through his first fall in 2008 working with the scout team … An extremely
LEFT GUARD Sergio Render (Sr.) – Had offseason shoulder surgery and will not participate in spring practice … Set to return for summer workouts … Will be a four-year starter this fall … A physical player who has a chance for a special senior year. Greg Nosal (r-So.) – Put together a great off-season in the weight room … Has gotten bigger, faster and stronger since stepping onto campus … This spring will be very important and will determine how much playing time he gets … Will start out as a guard after working at tackle during the fall … Is headed in the right direction.
Sergio Render
Will Alvarez (r-So.) – Receives his first real opportunity to get a lot of reps this spring … With the injury to Render, will receive added reps at the left guard position … Will get the opportunity to prove
Blake DeChristopher
hard-worker with a good football mind … Coaches will see how big he gets. RIGHT GUARD Jaymes Brooks (r-So.) – Proved that he could be a good football player last year in the bowl game … Took over the right guard position and played very well in the Orange Bowl after Nick Marshman was declared ineligible … Practiced very well leading up to the bowl game … A physical player with a lot of pop … Still a young player who needs more reps, but has a chance to be special. Vinston Painter (r-Fr.) – Moves to the offensive line from the defensive line … Worked on the offensive line during the last two weeks of practice for bowl preparation … Has all the numbers and is strong, fast and hard-working … Needs to carry his talent over to the field … Coaches are anxious to see how he fits in on the offensive side this spring. Matt Baldwin (r-So.) – A hardworker who does anything the coaches ask of him … Will get more reps this spring to see where he goes. RIGHT TACKLE Blake DeChristopher (r-So.) – Suffered an injury in his first series last fall against East Carolina … Came back from the injury in the fourth game of the season against North Carolina and started the Hokies’ last 10 games … A smart and competitive player who accepts all challenges … Needs to work on technique and other technical issues this spring. Andrew Lanier (r-So.) – Converted from the tight end position … Has gotten bigger, faster and stronger since arriving in Blacksburg … Moves around very well and is very athletic … Coaches will evaluate his improvement after this spring.
Coach Newsome on the offensive line: “We have some guys with opportunities this spring. There are a lot of guys to keep an eye on. Jaymes Brooks has only started one game, the bowl game, and I look for him to improve. With Sergio Render out with an injury, we’ll see if Will Alvarez can step up. We will also be keeping an eye on Vinston Painter, Nick Becton and Michael Via.”
2009 Virginia Tech Football
3
Headlines Key Losses: None Key Returnees: Tight end Greg Boone; tight end Andre Smith; flanker Danny Coale; split end Jarrett Boykin Boone and Smith handled the lion’s share of playing time at tight end in 2008, with both starting in a two tight end set in six of the games. Coale started every game on the way to a Tech freshman record 36 receptions, opening the season at split end and finishing at flanker. Boykin picked up eight starts as a true freshman and was second in receptions with 30. Battle to Watch: The starters are back at the wide receiver positions, but both of them are going to face some stiff competition to keep their jobs. The battles between Jarrett Boykin and Xavier Boyce at split end and Danny Coale and Dyrell Roberts at flanker will be the featured events. Breakout Candidate: After excelling in high school as a running back, Dyrell Roberts found himself starting at flanker as a true freshman in Tech’s 2008 opener. Roberts had his ups and downs as a receiver over the course of the season, showing flashes of his potential as he picked up valuable experience. The coaches are looking for him to show his explosiveness this spring.
Receivers & Tight Ends Players SPLIT END Jarrett Boykin (So.) – Improved his game from the beginning of last year to the end of the bowl game … Caught 30 balls for 441 yards with two touchdowns last year … A big target with good hands, and has gotten better at route-running … Has gotten stronger this off-season … Coaches looking for big things from him in spring practice.
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Greg Boone
Austin Fuller (r-Fr.) – Started his Hokie career on defense … Played wide receiver in high school … Has good hands … Needs to use this spring to improve on routerunning and seeing things better … Like all young receivers, he has to get better at the little things. Xavier Boyce (r-Fr.) – Saw action in three games last season … Received a medical redshirt after suffering a knee injury … Brings added depth to the wide receiver position … Has a big body and is a big target. Prince Parker (r-Jr.) – Primarily a scout-teamer and special teams player for the Hokies last season … Improved during the winter … Will work with the coaching staff extensively this spring. Tony Gregory (Fr.) – Entered school in January … Will spend the spring as a wide receiver after playing running back in high school … Is explosive, fast and can change direction … Will utilize his speed out in space to bring big-play capability to the offense. Randall Dunn (r-Fr.) – Broke his leg during bowl preparation and will not be going through the spring … Will be evaluated in preseason camp to see what he can do.
Danny Coale
Coach Stinespring on the tight ends: “This group brings a lot to the table in all dimensions of the game. There are a lot of things Greg Boone can do, and we need to be prepared to use him in whatever capacity he is needed. With Andre Smith sidelined, there will be more reps for guys like Chris Drager, Sam Wheeler, Eric Martin and Rob Stanton. It’s a great opportunity for them, but they will need to perform at a high level. The position is a highly competitive one and should be an asset for us, a definitive asset.”
FLANKER Danny Coale (r-So.) – Started all 14 games as a redshirt freshman last season … Caught a Tech freshman record 36 passes for 408 yards … A consistent player who gives good effort … Possesses outstanding hands … Needs to improve on route-running and finishing plays this spring.
TIGHT END Greg Boone (r-Sr.) – Played a big role in the offense during the last half of the 2008 season … Was third on the team in receptions (22) … Set a tight end record for the back squat during off-season workouts (620 pounds) … Will spend some time with the quarterbacks during the spring. Andre Smith (r-Jr.) – Started six games in 2008 … Was a dominate blocker down the stretch … Underwent shoulder surgery following the season … Will not participate in spring drills, but will be counted on in the fall.
Dyrell Roberts (So.) – Has a tremendous amount of talent … Saw action in all 14 games last season, and caught 17 passes for 227 yards … Has a bright future … Needs to work on playing faster and seeing things better this spring.
Chris Drager (r-Fr.) – Saw most of his action early in the 2008 season … Coaches want to get him more involved offensively this year … Has toughness, sure hands and the ability to make plays … Is in line to get a lot of reps during the spring.
Patrick Terry (r-So.) – Another receiver who is explosive and can run … Coaches are looking for big things this spring … Has the ability to contribute to the offense.
Sam Wheeler (r-Sr.) – Was hampered last fall by the lingering effects of knee surgery performed during the 2007 season … Practiced but saw only limited action … Will get a fresh start and a lot of reps this spring … Has a great feel for Tech’s passing scheme … Will be competing for playing time.
Brandon Dillard (r-Sr.) – Tore his Achilles tendon heading into his senior year … Is back at full strength after going through winter conditioning … Got better each week going into last season … Will try to catch up and get his speed back this spring. Ben Barber (Fr.) – Enrolled in January … Will work at the flanker position during the spring … Tech’s coaches are anxious to see what he can do.
2009 Virginia Tech Football
Rob Stanton (r-Jr.) – A good prospect who the coaches would like to bring along … Has shown he can catch the football … Will get his share of work in the spring. Eric Martin (Fr.) – Entered school in January … Went through the off-season strength and conditioning program … Coaches will use the spring to see where he fits in the tight end picture.
Coach Sherman on the wide receivers: “Our receivers are all young, and they are all in the same group. Right now the three guys who played significantly have an edge, but we are all about putting our producers on the field. Guys that can make plays and do it consistently, those are the guys who are going to play. We all understand we are in the developmental stage, and we need to get better. We are looking forward to doing that. We have to compete, be consistent, but more importantly we have to make plays.”
Running Backs & QBs Headlines Key Losses: Quarterback Sean Glennon Key Returnees: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor; tailback Darren Evans Taylor took over the starting duties in game three last season and made 10 starts after picking up five starts as a true freshman in 2007. He has a 13-2 record as the Hokies’ starting signal caller. Evans became the first Tech freshman and just the sixth freshman in ACC history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. His 1,265 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns scored last season were both Tech marks for a freshman. Battle to Watch: One of the most important goals of the spring is to settle on and begin developing a number two quarterback. The two contenders for the position are a pair of redshirt freshmen, Joseph “Ju-Ju” Clayton and Marcus Davis. Few battles will be more important. Breakout Candidate: Young tailback Ryan Williams turned a lot of heads while spending a redshirt season working with the scout team.
Players QUARTERBACK Tyrod Taylor (Jr.) – Stepped into the starting quarterback position last season and led the team to an ACC Championship and Orange Bowl title … Extremely dangerous with his feet, rushing for 738 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008 … Turned the corner the last four games of last season … Completed 13 of 22 passes for 140 yards while rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl … Rushed for two touchdowns against Boston College in the ACC Championship game … Made tremendous strides last season and looks to continue his progress this spring. Joseph Clayton (r-Fr.) – Goes by Ju-Ju … Redshirted during the fall
everything doctors tell him … Will not participate in spring.
… This spring will be extremely important to his progress as a QB … Has had an introduction to the system but will learn it more this spring … Will take some reps with the first team to see what he can do … Will battle for the No. 2 quarterback position. Marcus Davis (r-Fr.) – Will battle Ju-Ju Clayton for the backup quarterback position this spring … Suffered a shoulder injury last fall while playing wide receiver and missed all of the fall season … A tremendous athlete with excellent tools … Saw action at QB during his last two years in high school … This spring will be very important for him getting comfortable at the quarterback position. Jeff Beyer (Sr.) – A walk-on who has done an outstanding job with the scout team … Signals in the offensive play calls on game days … Travels with the squad … Has a good attitude and is a player you want to have on your football team. Coach O’Cain on the quarterbacks: “This spring is tremendously important to the quarterbacks and to our football team. We need to come out of spring practice with a solid No. 2 quarterback and a solid No. 3 quarterback. Obviously, whichever one of [Ju-Ju Clayton or Marcus Davis] become our two and three has no experience at quarterback at this level, so this spring is very important.” TAILBACK Darren Evans (r-So.) – Coming off a great year in 2008, in which he ran for 1,256 yards on the season … Broke the school single-game rushing record against Maryland with 253 yards from scrimmage … Also did a good job as a receiver, catching 17 passes for 117 yards out of the backfield … An outstanding competitor … Needs to use this spring to get better on his blocking … Coaches expect a good spring from him. Josh Oglesby (r-So.) – Had a great off-season program … Made Super Iron Hokie … Received some playing time in 2008 … A great athlete with both speed and
Zac Evans (r-Fr.) – A walkon who is the type of player coaches love, on and off the field … Works hard and has gotten bigger, faster and stronger since coming to Tech … Son of former Hokie George Evans, who started on the offensive line and lettered from 1979-82.
Darren Evans strength … Has the best hands of anybody in the offensive backfield … Is gradually getting better on his blocking … Coaches believe if he lets himself go he will be an outstanding running back and will have a great spring. Ryan Williams (r-Fr.) – Coaches are looking forward to working with him in his first spring … Received rave reviews from defensive coaches while running on the scout team … Has the rare ability to run over a defender or make people miss … Is very athletic with great strength, speed and quickness … Improved his blocking since stepping on campus last fall … Is going to be a bright newcomer. Kenny Lewis (Sr.) – Coming off an Achilles tendon injury he suffered against Western Kentucky … Described as the hardest-working player running backs coach Billy Hite has ever mentored … Became a leader for the team in 2008, and was missed following the injury … Is currently rehabbing and doing
FULLBACK Kenny Jefferson (r-Sr.) – A costarter at the fullback position in 2008 … One of the Hokies’ best blockers … Is adequate catching the ball out of the backfield … A tough, physical kid who will hit defenders every chance he gets … Is ready to take over the fullback position. Kenny Younger (Sr.) – Tore his ACL early last season ... Plays on almost every special teams unit … Excels in the weight room and has been a Super Iron Hokie ever since his freshman year … Knee is rehabbing well … Could be the sixth fullback in a row to earn a scholarship under running backs coach Billy Hite. Joey Phillips (r-Fr.) – A walk-on who is a very good athlete … Wrestled and played football and baseball in high school … Has shown an outstanding work ethic … Will pick up some reps during the spring … May be able to help early on special teams. Josh Call (r-Fr.) – A physical, tough walk-on … Loves the weight room and is very strong … Will use this spring to lose weight … Needs to improve his agility, movement and footwork … His physical nature could lead him to be a good I-fullback.
Coach Hite on the running backs: “I think going into this spring, all our positions are open. I tell them at the beginning, this is where you win your job, in spring practice. I like what our backfield is all about right now. We have great competitors back there. I think we are very well balanced right now. Out of the three tailbacks that we have on scholarship, you would like to have any one of them in the game at any time. At the fullback spot, with Younger and Jefferson, it is the same thing. Both of those guys have a lot of experience, they are going to be very good players. To me there aren’t any frontrunners right now. It isn’t my decision on who starts, it will be their decision, and they know that going into this spring. Whoever performs the best is the one that is going to play.”
2009 Virginia Tech Football
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Defensive Line Coach Wiles on the defensive line: “We only played three defensive tackles and three defensive ends on a consistent basis last season. We bring back all three tackles and two of those ends, but obviously we’ve got to develop some quality backups. We were lucky last year that we didn’t get anybody hurt up front. Heading into spring, I think we’ve got some good young prospects who are hungry based on the way that they have performed during the off-season. We are going to have some really good competition out there to see who will be the first five guys inside and who will be one through five at end.” play faster … Coaches feel he can play a role on this team … Will get a lot of work.
Cordarrow Thompson
Headlines
Players
Key Losses: Defensive end Orion Martin.
END Jason Worilds (r-Jr.) – A potentially dynamic football player … Can rush the passer, stop the run and block kicks … Injured his shoulder against Furman … Was in on a tackle for loss in 11-straight games and had 12 TFLs in the six games leading up to the Orange Bowl … Did not play in the bowl game … Underwent surgery to his right shoulder … Will miss spring practice but will be ready for the season.
Key Returnees: Defensive end Jason Worilds; defensive tackle John Graves; defensive tackle Cordarrow Thompson Graves and Thompson both started every game in 2008, while Worilds started in 12 of the 14 contests. Worilds, a preseason All-America candidate who earned second team All-ACC honors after posting eight sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss, will sit out the spring after shoulder surgery. Battle to Watch: The defensive line will be a constant series of battles for depth chart positions as a sizeable group of young players challenge four returning players who shared the bulk of last year’s playing time with graduated end Orion Martin. With five end and five tackle spots in the balance, the competition promises to be interesting. Breakout Candidate: Defensive tackle Kwamaine Battle was being prepared for playing time as a true freshman before shoulder problems forced him to redshirt. After missing an entire year of contact work, Battle showed flashes of his ability in limited duty last fall. This spring, the coaches are hoping he will become the explosive player they believe he can be.
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John Graves (r-Jr.) – Started at tackle and played well in 2008 … Is strong and gives great effort … Still has room for improvement … Will work at end to allow the best four players to get on the field during the spring. Nekos Brown (Sr.) – The leading candidate to fill the starting end spot vacated by Orion Martin … Plays extremely hard and is physical at the point of attack … Has been in the end rotation the past two seasons … Will miss Monday and Wednesday practices during the spring due to classes.
Joe Jones (r-Fr.) – Got hurt in his first scrimmage of the preseason and was sidelined for the entire season … A big kid who the coaches need to see run, play and change direction in order to determine where he fits in best. Khalil Latif (r-So.) – Came to Tech as an offensive lineman … Moved to defensive tackle last spring … Switched to end in the fall … Has ability but must stay focused. TACKLE Cordarrow Thompson (r-Sr.) – Joined Graves in starting every game … Dropped his weight and had a good year … Must continue to practice hard and keep his weight right … Will get a bunch of work. Demetrius Taylor (r-Sr.) – A Super Iron Hokie … Served as the third tackle during the fall … Played solid but has more playmaking ability than he showed … Tech’s coaches will be looking for that ability to surface during spring practice.
Steven Friday (r-Jr.) – Has the tools and ability to be successful … Must improve his consistency … Saw limited action in 2008 as the fourth end … Will pick up extra reps in the spring with Brown in class twice a week. Isaiah Hamlette (r-Fr.) – Got a lot of work in preseason camp last fall, but redshirted … Needs to
2009 Virginia Tech Football
John Graves
Kwamaine Battle (r-So.) – Underwent surgery to both shoulders when he first arrived … Competed for the fourth tackle spot during the fall … Saw some playing time late in the year and showed some flashes … Coaches think he can step in and play. Antoine Hopkins (r-Fr.) – Has lost weight and made great preparation during the off-season … Got a good amount of work during fall camp … Has a chance to make an impact in the spring if he plays hard. Courtney Prince (r-Fr.) – Has changed his body around … Posted the fastest 40 time among the tackles and improved his strength during the off-season program … Showed improved work habits … Has impressed the coaches with his eagerness. Justin Young (r-So.) – Possesses good instincts and athleticism … Battled for the number four tackle spot off and on all fall … Needs to build strength … Will get a good look in the spring. Dwight Tucker (r-Fr.) – Another young player who is taking advantage of the strength and conditioning program … Will receive a good look.
Linebackers Headlines Key Losses: Mike linebacker Brett Warren; backer Purnell Sturdivant Key Returnees: Whip linebacker Cam Martin; whip linebacker Cody Grimm; mike linebacker Barquell Rivers Martin and Grimm combined to play all but nine plays at the whip linebacker spot, while Rivers picked up just 28 defensive plays before starting in the Orange Bowl game. Despite the discrepancy in playing time, Rivers will be every bit as important to the Hokies’ hopes at linebacker as his senior teammates. Battle to Watch: Sophomores Jake Johnson and Quillie Odom head into the spring as the top two candidates at the backer position. Both players have limited experience, but considerable potential. The competition should help make both players better. Breakout Candidate: Bud Foster believes Jake Johnson has the potential to be an outstanding linebacker if he continues to grow into the system. During the off-season program, Johnson separated himself physically. This spring, he will get a chance to transfer that success to the field.
Players MIKE Barquell Rivers (r-So.) – Was No. 2 at mike in the fall … Filled in as a starter for the Orange Bowl game and played extremely well … Leaned his body up during the off-season … Will be looked to for leadership … Has great toughness … Is ready to fill the job, but will have to earn it. Bruce Taylor (r-Fr.) – Opened fall camp at linebacker … Was switched to defensive end with the idea he would see the field quicker … A shoulder injury sidetrack those plans and led to a redshirt … Returns to linebacker at the mike spot, but could also spend some time at backer … A big, physical athlete with a great football IQ. Tim Richardson (r-Jr.) – A walkon who rates as a solid football player … Has shown that he has good football skills … Is a little undersized, but bench presses 370. BACKER Jake Johnson (So.) – A part-time starter on special teams and backup at mike linebacker during the fall … Took all the snaps as the top backup for the bowl game … An impressive prospect who plays full speed … Excels in the weight room … Great speed and athleticism … Holds the
Barquell Rivers Coach Foster on the inside linebackers: “I’m looking to find two starters and two quality back ups. We are a little thinner than we thought we would be, but we have some really talented young players who are going to get a lot of reps. It’s kind of a Catch-22, you wish you had more players, but the ones you have are going to get plenty of reps so we can get a great evaluation to see who is ready to play and who is going to take that next step. These players know what’s at stake. They came here to be key factors in this defense, and now it’s time. They are going to have to grow up in a hurry.” early edge at backer due to his off-season performance. Quillie Odom (So.) – Saw some special team duty as a freshman … Also worked as a backup at backer … Has quickness and a chance to be an explosive player … Picked up an extra year of maturity at Hargrave … Is expected to challenge for the starting job as he continues to pick up the system. Lyndell Gibson (r-Fr.) – Got hurt during fall camp and missed some valuable work … Is athletic and explosive … Will get reps to see if he can be in the two-deep.
Cody Grimm Coach Cavanaugh on the whip linebackers: “We rely on our whips to be playmakers. Cody Grimm and Cam Martin made a lot of plays last season and that contributed to the success we had as a defensive unit. Our whips have to be physical players and have the ability to play in space. We will continue to emphasize that this spring.”
Mark Muncey (r-Sr.) – A solid, dependable performer who can provide help at either inside linebacker spot … Knows the Tech system … Works hard … Can be a valuable role player. WHIP Cam Martin (r-Sr.) – Started 13 of 14 games last fall … Tallied 28 solo tackles and 23 assists
… Posted two sacks in 2008 … Will not go through spring practice because of a knee injury that he had surgery on after the Orange Bowl game … Will rehab throughout the spring. Cody Grimm (r-Sr.) – Made a lot of key plays last year, while sharing time with Martin … Had 45 solo tackles and 26 assists … Registered 7.5 sacks and was second on the team with 14 tackles for a loss … Plays the game at a high level … Savvy in pass defense … A key player for the Hokies. Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (r-Fr.) – Needs to gain experience on the field … Had a very good showing during fall practices … Has attracted the coaches attention … Is expected to become a solid backup for the team this season. Alonzo Tweedy (r-Fr.) – Entered school in January 2008 … A big athlete with one spring practice already under his belt … Initially worked at free safety … With Martin out, will get a lot of work this spring.
2009 Virginia Tech Football
7
Defensive Secondary Headlines Key Losses: Cornerback Victor “Macho” Harris Key Returnees: Free safety Kam Chancellor; cornerback Stephan Virgil; rover Dorian Porch; rover Davon Morgan Chancellor and Virgil started every game last season at their respective positions, while Porch picked up the starting duties at rover after Morgan suffered a season-ending injury in the fifth game of the year. All four players have shown big-play ability and figure to provide strong leadership during the spring. Battle to Watch: With Virgil moving over to fill Victor Harris’ spot at boundary corner, the competition for the field corner job is expected to draw a crowd. Speedy Rashad Carmichael is the most experienced candidate, but youngsters Cris Hill and Eddie Whitley also have the ability needed to get the job done. Breakout Candidate: Free safety Lorenzo Williams was one of nine true freshmen to see playing time last season. A knee injury slowed his progress midway through the season, but he still showed the coaches enough to get them excited about what he could accomplish this spring.
Players ROVER Dorian Porch (r-Sr.) – Listed No. 1 on the depth chart this spring … Started nine games and participated in 13 … Made 34 solo tackles with 14 assists … Posted a sack and an interception … Did a great job coming in for the injured Davon Morgan … Had a key interception at the conclusion of the Virginia game … Tackled well in the bowl game against
Cincinnati … Looks to become a more consistent player during the spring. Davon Morgan (Jr.) – Opened 2008 as the starter … Made five starts … Tallied nine tackles and nine assists … Suffered an ACL injury against Nebraska on a kickoff return … Has worked hard to get back into shape and has done a great job thus far … Will get some limited work this spring but will not scrimmage.
Matt Reidy (r-Sr.) – Played in 14 games in 2008 … Listed as the No. 2 for spring practice … Awarded a scholarship this season … Contributes heavily on special teams … A heady football player and extremely good tackler … Has proven to be a solid backup. Ron Cooper (r-Jr.) – Injured his knee in fall camp … Had a strong showing during the 2008 spring season … Looking to return to that level this spring … Adds depth to the rover position. Coach Cavanaugh on the rovers: “The rover plays more to the boundary corner most of the time, and has to be a good force guy and a good tackler. Dorian Porch and Davon Morgan have proven to be solid tacklers and we look for them to continue the same production this spring and fall.” FREE SAFETY Kam Chancellor (Sr.) – Started every game at the position in 2008, posting 27 tackles and 25 assists … First time in his Tech career he will be playing the same position for more than one season … A physical specimen at 6-foot-4 and 226 pounds … Very athletic … Made strides throughout the season and capped it off with a tremendous Orange Bowl showing against Cincinnati … Will be looking to pick up where he left off … Needs to be a leader on the defense this spring. Lorenzo Williams (So.) – Made the dress squad and started on special teams before missing six games with a knee injury … Took in meetings when he was injured and showed a great sense of field presence … In meetings, he is beginning to adapt to the role of his position on the mental side … Had a great off-season in the
weight room … Needs to transfer all that to the field this spring. CORNERBACKS Stephan Virgil (Sr.) – Will play the boundary corner this season … Played field corner in 2008, starting all 14 games … Tied for the team lead with six interceptions … Posted 31 tackles and 12 assists last season … Blocked a kick and forced a fumble … Has progressed further than any player under Coach Gray’s guidance … Will be counted on as one of the leaders in the secondary this spring. Rashad Carmichael (r-Jr.) – Made 14 appearances with a start last fall … Needs to make that step to become a starter … Has worked extremely hard in the weight room this year … Can play either corner position … Will compete for the starting field corner position. Cris Hill (r-So.) – Saw action in 14 games last season … Shows exceptional abilities at the cornerback position but still has some aspects that need continued work … Another candidate for the starting field corner position … May also see some work as a kick returner. Eddie Whitley (So.) – Will be given the chance to compete at the field corner position … Saw some action in all 14 games as a true freshman … Worked at field corner last fall before being moved to free safety in November … Showed great poise as a true freshman … A very versatile and athletic player. Jacob Sykes (r-So.) – Moved to the defensive side of the ball in the fall … Played on special teams … A good athlete … Has developed a better understanding of the position … Needs to become more physical this spring.
Coach Gray on the defensive backs: “I like to see the free safety take command of the position and take command of the field, because you have to be very vocal and be a team leader at the position. Kam Chancellor has done it and we look for Lorenzo Williams to follow him. I also expect to see our corners take their game to another level, especially with the competition going on at the field corner spot. It is going to be fun to see who emerges as the front runner for that role.” Kam Chancellor
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2009 Virginia Tech Football
Headlines Key Losses: Place-kicker Dustin Keys; punt returner Victor “Macho” Harris Key Returnees: Punter Brent Bowden; kickoff man Justin Myer; snapper Collin Carroll Bowden returns for his third season as the Hokies’ starting punter after averaging 40.4 yards a kick last season. Myer handled all but nine of the team’s kickoffs last fall as a true freshman, while Carroll made all of the snaps for extra points, field goals and punts as a redshirt freshman. Battle to Watch: For the third straight spring, the Hokies are looking for a new place-kicker to handle field goals and extra points. Matt Waldron appears to be the leading candidate heading into the spring, but he can expect stiff competition from Justin Myer, Tim Pisano and Chris Hazley. The road won’t get any easier for the spring winner, who will have to battle incoming recruit Cody Journell for the job when practice resumes in August. Breakout Candidate: The player with the best chance from the kicking competition could be sophomore Justin Myer who is expected to continue his kickoff duties, while also contending for the place-kicking and punting jobs. The return game – another point of emphasis for the Hokies – could also produce a candidate from its talented field of competitors.
Collin Carroll
Special Teams Players PLACE-KICKER Matt Waldron (r-Sr) – Battled for the kicking duties last fall … Was added to the dress squad late in the year … Is very good technique-wise … The most consistent of the returning kickers … Holds a slight lead heading into spring workouts.
Coach Beamer on special teams: “For the third year in a row, we have to find a field goal guy. I think we have some good candidates for the job. The kicker that is the most consistent, that’s the one who’s going to end up being our guy. Of course, Macho (Harris) is also gone, and I think returning punts is one of the toughest things to do in college football. Getting a new return guy established is something we want to get done early in spring practice so we can practice situations with our punt team and our punt return team working against each other. We want to let our punt returners get as settled as they possibly can.”
Justin Myer (So.) – Handled Tech’s kickoff job last fall as a true freshman … Has tremendous ability and a strong leg … Gets the ball up quickly … Will be looked at as a punter, too … Consistency will be the key.
candidate at both positions heading into the spring … Coaches are working with him to keep his head up while snapping to help him in protection … Should continue to improve. Matt Tuttle (r-Sr.) – Has dressed as a backup during the past two seasons … Is more experienced as a long snapper, but can handle either job … Has the coaches’ confidence.
Tim Pisano (r-So.) – Was in contention for the kicking duties last fall … Also a strong candidate for the kickoff job … Gets consistent flight, but his accuracy hasn’t been as consistent as it needs to be … Could be the guy if that improves.
Brent Bowden
Chris Hazley (r-Jr.) – Has been around the place-kicking battles for awhile … Shows good flight on his kicks and has a natural action … Is also consistent … Has a shot.
Scott Demler (r-Fr.) – Walked on and worked with the kickers in the fall after school started … Needs to be quite a bit more consistent to figure into the picture. PUNTER Brent Bowden (r-Sr.) – Preparing for his third season as the starter … Is a very knowledgeable kicker … Kicked his best in crucial situations last fall, but coaches would like him to be a little more consistent this year … Has had 52 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line over the past two seasons. Brian Saunders (r-Jr.) – Has been a good back up for Bowden the past two seasons … Has worked to improve his consistency … Possesses a good leg and the ability to boom the ball at times. SNAPPERS Collin Carroll (r-So.) – Handled all the long and short snapping duties last fall … Is the leading
Jon Conlon (r-Jr.) – Competed for the snapping duties during the fall … Another player who is good enough to handle either job … Coaches feel he can do the job if called on. HOLDER Brent Bowden (r-Sr.) – Worked as the holder last spring … Assumed the starting job for the 2008 season and is slated to return to those duties this fall. Brian Sanders (r-Jr.) and Jeff Beyer (Sr.) – Both have worked as scout team quarterbacks and served as the chief backups to Bowden last fall. RETURN MEN Dyrell Roberts (So.) and Ryan Williams (r-Fr.) – Roberts is expected to be one of the top candidates for kickoff return duties in a field that is expected to include Cris Hill, Patrick Terry, Tony Gregory, Brandon Dillard and Williams … Roberts’ 545 yards on kickoff returns last fall were the second most by a freshman in Frank Beamer’s 22 seasons at Tech … Williams is a leading candidate for the punt return job, with spring competition coming from Danny Coale, Rashad Carmichael, Gregory and Roberts.
2009 Virginia Tech Football
9
2009 Spring Roster No. 76 65 93
Name Will Alvarez Matt Baldwin Ben Barber Jacob Barron Kwamaine Battle
vl - - - - -
Pos OG OG FL TE DT
DOB Ht. 6/11/89 6-4 5/16/89 6-6 1/24/90 5-10 12/25/89 6-0 8/24/89 6-0
Wt. 326 301 208 218 283
Cl. Hometown High School H.S. Coach r-So. Woodbridge, Va. C.D. Hylton Lou Sorrentino r-So. Oakwood, Va. Twin Valley Charlie Van Dyke Fr. Alexandria, Va. Edison Vaughn Lewis r-Fr. Fairfax, Va. Chantilly Mike Lalli r-So. Spring Hope, N.C. Southern Nash Brian Foster
54 16 8 97
Russell Becker Nick Becton Jeff Beyer Greg Boone Brent Bowden
- - - 3 2
DE OT QB TE P
8/11/89 2/11/90 8/11/88 9/14/86 5/21/87
6-4 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-3
228 292 225 287 201
r-So. r-Fr. r-Sr. r-Sr. r-Sr.
Manassas, Va. Wilmington, N.C. Fairfax, Va. Chesapeake, Va. Centreville, Va.
Osbourn Park New Hanover W.T. Woodson Oscar Smith Westfield
Brian Beaty Kevin Motsinger Gerry Pannoni Richard Morgan Tom Verbanic
29 81 68 47
Xavier Boyce Jarrett Boykin Jaymes Brooks James Brown Nekos Brown
- 1 1 - 3
SE SE OG C DE
8/17/90 11/4/89 7/31/89 2/14/88 2/18/88
6-4 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-2
223 213 300 311 252
r-Fr. So. r-So. Fr. Sr.
Virginia Beach, Va. Matthews, N.C. Newport News, Va. Richmond, Va. Brandywine, Md.
Landstown Butler Denbigh Clover Hill Thomas Stone
Steve Canter Mike Newsome Tracy Harrod Sean O’Hare Steve Lindsey
21 50 17 12
Josh Call Rashad Carmichael Collin Carroll Kam Chancellor Ju-Ju Clayton
- 2 1 3 -
FB CB SN FS QB
12/13/89 9/9/88 5/24/89 4/3/88 1/10/90
5-10 5-10 6-3 6-4 6-0
255 192 243 226 215
r-Fr. r-Jr. r-So. Sr. r-Fr.
Raleigh, N.C. Clinton, Md. Hopkins, Minn. Norfolk, Va. Richmond, Va.
Woodberry Forest Gwynn Park Edina Maury Hermitage
Clint Alexander Danny Hayes Kim Nelson Dealton Cotton Patrick Kane
19 7
Danny Coale Jon Conlon Ron Cooper Scott Dalton Marcus Davis
1 - - - -
FL SN ROV FS QB
6/27/88 5/20/88 12/28/87 10/24/89 12/21/89
6-0 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-4
205 228 187 194 231
r-So. r-Jr. r-Jr. Fr. r-Fr.
Lexington, Va. Newport News, Va. Richmond, Va. Athens, Ga. Virginia Beach, Va.
Episcopal Warwick Meadowbrook Oconee County Ocean Lakes
Mark Gowin Stan Sexton Bill Bowles Mike Gunn Jim Prince
62 80 33
Blake DeChristopher Austin Decker Scott Demler Brandon Dillard Chris Drager
1 - - 1 1
OT LB PK FL TE
9/8/88 10/2/89 10/11/89 2/3/87 8/23/88
6-5 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-3
303 221 184 177 239
r-So. r-Fr. r-Fr. r-Sr. r-So.
Midlothian, Va. Clover Hill Chantilly, Va. Chantilly Washington Crossing, Pa. The Hun School Martinsville, Va. Bassett Jefferson Hills, Pa. Thomas Jefferson
Sean O’Hare Mike Lalli Dave Dudek James Gilbert Bill Cherpak
13 32 82
Randall Dunn Adam Dyer§ Darren Evans Zac Evans Steven Friday
- - 1 - 1
SE ROV TB TB DE
9/11/89 1/1/90 11/9/88 7/29/90 8/9/86
6-1 5-11 6-0 5-10 6-4
227 183 213 191 229
r-Fr. Fr. r-So. Fr. r-Jr.
Virginia Beach, Va. Roanoke, Va. Indianapolis, Ind. Christiansburg, Va. Hampton, Va.
Ocean Lakes Cave Spring Warren Central Christiansburg Phoebus
Jim Prince John Shuman Steve Tutsie Tim Cromer Bill Dee
35 39 43
Austin Fuller - Bo Gentry - George George - Lyndell Gibson - Jeron Gouveia-Winslow -
SE C TE LB LB
9/12/89 6/17/90 8/1/90 7/5/90 2/21/90
6-2 5-10 6-3 5-10 6-2
207 238 240 236 206
r-Fr. r-Fr. r-Fr. r-Fr. r-Fr.
Richlands, Va. Blacksburg, Va. Salem, Va. Virginia Beach, Va. Ashburn, Va.
Richlands Blacksburg Salem Salem Stone Bridge
Greg Mance Dave Crist Stephen Magenbauer Robert Jackson Mickey Thompson
64 91 26 54
Richard Graham John Graves Tony Gregory Cody Grimm Isaiah Hamlette
3 2 - 2 -
C DE SE LB DE
3/30/87 6/25/87 7/25/89 2/26/87 3/20/90
6-6 6-3 6-0 5-11 6-4
292 275 181 202 242
r-Sr. r-Jr. Fr. r-Sr. r-Fr.
Richmond, Va. Richmond, Va. Virginia Beach, Va. Fairfax, Va. Stafford, Va.
St. Christopher’s Meadowbrook First Colonial Oakton Brooke Point
Paul Padalino Bill Bowles Bill McTyre Pete Bendorf Jeff Berry
9 98 42 36
Chris Hazley Cris Hill Antoine Hopkins Kenny Jefferson Jake Johnson
- 1 - - 1
PK CB DT FB LB
8/9/87 8/29/89 1/26/90 7/9/87 7/29/90
6-1 5-11 6-0 5-9 6-1
194 185 295 220 229
r-Jr. r-So. r-Fr. r-Sr. So.
West Chester, Pa. Richmond, Va. Highland Springs, Va. Port Tobacco, Md. Fredericksburg, Va.
Henderson Highland Springs Highland Springs DeMatha Catholic Stafford
Joe Walsh Scott Burton Scott Burton Bill McGregor Chad Lewis
45 72 92 20 41
Joe Jones Andrew Lanier Khalil Latif Kenny Lewis, Jr. Cam Martin
- - - 3 3
DE OT DE TB LB
2/7/90 2/14/89 10/7/89 10/13/84 4/19/87
6-2 6-5 6-2 5-9 6-1
257 274 262 198 215
r-Fr. r-So. r-So. Sr. r-Sr.
Virginia Beach, Va. Moore, S.C. Chesterfield, Va. Danville, Va. Martinsville, Va.
Green Run Dorman Manchester George Washington George Washington
Shawn Wilson Dave Gutshall Tom Hall Everett Woods Dan Newell
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2009 Virginia Tech Football
No. 86 2 94 48 75
Name Eric Martin Davon Morgan Mark Muncey Justin Myer Greg Nosal
vl - 2 - 1 -
Pos TE ROV LB PK OT/G
DOB Ht. 10/1/89 6-2 1/28/89 6-0 11/22/85 5-11 10/22/89 6-0 4/25/89 6-6
Wt. 250 196 227 198 285
Cl. Hometown High School H.S. Coach Fr. Woodbridge, Va. C.D. Hylton Lou Sorrentino Jr. Richmond, Va. Varina Gary Chilcoat r-Sr. Tazewell, Va. Tazewell Bobby Wyatt So. Manheim, Pa. Manheim Central Mike Williams r-So. Virginia Beach, Va. Kellam Chris Dewitt
38 25 57
Germond Oatneal Quillie Odom‡ Josh Oglesby Daniel Overstreet Vinston Painter
- 1 1 - -
CB LB TB OT OT
1/14/89 5/7/89 9/23/88 7/27/90 10/11/89
5-11 6-1 5-11 6-6 6-5
182 225 207 270 310
So. So. r-So. Fr. r-Fr.
Upper Marlboro, Md. Manassas, Va. Garner, N.C. Blacksburg, Va. Norfolk, Va.
Bishop McNamara Osbourn Park Garner Blacksburg Maury
Robert Prunty Nelson Smith Dave Crist Dealton Cotton
87 24 59
Prince Parker Joey Phillips Tim Pisano Dorian Porch Courtney Prince
- - - 3 -
SE FB PK ROV DT
12/21/87 7/24/90 3/27/89 3/16/87 6/13/89
6-5 5-11 5-9 5-11 6-3
235 218 181 212 270
r-Jr. r-Fr. r-So. r-Sr. r-Fr.
Norfolk, Va. Blacksburg, Va. Milton, Ga. Calhoun, Ga. Mitchellville, Md.
Maury Blacksburg Milton Gordon Central Gwynn Park
Dealton Cotton Dave Crist Scott Walker Bill Long Danny Hayes
23 70 52 11
Matt Reidy Sergio Render Tim Richardson Barquell Rivers Dyrell Roberts
1 3 - 1 1
ROV OG LB LB FL
1/8/87 9/13/86 2/16/87 12/19/88 1/5/90
6-0 6-3 5-10 6-0 6-1
210 319 245 230 192
r-Sr. Sr. r-Jr. r-So. So.
Gaithersburg, Md. Newnan, Ga. Hampton, Va. Wadesboro, N.C. Smithfield, Va.
Damascus Newnan Hampton Anson County Smithfield
Dan Makosy Robert Herring Mike Smith Jody Groom Chris Fraser
30 88 85
Brian Saunders Phil Sayre Justin Sinclair Andre Smith Rob Stanton
- - - 2 -
P/QB DE CB TE TE
2/23/88 5/19/89 4/17/89 9/26/88 12/29/87
6-0 6-2 5-6 6-4 6-4
197 236 171 267 244
r-Jr. Fr. r-Fr. r-Jr. r-Jr.
Roseland, Va. Pittstown, N.J. Maplewood, N.J. Germantown, Md. Richlands, Va.
Nelson County Del-Val The Peddie School Seneca Valley Richlands
Tim Crawford Mike Columbo Geoff Harlan Fred Kim Greg Mance
37 46 56 5 83
Jacob Sykes Bruce Taylor Demetrius Taylor Tyrod Taylor Patrick Terry
- - 2 2 -
CB LB DT QB FL
4/27/88 12/31/89 11/22/86 8/3/89 11/12/88
6-0 6-2 6-0 6-1 5-11
181 251 262 216 194
r-So. r-Fr. r-Sr. Jr. r-So.
Goldsboro, N.C. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Virginia Beach, Va. Hampton, Va. South Boston, Va.
Goldsboro Myrtle Beach Kellam Hampton Halifax County
Maurice Jackson Scott Earley Chris DeWitt Mike Smith John Lacy Harris
95 53 63 28 67
Cordarrow Thompson Dwight Tucker Matt Tuttle Alonzo Tweedy Michael Via
3 - - - -
DT DT SN LB C
10/2/87 3/14/90 3/20/86 7/27/89 4/17/90
6-2 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-6
308 285 228 181 277
r-Sr. r-Fr. r-Sr. r-Fr. r-Fr.
Stafford, Va. Oviedo, Fla. Chesapeake, Va. Richmond, Va. McLeansville, N.C.
North Stafford Oviedo Nansemond-Suffolk Acad. Hermitage Northeast Guilford
Eric Cooke Greg Register Terry Crigger Pat Kane Tommy Pursley
22 77 99
Stephan Virgil Matt Waldron† Ed Wang Nelson Ward Jeff Wardach
2 - 3 - -
CB PK OT TE DE
4/3/87 10/16/87 3/12/87 11/22/89 8/15/88
5-11 5-11 6-5 6-5 6-3
189 190 301 230 248
Sr. r-Sr. r-Sr. Fr. r-So.
Rocky Mount, N.C. Oakfield, N.Y. Ashburn, Va. Manassas, Va. Roanoke, Va.
Rocky Mount Oakfield-Alabama Stone Bridge Osbourn Park Cave Spring
B.W. Holt John Dowd Mickey Thompson Brian Beaty Tim Fulton
60 18 15 14 34
Beau Warren Sam Wheeler‡ Eddie Whitley Lorenzo Williams Ryan Williams
2 2 - 1 -
C TE CB FS TB
12/31/87 5/27/86 10/26/89 5/20/90 4/9/90
6-3 6-3 6-0 6-2 5-9
277 258 187 212 205
r-Jr. r-Sr. So. So. r-Fr.
Clifton, Va. Blacksburg, Va. Matthews, N.C. Fayetteville, N.C. Manassas, Va.
Centreville Blacksburg Butler Westover Stonewall Jackson
Mike Skinner Dave Crist Mike Newsome Milton Butts Loren Johnson
2 - 1
DE DT FB
3/3/88 6-2 11/21/89 6-3 5/11/88 5-11
240 286 214
r-Jr. r-So. r-Jr.
Carteret, N.J. Germantown, Md. Richmond, Va.
Carteret Northwest Mills Godwin
Bob Molarz Randy Trivers Will Kitchen
6 Jason Worilds 96 Justin Young 31 Kenny Younger
‡ also attended Hargrave Military Academy (Va.) § also attended Fork Union Military Academy (Va.) † also attended Penn State University vl - varsity letter
Roster and number changes are expected during spring practice. An updated roster will be available on Hokiesports.com at the conclusion of spring practice.
2009 Virginia Tech Football
11
Quoting the Coaches Coach Frank Beamer on Spring Practice: “This is one spring I’m real eager to get started. I think this is a spring practice where we have a great opportunity get better as a football team. A lot of the young guys who played last year are certainly going to have a chance to get better during this time, and we had quite a few players who redshirted who are going to see plenty of action, too. Basically, we are still a young football team, and a young team really has a chance to improve during spring practice. I think when you’ve got a bunch of veterans running around, sometimes you just try to get them through and get on to the next fall. This year is a situation where we need to get out there, work like crazy and really improve as a team. We’re looking forward to that.”
Coach Bud Foster on the Defense: “We’ve got seven starters back and I really like the want-to and character of this group of kids. I would like to pick up where we left off last season and keep the players improving, continuing to grow in their positions and understanding our schemes. There are some key positions where we have to improve and find some playmakers. After that, it is creating some depth and getting those players caught up to our terminology, the speed of the game and our expectations. This is a work ethic bunch. They want to be successful, and they know that you have to earn success. To play at a high level is really kind of the focus for our spring.”
Coach Bryan Stinespring on the Offense: “First and foremost for us as a staff is the mental picture. We are going to be very diligent in making sure our players understand that come next September, we don’t want to be just a year older, we want to be a year better. You can’t accomplish that by taking things for granted. Our players’ work habits in the weight room, in meetings and on the practice field are going to be extremely important in reaching this goal. “Obviously, for the first time in quite some time, we are going into a spring without a quarterback battle. From a positive aspect, we are walking into spring with a quarterback that we are going to build on. Now, the question is who is No. 2, and who is No. 3? In a perfect world, we would know by the end of spring practice, but I think it is extremely important to at least be well on our way to that decision by then. “We want to push the envelope with our receivers to see just how much better they can be, mentally and physically. We also need to continue developing the familiarity between our quarterbacks and receivers to improve their timing. That is a key point for us. Another focal point will be bringing along guys like Ryan Williams, Nick Becton, Greg Nosal and Vinston Painter who redshirted or didn’t play a significant amount last fall. We’ve got to bring those guys along in a hurry, because we’re counting on guys like them to provide great depth right away … maybe more than just depth.”
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2009 Virginia Tech Football
Frank beamer Head Coach Enters 23rd Season at the Helm When Frank Beamer accepted the job as head football coach at his alma mater in 1987, his goal was for the Virginia Tech football program to reach a consistent level of excellence. The Hokies have come a long way since that day and, along the way, Beamer has become one of the most respected and successful coaches on the college football scene. Under Beamer, Tech football has enjoyed unprecedented success with 16 consecutive bowl appearances, three Atlantic Coast Conference titles, three ACC Coastal Division crowns, three BIG EAST Conference titles, two BCS bowl victories and a trip to the national championship game following the 1999 season. Since the beginning of the 1995 season, only Ohio State and Florida have posted more wins than Virginia Tech, and the Hokies have finished in the Top 20 in 13 of the past 16 seasons, including five Top 10 finishes during the last 11 years. Beamer’s team is in elite company, winning 10 games or more in five straight seasons – a current streak matched only by Southern Cal and Texas. The Hokies couldn’t have asked for anyone better to guide their football program into the ACC. In 2004 – Tech’s first season in the league – Beamer and his staff guided a young team, picked to finish sixth in the league, to a 10-3 record, an ACC title and a BCS Bowl. That team also won the league’s 2004 Fall Sportsmanship Award for football, yet another tribute to the program Beamer and his staff have built. A year later, the Hokies produced an 11-2 record, won the ACC Coastal Division title, earned a spot in the inaugural league championship contest and appeared in a bowl game. Beamer was named the ACC Coach of the Year both seasons. After the 2006 squad went 10-3 with a bowl appearance, Beamer’s 2007 Hokies went 11-3, won the ACC title, appeared in the Orange Bowl and finished ninth in the
final national polls. Beamer was named the 2007 Southeast Coach of the Year by Sports Unlimited magazine and was a finalist for both the Paul Bear Bryant and Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year awards. This past season may have been Beamer’s finest effort. Facing one of their toughest schedules, Beamer and his staff took one of their youngest teams and finished 10-4, winning an ACC championship, followed by a 20-7 victory over Cincinnati in the FedEx Orange Bowl. Beamer, who was the consensus national coach of the year in 1999, is third among Division I FBS coaches in victories, with 219 over 28 seasons as a head coach. Now entering his 23rd year at the Tech helm, his overall record as the headman of the Hokies stands at 177-89-2. He became Tech’s winningest football coach during the 1997 campaign. Counting six years as head coach at Murray State prior Frank Beamer has led Tech to two consecutive ACC titles and 16 straight bowl games. to joining the Hokies, Beamer’s overall 28-year record is 219-112-4. years as a cornerback and played under Mike Gottfried. He was Tech won the BIG EAST title in on the Hokies’ 1966 and 1968 named head coach at Murray State 1995 and 1999 and shared it in Liberty Bowl teams. He received in 1981 and went on to compile ‘96. Beamer was voted BIG EAST a B.S. in distributive education a six-year record of 42 wins, 23 Coach of the Year by the league’s from Tech in 1969 and a master’s losses and two ties. coaches each of those seasons. in guidance from Radford in 1972. The Tech coach was born in When BIG EAST Conference football Then came the start of the Beamer Mt. Airy, N.C., and grew up in celebrated its first 10 years of coaching career. Hillsville, Va. At Hillsville High, existence in 2000, Beamer was He began as an assistant at he earned 11 varsity letters as a voted the Coach of the Decade Radford High School from 1969 three-sport athlete in football, by the league’s media. In 1997, through 1971. Then, after one basketball and baseball. he was inducted into the Virginia season as a graduate assistant Beamer is married to the former Tech Sports Hall of Fame. His Tech at the University of Maryland, Cheryl Oakley of Richmond, Va. jersey was retired in 2002. he went to The Citadel where he They have two children, Shane, The 62-year-old Beamer, the worked five seasons under Bobby a former member of his dad’s first alumnus to guide the Hokies Ross and one year under Art football team at Tech and now since the 1940s, took over the Baker. His last two years at The an assistant at the University Tech reins from Bill Dooley in Citadel, Beamer was the defensive of South Carolina; and daughter January 1987. coordinator. Casey, a 2003 graduate of Virginia During his undergraduate days In 1979, Beamer went to Murray Tech who works for the Carolina at Tech, Beamer started three State as the defensive coordinator Panthers of the NFL.
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Coach Beamer’s Profile PERSONAL: Born: 10/18/46, Mt. Airy, N.C. Hometown: Hillsville, Va. Wife: former Cheryl Oakley Children: Shane, Casey EDUCATION: High School: Hillsville (1965) College: Virginia Tech (1969) Postgraduate: Radford University (1972) PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Virginia Tech (1966-68) COACHING EXPERIENCE: 1972 Graduate Assistant, Maryland 1973-76 Assistant Coach, The Citadel 1977-78 Defensive Coordinator, The Citadel 1979-80 Defensive Coordinator, Murray State 1981-86 Head Coach, Murray State 1981 (8-3) 1982 (4-7) 1983 (7-4) 1984 (9-2) 1985 (7-3-1) 1986 (7-4-1) Ohio Valley co-champion Record at Murray State: 42-23-2 (six years) 1987-
Head Coach, Virginia Tech 1987 (2-9) 1988 (3-8) 1989 (6-4-1) 1990 (6-5) Frank Beamer and his wife Cheryl, with their daughter Casey, 1991 (5-6) and their son Shane and his wife Emily. 1992 (2-8-1) 1993 (9-3) Independence Bowl champion 1994 (8-4) Gator Bowl 1995 (10-2) BIG EAST champion, Sugar Bowl champion BOWL/PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: 1996 (10-2) BIG EAST co-champion, Orange Bowl Player 1997 (7-5) Gator Bowl 1966 Liberty (Virginia Tech vs. Miami) 1998 (9-3) Music City Bowl champion 1968 Liberty (Virginia Tech vs. Mississippi) 1999 (11-1) BIG EAST champion, Sugar Bowl Coach 2000 (11-1) Gator Bowl champion 1979 Division I-AA Playoffs (Murray State, semifinals) 2001 (8-4) Gator Bowl 1993 Independence (Virginia Tech vs. Indiana) 2002 (10-4) San Francisco Bowl champion 1994 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee) 2003 (8-6) Insight Bowl 1995 Sugar (Virginia Tech vs. Texas) 2004 (10-3) ACC champion, Sugar Bowl 1996 Orange (Virginia Tech vs. Nebraska) 2005 (11-2) ACC Coastal champion, Gator Bowl champion 1997 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina) 2006 (10-3) Chick-fil-A Bowl 1998 Music City (Virginia Tech vs. Alabama) 2007 (11-3) ACC champion, Orange Bowl 1999 Sugar (Virginia Tech vs. Florida State) 2008 (10-4) ACC champion, Orange Bowl champion 2000 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. Clemson) Record at Virginia Tech: 177-89-2 (22 years) 2001 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. Florida State) Overall head coaching record: 219-112-4 (28 years) 2002 San Francisco (Virginia Tech vs. Air Force) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
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2009 Virginia Tech Football
Insight (Virginia Tech vs. California) Sugar (Virginia Tech vs. Auburn) Gator (Virginia Tech vs. Louisville) Chick-fil-A (Virginia Tech vs. Georgia) Orange Bowl (Virginia Tech vs. Kansas) Orange Bowl (Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati)
NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Under the direction of Frank Beamer and his staff, the Hokies have … • played for the national championship for the first time in school history. • become one of only three Division I schools to go to bowl games each of the last 16 seasons. • earned six conference titles and six BCS bids in a 14-year span. • become one of only three teams (USC, Texas) to produce 10 or more wins each of the past five seasons. • compiled a school-record streak in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll at 84 consecutive weeks. • posted 11 wins in a season for the first time. • registered the program’s first back-to-back 11-win seasons. • produced the school’s first 11-0 regularseason record in football. • averaged nine or more wins a season over the last 16 years. • won Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl titles. • won three ACC titles. • won an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in their first season of competition. • played in three ACC Championship games. • produced the ACC Coach of the Year and Player of the Year during their inaugural ACC season. • become the first team in BIG EAST history to win all the league’s major awards in the same season. • earned the highest national rankings in school football history, including five Top 10 finishes and back-to-back Top 6 finishes. • finished in a final Top 25 poll 13 times in the last 15 seasons.
National Coach of the Year
Coach Frank Beamer was tabbed the consensus national football coach of the year for 1999 after leading the Hokies to an 11-0 regular season and a berth in the national championship game.
• won more games (177) than under any other coaching staff in school history. • been to four times as many bowl games (16) than under any other staff. • won more bowl games (7) than under any other coaching staff. • posted 16 straight seasons of seven or more wins for the first time in school history. • had 138 of their last 164 games televised (84 percent). • compiled an 108-37 record in televised games since the start of the 1995 season. • blocked more kicks in the 1990s than any other Division I-A team. • became one of only eight Division I-A schools ever to lead the nation in both scoring offense and defense in the same season. • had at least one player from every defensive position score a touchdown. • produced a No. 1 pick in the National Football League draft. • had more than 145 players sign with NFL teams. • had two players who entered the program as walk-ons drafted in the top four rounds of the NFL draft.
Frank Beamer, the first Tech alumnus to guide the Hokies’ football program since the 1940s, has won more games at Tech than any other football coach. Prior to Beamer, no other grid coach in Virginia Tech history had served more than 10 seasons as head coach. Only two of the 119 Division I-A head coaches have been at their current school consecutively longer than Beamer’s 22 years. Those coaches are Joe Paterno (43 years at Penn State) and Bobby Bowden (33 years at Florida State). With last season’s visit to the FedEx Orange Bowl, head coach Frank Beamer has led the Hokies to 16 straight bowl games. The 16 bowl appearances mark the third-highest by any active coach. Penn State’s Joe Paterno leads the way with 35, followed by Florida State’s Bobby Bowden with 30.
• had 14 different players earn AP All-America honorss over the last 11 seasons. • had players win 10 major conference individual awards in the last 11 years.
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2008 Season in Review
Hokies Finish Season on Top With a BCS Bowl Win And Their Second-Straight ACC Championship
Oftentimes, after a championship victory or a successful season, a team will play the “No one believed in us but us” card. Sometimes it’s a valid statement and sometimes it seems cliché, but in the case of the 2008 Virginia Tech football team, it couldn’t be more true. Media members and fans alike were openly calling out the Hokies from the season-opening loss to East Carolina to as late as the week leading up to the Virginia game. There were questions about the youth and inexperience of the roster, the aptitude of the offense and who the starting quarterback should be. But through it all, head coach Frank Beamer and his coaching staff stayed the course, and the result was a second consecutive ACC title (Tech’s third in five seasons) and another invitation to the FedEx Orange Bowl. Though the end result was nice, the season got off on the wrong foot when the Hokies traveled to Charlotte for a neutralsite game against East Carolina in the Carolina Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 30. Tech jumped out to a 14-0 lead and led 22-13 with 14:56 remaining, but the Pirates scored 14 points in the final 3:36 to stun the Hokie faithful. ECU quarterback Pat Pinkney made it 22-20 with a 3-yard run, and the Hokies tried to run the clock out on the ensuing possession. However, ECU forced a punt with 1:59 left; that punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by T.J. Lee to set the final score at 27-22 in ECU’s favor. There was more cause for concern the following week when Tech’s offense sputtered against FCS opponent Furman, but the Hokie defense enabled the orange and maroon to register a 24-7 victory in the home opener on Sept. 6. Tech led just 3-0 at halftime, but a pair of takeaways by Bud Foster’s crew, following a Sean Glennon-to-Kenny Lewis touchdown pass in the third quarter, allowed the Hokies to score 21 points over 2:29 and
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The defense, led in part by Jason Worilds (6) and Stephan Virgil (22), finished the 2008 season ranked seventh in total defense and ninth in scoring defense.
take control. A forced fumble by Cody Grimm that was recovered by Kam Chancellor led to another Lewis score, while a Stephan Virgil interception opened the gates for a Darren Evans touchdown. Furman mustered just 34 rushing yards in the game. Tech’s run to the ACC title began on Sept. 13 when conference play opened at Lane Stadium, and the Hokies took on Georgia Tech in what proved to be a ground-based slugfest. The two teams combined for 477 rushing yards on 96 attempts – 278 for the Yellow Jackets and 199 for the Hokies – in a game that saw only 23 passing attempts. While the Hokies’ defense bent against the Yellow Jackets’ unfamiliar triple option offense – GT’s Josh Nesbitt set a single-game school-record for quarterbacks with 151 rushing yards – it never broke, and Dustin Keys’ 21-yard field goal with 4:17 left was enough to give the
2009 Virginia Tech Football
Hokies a 20-17 win. The Hokies’ ACC road success continued on Sept. 20 at North Carolina when they won their 16th conference road game out of 17 tries since joining the league. The victory once again came by a score of 20-17, also on a fourth-quarter field goal by Keys – a 45-yarder with 10:42 remaining. Tech had to rally from 14 points down in this one, which tied for the Hokies’ second-largest comeback during Beamer’s tenure as the head coach. Non-conference play resumed on Sept. 27 with a primetime test at Nebraska, a test that the Hokies’ offense passed with flying colors. Behind the throwing of Tyrod Taylor and a balanced rushing attack, Tech scored on six straight possessions and seven of eight. Tech racked up 377 yards of total offense in front of the largest crowd in Memorial Stadium history, and Taylor’s touchdown
run with 2:28 remaining ensured the Hokies of a 35-30 triumph. Playing its only home game in a span of 53 days on Oct. 4, the Hokies wrapped up their non-conference slate with a 27-13 defeat of Western Kentucky that extended their winning streak to five games and improved their record to 5-1 at the season’s midway point. It didn’t come without consequence – Lewis ruptured his Achilles early in the second half – but Evans showed what was to come by tallying two touchdowns on 79 yards rushing. Remember that note about Tech winning 16 of its 17 ACC road games? That impressive streak came to an abrupt end as the Hokies’ brutal schedule over the next month left them at 6-4 with three losses away from the friendly confines of Lane Stadium. The first one came on Oct. 18 at Boston College, a 28-23 setback that saw zero touchdowns scored by the Hokie offense. Keys nailed three field goals and both Brett Warren and Macho Harris returned interceptions for scores, but the Eagles put up 21 unanswered points in the first half that the Hokies could never overcome. A visit to Florida State on Oct. 25 gave Tech back-to-back losses for only the second time since joining the ACC, as the Hokies fell to the 24th-ranked Seminoles. Both Taylor and Glennon left the game with ankle injuries, forcing third-stringer Cory Holt into his first action of the season. Holt did toss a touchdown pass to tight end André Smith, but he could only do so much after practicing primarily as a wide receiver throughout the season; and the Seminoles prevailed by a score of 30-20. Tech got a much-needed week off before a Thursday night home clash against No. 23 Maryland on Nov. 6, a week that allowed Glennon to heal his injury and play an effective game. But the story in this one was Evans, who rushed for a school-record 253 yards on 32 carries to lead the Hokies to a 23-13 victory. His
performance eclipsed Mike Imoh’s 2004 single-game mark of 243 yards, and it served as a stark contrast to Maryland’s rushing total – a paltry minus-12 yards. The win over the Terps made Tech bowl eligible for the 16th consecutive season, but the Hokies still had one more loss to deal with before finishing the schedule with three wins. That loss also came on the road, a 16-14 Thursday night battle with Miami. Offense was hard to come by in this one, as both teams combined for less than 500 total yards. Taylor returned from his injury to score two rushing touchdowns, but three secondhalf field goals by the Hurricanes proved to be the difference. Tech’s ACC title hopes looked as bleak as its ugly 14-3 win over Duke at home on Nov. 22, a game that featured just one offensive touchdown – a 19-yard reception by Jarrett Boykin – to nine turnovers. But the ACC teams that needed to lose did so, and the Hokies entered the Nov. 29 showdown with Virginia needing a win to clinch the Coastal Division crown. They got just that, escaping in front of the home crowd with a 17-14 win thanks to a 28-yard field goal by Keys with
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor led the Hokies to an ACC Championship and a win in the FedEx Orange Bowl.
6:37 on the clock. Boykin added another score in this one and Taylor rushed for a career-high 137 yards, but it was tight end Greg Boone’s first-career rushing touchdown early in the third
Victor “Macho” Harris was a first-team All-America cornerback.
quarter that tied the game at 14 and set the stage for a closely contested ending. The win enabled Tech to lay claim to its third Coastal crown and sent the Hokies to the ACC title game in Tampa for a rematch with Boston College for the second straight year. And just like last year, the Hokies rolled in impressive fashion, topping the Eagles 30-12 to punch their ticket to the Orange Bowl. Taylor rushed for two more touchdowns to increase his career total to 12 and was named the game’s MVP, while Evans amassed 114 yards to break the 1,000-yard barrier for the season and become just the sixth freshman in ACC history to do so. It was an all-around performance for Tech, as Keys drilled a career-long 50-yard field goal – the longest ever in an ACC championship game – and the defense forced four turnovers, one of which was a fumble that Orion Martin returned 17 yards for his first collegiate touchdown. The 2008 season closely resembled the 2007 campaign – with the Hokies struggling on offense for much of the season before ironing things out late and avenging a regular-season loss to Boston College in the ACC championship game. But the 2008 Hokies one-upped their
2007 selves by vindicating their loss from the previous year in the Orange Bowl with a 20-7 victory over Cincinnati in Miami, winning a “major” bowl game for the first time since knocking off Texas in 1995 Sugar Bowl. Tech closed out the season with four straight wins and finished with a 10-4 overall record, winning at least 10 games for the fifth consecutive season – an accomplishment only Southern Cal and Texas can boast. Evans, who was named a Freshman AllAmerican, rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown in the big win, while Taylor rushed for another score and Keys kicked a pair of field goals. Despite the ups and downs of the season, Tech’s résumé once again looked impressive when all was said and done. The Hokies finished the season ranked 19th in the BCS standings, 14th in the coaches’ poll and 15th in the AP poll. Harris was named first-team All-ACC (and an All-American), while Evans, Martin, Sergio Render and Jason Worilds were each named to the second team. And as always, the defense ranked among the nation’s best in the four major categories: seventh in total defense at 279 yards per game, ninth in scoring defense at 16.7 points per game, 16th in pass defense at 175 yards per game, and 14th in rush defense at 104 yards per game.
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FedEx Orange Bowl • Jan. 1, 2009
Tech Beats Cincinnati In The Orange Bowl MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Virginia Tech got a 100-yard rushing performance from Darren Evans, and Tech’s defense intercepted four passes, as the Hokies shook off an early Cincinnati touchdown and dominated the Bearcats the rest of the way en route to a 20-7 victory in the 75th Orange Bowl played at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. With the victory, the Hokies put to rest their modest two-game bowl skid and won a “major” bowl game for the first time since knocking off Texas in 1995 Sugar Bowl. Tech closed out the season with four straight wins and finished with a 10-4 overall record, winning at least 10 games for the fifth consecutive season – an accomplishment only Southern
Cal and Texas can boast. “I think this is the best football ‘team’ we’ve ever had,” said Tech head coach Frank Beamer, who improved to 7-9 in bowl games. “We had some tough losses, but no one slipped up. We hung in there together. We always practiced hard. I can’t say enough about our players and our coaches. “We have some great, great seasons here at Virginia Tech. But I believe this is the best team we’ve ever had.” Tech used a pounding rushing attack led by Evans and a punishing defense that slammed the door on Cincinnati’s potent attack to claim its first Orange Bowl title in three attempts. Evans became the first running back to rush for more than 100 yards against Cincy’s defense this season. The Indianapolis, Ind.,
Darren Evans
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native ground out 153 yards on 28 carries for his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the year. A combination of Tech’s defense and Evans put the game away for the Hokies early in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati faced a second-and-7 from its own 17 and quarterback Tony Pike tried to complete a screen pass. But Tech defensive end Orion Martin made a diving interception on the play – the first of his career – giving the Hokies the ball at the Cincinnati 10. Evans took care of the rest. He carried three straight times, scoring on a 6-yard run, and Dustin Keys’ extra point gave the Hokies a 20-7 lead with 11:29 left in the game. His performance enabled him to win the game’s MVP honor. “It means a lot to me, with this being my freshman year,” Evans said. “I’ve got to give a lot of props to the offensive line. They made a lot of holes out there for me, and really, it was just out there for me to take. Coach put the ball in my hand a lot and I appreciate that.” “Darren has scored a lot of touchdowns,” Beamer said. “You knew the talent was there. To me, he played faster as the year went along, and I think that came with confidence. I thought here at the end, he played fast. He looked fast. He really continued to improve.” Behind Evans, the Hokies piled up 258 yards rushing on 55 carries. For the game, Tech finished with 398 total yards and had nearly 40 minutes of possession time. It looked rough for Tech early in this one as the Bearcats struck quickly, scoring on the opening possession of the game. They easily marched 72 yards in only six
2009 Virginia Tech Football
plays. The big play came when Pike connected with Mardy Gilyard for a 38-yard completion to the Tech 15. Three plays later, on thirdand-9, Pike connected with Gilyard again, hitting him for a 15-yard touchdown strike. Jake Rogers’ extra point gave the Bearcats a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. “Our heads went down for a second, but we all came together and lifted our heads up,” safety Kam Chancellor said. “We knew it was just the first two minutes of the game and that there were three more quarters. We all stepped up to the challenge and did what we had to do.” Tech came back to tie the game early in the second quarter, putting together another nice drive. This one went 73 yards in nine plays and ended when quarterback Tyrod Taylor scored on a 17-yard run. Keys’ extra point tied the game with 13 minutes left in the first half. The Hokies managed to take the lead right before halftime, thanks largely to a Stephan Virgil interception in the end zone that negated a Cincinnati scoring threat. On the ensuing drive, Taylor led the Hokies 54 yards to the Bearcats 26 and Keys nailed a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give the Hokies a 10-7 lead at the half. Keys also added 35-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Tech’s defense took care of the rest. The Hokies held Cincinnati to just 310 total yards and intercepted Pike four times, including one by Chancellor – his second of the season. “We knew he took chances,” Chancellor said. “I had a feeling we were going to be able to get our hands on a lot of balls.” The win marked the end of a great run for Tech’s seniors. They closed out their careers in grand style, winning their 42nd game (against 12 losses). That ties the school record for the most victories in a four-year span. Last year’s group went 42-11. Tech’s win also snapped the ACC’s skid in BCS bowls. The league had lost eight straight games and was 1-9 all time in BCS games before the Hokies’ victory in the Orange Bowl.
2008 Superlatives
Tech Individual Game Highs Rushes 32 Yards Rushing 253 TD Rushes 2 Long Rush 73 Pass attempts 27 Pass completions 14 Yards Passing 171 TD Passes 1 Long Pass 62 Receptions 6 Yards Receiving 89 TD Receptions 1 Long Reception 62 Field Goals 4 Long Field Goal 50 Punts 7 Punting Avg 48.3 Long Punt 57 Long Punt Return 32 Long Kickoff Return 55 Tackles 15 Sacks 2.0 Tackles For Loss 3.0 Interceptions 2
Darren Evans vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Darren Evans vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Darren Evans at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) Darren Evans vs Western Kentucky (Oct 04, 2008) Tyrod Taylor at Miami (Fla.) (Nov 13, 2008) Tyrod Taylor vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) Tyrod Taylor vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) Tyrod Taylor at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) Sean Glennon vs East Carolina (Aug 30, 2008) Sean Glennon vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Tyrod Taylor at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) Sean Glennon vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) Tyrod Taylor vs Western Kentucky (Oct 04, 2008) Cory Holt at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Sean Glennon vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Sean Glennon vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) Tyrod Taylor vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) Sean Glennon vs East Carolina (Aug 30, 2008) Jarrett Boykin vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) Jarrett Boykin at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Kenny Lewis vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) Greg Boone vs Western Kentucky (Oct 04, 2008) Andre Smith at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Greg Boone vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Jarrett Boykin vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) Jarrett Boykin vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) Dyrell Roberts vs East Carolina (Aug 30, 2008) Dustin Keys at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) Dustin Keys vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) Brent Bowden vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) Brent Bowden vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) Brent Bowden vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) Brent Bowden vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) Victor Harris vs Western Kentucky (Oct 04, 2008) Dyrell Roberts vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Brett Warren vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) Cody Grimm at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Orion Martin vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) Stephan Virgil vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) Victor Harris vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008)
Tech Team Game Highs Rushes 55 Yards Rushing 273 Yards Per Rush 5.4 TD Rushes 3 Pass attempts 28 Pass completions 15 Yards Passing 176 Yards Per Pass 11.4 TD Passes 1 Total Plays 80 Total Offense 400 Yards Per Play 5.6 Points 35 Sacks By 5 First Downs 24 Penalties 10 Penalty Yards 76 Turnovers 5 Interceptions By 4
at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) vs Cincinnati (Jan 01, 2009) vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) vs Western Kentucky (Oct 04, 2008) at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) vs Cincinnati (Jan 01, 2009)
Opponent Individual Game Highs Rushes 28 Yards Rushing 151 TD Rushes 2 Long Rush 50 Pass attempts 43 Pass completions 21 Yards Passing 278 TD Passes 2 Long Pass 63 Receptions 7 Yards Receiving 158 TD Receptions 1 Long Reception 63 Field Goals 3 Long Field Goal 50 Punts 9 Punting Avg 51.7 Long Punt 59 Long Punt Return 88 Long Kickoff Return 35 Tackles 15 Sacks 3.0 Tackles For Loss 4.0 Interceptions 1
Nesbitt, J., vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) Nesbitt, J., vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) Hall, V., vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) Little, G., at North Carolina (Sep 20, 2008) Davis, D., vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) Sorrells, J., vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) Ganz, J., at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) Ganz, J., at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) Turner, C., vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Mims, A., vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) Gunnell, R., vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) Gilyard, M., vs Cincinnati (Jan 01, 2009) Gilyard, M., vs Cincinnati (Jan 01, 2009) Bryant, J., vs East Carolina (Aug 30, 2008) Truss, C., vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) Jones, R., vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) Tate, B., at North Carolina (Sep 20, 2008) Peterson, T., at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) McNeill, M., at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) Jones, T., vs Western Kentucky (Oct 04, 2008) Momah, I., at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) Easterling, T., at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Heyward-Bey, D., vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Gunnell, R., vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) Gilyard, M., vs Cincinnati (Jan 01, 2009) Heyward-Bey, D., vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Gano, G., at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Bosher, M., at Miami (Fla.) (Nov 13, 2008) Gano, G., at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Jones, K., vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) Gano, G., at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Baltz, T., vs Maryland (Nov 06, 2008) Swift, N., at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) Tate, B., at North Carolina (Sep 20, 2008) Glaspy, B., vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) Brown, E., at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Robinson, M., at Miami (Fla.) (Nov 13, 2008) Brown, E., at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) Robinson, M., at Miami (Fla.) (Nov 13, 2008) Byrd, T., vs Cincinnati (Jan 01, 2009) Johnson, N., vs East Carolina (Aug 30, 2008) Cotton, Q., vs East Carolina (Aug 30, 2008) Middleton, W., vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) Williams, D., at North Carolina (Sep 20, 2008) Paschal, M., at North Carolina (Sep 20, 2008) Anderson, P., at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) Tauiliili, M., vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) Gainey, C., vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) Daniels, M., vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008) Glaspy, B., vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) Anderson, P., vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) Underwood, B., vs Cincinnati (Jan 01, 2009)
Opponent Team Game Highs Rushes
50 Yards Rushing 278 Yards Per Rush 5.6 TD Rushes 2 Pass attempts 43 Pass completions 21 Yards Passing 278 Yards Per Pass 12.1 TD Passes 2 Total Plays 69 Total Offense 387 Yards Per Play 6.6 Points 30 Sacks By 6 First Downs 22 Penalties 14 Penalty Yards 121 Turnovers 5 Interceptions By 3
vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) vs East Carolina (Aug 30, 2008) at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) vs Virginia (Nov 29, 2008) vs Boston College (Dec 06, 2008) vs Furman (Sep 06, 2008) at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) vs Georgia Tech (Sep 13, 2008) at Nebraska (Sep 27, 2008) at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) at Florida State (Oct 25, 2008) at Miami (Fla.) (Nov 13, 2008) at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) at North Carolina (Sep 20, 2008) at North Carolina (Sep 20, 2008) at Boston College (Oct 18, 2008) vs Duke (Nov 22, 2008)
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2008 Statistics RECORD: ALL GAMES CONFERENCE NON-CONFERENCE * * * * * * * *
OVERALL HOME AWAY 10-4-0 6-0-0 2-3-0 5-2-0 4-0-0 1-2-0 5-2-0 2-0-0 1-1-0
NEUTRAL 2-1-0 0-0-0 2-1-0
Date Opponent Score Attend Aug 30, 2008 vs East Carolina L 22-27 72169 Sep 06, 2008 FURMAN W 24-7 66233 Sep 13, 2008 GEORGIA TECH W 20-17 66233 Sep 20, 2008 at North Carolina W 20-17 59800 Sep 27, 2008 at Nebraska W 35-30 85831 Oct 04, 2008 WESTERN KENTUCKY W 27-13 66233 Oct 18, 2008 at Boston College L 23-28 44127 Oct 25, 2008 at #24 Florida State L 20-30 81876 Nov 06, 2008 #23 MARYLAND W 23-13 66233 Nov 13, 2008 at Miami (Fla.) L 14-16 46838 Nov 22, 2008 DUKE W 14-3 66233 Nov 29, 2008 VIRGINIA W 17-14 66233 Dec 06, 2008 vs #18 Boston College W 30-12 53927 Jan 01, 2009 vs †12 Cincinnati W 20-7 73602 * - ACC Game # - ACC Championship Game † - FedEx Orange Bowl SCORE BY QUARTERS Virginia Tech Opponents
1st 60 38
2nd 104 80
TEAM STATISTICS VT OPP SCORING 309 234 Points Per Game 22.1 16.7 FIRST DOWNS 243 192 Rushing 135 78 Passing 84 104 Penalty 24 10 RUSHING YARDAGE 2441 1462 Yards gained rushing 2853 1883 Yards lost rushing 412 421 Rushing Attempts 645 451 Average Per Rush 3.8 3.2 Average Per Game 174.4 104.4 TDs Rushing 23 12 PASSING YARDAGE 1807 2450 Att-Comp-Int 291-167-12 343-181-20 Average Per Pass 6.2 7.1 Average Per Catch 10.8 13.5 Average Per Game 129.1 175.0 TDs Passing 6 12 TOTAL OFFENSE 4248 3912 Total Plays 936 794 Average Per Play 4.5 4.9 Average Per Game 303.4 279.4 KICK RETURNS: #-Yards 46-947 62-1206 PUNT RETURNS: #-Yards 27-242 24-298 INT RETURNS: #-Yards 20-335 12-76 KICK RETURN AVERAGE 20.6 19.5 PUNT RETURN AVERAGE 9.0 12.4 INT RETURN AVERAGE 16.8 6.3 FUMBLES-LOST 18-8 31-14 PENALTIES-Yards 70-485 85-743 Average Per Game 34.6 53.1 PUNTS-Yards 72-2808 72-2935 Average Per Punt 39.0 40.8 Net punt average 33.2 34.3 TIME OF POSSESSION/Game 33:00 27:00 3RD-DOWN Conversions 80/211 53/173 3rd-Down Pct 38% 31% 4TH-DOWN Conversions 6/16 6/17 4th-Down Pct 38% 35% SACKS BY-Yards 35-270 42-224 MISC YARDS 0 -7 TOUCHDOWNS SCORED 34 27 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS 23-29 15-21 ON-SIDE KICKS 0-0 1-3 RED-ZONE SCORES 43-58 74% 27-33 82% RED-ZONE TOUCHDOWNS 27-58 47% 17-33 52% PAT-ATTEMPTS 32-34 94% 23-25 92% ATTENDANCE 397398 318472 Games/Avg Per Game 6/66233 5/63694 Neutral Site Games 3/66566
20
3rd 73 53
4th 72 63
Total 309 234
RUSHING GP Att Gain Darren Evans 14 287 1310 Tyrod Taylor 12 147 884 Kenny Lewis 6 64 269 Josh Oglesby 12 38 96 Greg Boone 14 21 84 Victor Harris 13 5 48 Dyrell Roberts 14 5 37 Jahre Cheeseman 12 4 21 Dustin Pickle 14 5 18 Danny Coale 14 6 18 Kenny Jefferson 14 1 2 Cory Holt 4 4 4 Team 14 17 0 Sean Glennon 9 41 62 Total 14 645 2853 Opponents 14 451 1883 PASSING G Effic Tyrod Taylor 12 103.25 Sean Glennon 9 117.88 Cory Holt 4 144.20 Team 14 0.00 Greg Boone 14 0.00 Total 14 108.11 Opponents 14 112.65
|------------Tackles----------| DEFENSIVE LEADERS GP Solo Ast Total TFL/Yds Purnell Sturdivant 14-14 43 56 99 8.0-25 Brett Warren 13-13 37 49 86 5.0-12 Cody Grimm 14-1 45 26 71 14.0-75 Jason Worilds 13-12 37 25 62 18.5-93 Orion Martin 14-14 28 28 56 13.0-70 Kam Chancellor 14-14 27 25 52 0.5-0 Cam Martin 14-13 28 23 51 5.5-13 Dorian Porch 13-9 34 14 48 4.0-23 Victor Harris 13-13 32 14 46 3.5-10 Stephan Virgil 14-14 31 12 43 2.5-4 Cordarrow Thompson 14-14 10 17 27 6.5-45 John Graves 14-14 15 11 26 4.0-8 Nekos Brown 14-2 11 11 22 3.0-12 Matt Reidy 14-0 13 5 18 . Davon Morgan 5-5 9 9 18 0.5-0 Cris Hill 14-0 9 6 15 . Dustin Pickle 14-0 7 6 13 . Demetrius Taylor 14-0 6 6 12 1.5-2 Rashad Carmichael 14-1 8 4 12 . Barquell Rivers 10-1 5 5 10 . Eddie Whitley 14-0 4 4 8 . Justin Myer 13-0 4 3 7 . Jonas Houseright 14-0 1 6 7 . Lorenzo Williams 8-0 4 2 6 . Steven Friday 9-0 2 4 6 . Jacob Sykes 14-0 3 2 5 . Chris Drager 14-1 2 1 3 . Quillie Odom 7-0 . 2 2 . Ryan Shuman 14-14 2 . 2 . Greg Boone 14-13 1 1 2 . Tyrod Taylor 12-10 2 . 2 . Andre Smith 14-6 1 1 2 . Dylan McGreevy 8-0 1 . 1 . . Kenny Younger 2-0 . 1 1 Justin Young 6-0 1 . 1 . Ed Wang 14-14 1 . 1 . Sergio Render 14-14 1 . 1 . Jake Johnson 11-0 1 . 1 . Tim Pisano 1-0 . 1 1 . Darren Evans 14-9 1 . 1 . Team 14-0 . . . . Total 14-0 467 380 847 90-392 Opponents 14-0 514 570 1084 99.0-364
2009 Virginia Tech Football
Loss 45 146 32 8 8 0 0 0 1 4 0 15 43 110 412 421
Net Avg 1265 4.4 738 5.0 237 3.7 88 2.3 76 3.6 48 9.6 37 7.4 21 5.2 17 3.4 14 2.3 2 2.0 -11 -2.8 -43 -2.5 -48 -1.2 2441 3.8 1462 3.2
Cmp-Att-Int 99-173-7 65-108-5 3-6-0 0-3-0 0-1-0 167-291-12 181-343-20
Pct 57.2 60.2 50.0 0.0 0.0 57.4 52.8
TD 11 7 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 23 12 Yds 1036 743 28 0 0 1807 2450
Long Avg/G 50 90.4 73 61.5 24 39.5 13 7.3 17 5.4 18 3.7 27 2.6 12 1.8 8 1.2 7 1.0 2 0.1 3 -2.8 0 -3.1 8 -5.3 73 174.4 50 104.4 TD 2 3 1 0 0 6 12
Lng Avg/G 40 86.3 62 82.6 13 7.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 62 129.1 63 175.0
|-Sacks-| |------Pass Def-------| |-Fumbles-| Blkd No-Yards Int-Yds BU PD Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf 3.5-13 . 2 7 . . . . 0.5-4 2-39 1 9 . 3 . . 7.5-57 2-20 1 7 . 2 . . 8.0-66 . 1 21 . 2 1 . 7.5-55 1-0 4 11 1-17 2 . . . 2-0 5 . 2-0 1 . . 2.0-10 . 3 2 1-0 3 . . 1.0-19 1-40 4 . 1-8 . . . . 6-142 8 . 1-0 2 . . . 6-94 4 . 1-30 1 1 . 3.0-37 . 1 13 1-0 1 . . . . 2 11 2-0 1 3 . 2.0-12 . . 7 . . . . . . . . 1-0 1 . . . . . 1 1-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . 2 1-0 . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 35-270 20-335 38 93 14-57 20 5 1 42-224 12-76 25 25 8-15 8 2 1
RECEIVING G Danny Coale 14 Jarrett Boykin 14 Greg Boone 14 Dyrell Roberts 14 Darren Evans 14 Andre Smith 14 Victor Harris 13 Kenny Lewis 6 Josh Oglesby 12 Dustin Pickle 14 Chris Drager 14 Kenny Jefferson 14 Ike Whitaker 3 Xavier Boyce 3 Devin Perez 13 Total 14 Opponents 14
No. 36 30 22 17 17 10 8 6 6 4 3 3 3 1 1 167 181
Yds Avg 408 11.3 441 14.7 278 12.6 227 13.4 117 6.9 129 12.9 63 7.9 30 5.0 14 2.3 21 5.2 37 12.3 19 6.3 14 4.7 7 7.0 2 2.0 1807 10.8 2450 13.5
TD 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 12
Long Avg/G 35 29.1 41 31.5 27 19.9 62 16.2 14 8.4 40 9.2 16 4.8 19 5.0 6 1.2 11 1.5 15 2.6 9 1.4 6 4.7 6 2.3 2 0.2 62 129.1 63 175.0
PUNT RETURNS Victor Harris Team Stephan Virgil Total Opponents
No. 25 1 1 27 24
Yds Avg 233 9.3 -5 -5.0 14 14.0 242 9.0 298 12.4
TD 0 0 0 0 3
Long 32 0 0 32 88
INTERCEPTIONS Victor Harris Stephan Virgil Kam Chancellor Cody Grimm Brett Warren Dorian Porch Orion Martin Total Opponents
No. 6 6 2 2 2 1 1 20 12
Yds Avg 142 23.7 94 15.7 0 0.0 20 10.0 39 19.5 40 40.0 0 0.0 335 16.8 76 6.3
TD 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0
Long 55 36 0 10 36 40 0 55 25
KICK RETURNS Dyrell Roberts Kenny Lewis Davon Morgan Victor Harris Chris Drager Cris Hill Jahre Cheeseman Devin Perez Total Opponents
No. 22 11 4 4 2 1 1 1 46 62
Yds Avg 545 24.8 222 20.2 78 19.5 60 15.0 6 3.0 11 11.0 18 18.0 7 7.0 947 20.6 1206 19.5
TD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Long 55 41 29 20 6 11 18 7 55 35
FUMBLE RETURNS Davon Morgan Stephan Virgil Dorian Porch Orion Martin Total Opponents
No. 1 1 1 1 4 2
Yds Avg 2 2.0 30 30.0 8 8.0 17 17.0 57 14.2 15 7.5
TD 0 1 0 1 2 0
Long 2 30 8 17 30 8
FGs 23-29 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 23-29 15-21
| ------------ PATs ------------| Kick Rush Rcv Pass DXP Saf Points 32-34 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 101 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 66 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 42 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 24 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 1 0 8 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 1 2 32-34 0-0 0 0-0 1 1 309 23-25 0-0 1 1-2 0 1 234
SCORING Dustin Keys Darren Evans Tyrod Taylor Kenny Lewis Greg Boone Jarrett Boykin Victor Harris Stephan Virgil Sean Glennon Brett Warren Andre Smith Orion Martin Team Total Opponents
TD 0 11 7 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 34 27
TOTAL OFFENSE G Tyrod Taylor 12 Darren Evans 14 Sean Glennon 9 Kenny Lewis 6 Josh Oglesby 12 Greg Boone 14 Victor Harris 13 Dyrell Roberts 14 Jahre Cheeseman 12 Cory Holt 4 Dustin Pickle 14 Danny Coale 14 Kenny Jefferson 14 Team 14 Total 14 Opponents 14
Plays Rush 320 738 287 1265 149 -48 64 237 38 88 22 76 5 48 5 37 4 21 10 -11 5 17 6 14 1 2 20 -43 936 2441 794 1462
Pass 1036 0 743 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 0 1807 2450
Total Avg/G 1774 147.8 1265 90.4 695 77.2 237 39.5 88 7.3 76 5.4 48 3.7 37 2.6 21 1.8 17 4.2 17 1.2 14 1.0 2 0.1 -43 -3.1 4248 303.4 3912 279.4
FIELD GOALS FGM-FGA Pct 01-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Lg Blk Dustin Keys 23-29 79.3 2-2 9-11 6-6 5-8 1-2 50 0 FG SEQUENCE East Carolina Furman Georgia Tech North Carolina Nebraska Western Kentucky Boston College Florida State Maryland Miami (Fla.) Duke Virginia Boston College Cincinnati
Virginia Tech 44 (22) (25),(21) (19),(45) (19),(38),(27),(36) (27),(22) (30),44,(45),(45) (41),43,(20) (35),(30),(27) 51 - 22,(28) (50) 26,(43),(35)
OPPONENTS 39 33 (32) 35,(27) (48) (48),(24) 39 (50),(29),(46) 46,(41),(27) (21),(31),(23) (39) (24) 44
Numbers in (parentheses) indicate field goal was made. PUNTING Brent Bowden Team Total Opponents
No. 69 3 72 72
Yds Avg 2785 40.4 23 7.7 2808 39.0 2935 40.8
Long 57 15 57 59
KICKOFFS Justin Myer Tim Pisano Dustin Keys Brent Bowden Total Opponents
No. 62 4 4 1 71 54
Yds Avg 3892 62.8 232 58.0 166 41.5 43 43.0 4333 61.0 3336 61.8
TB 6 0 0 0 6 6
ALL PURPOSE G Rush Rec Darren Evans 14 1265 117 Dyrell Roberts 14 37 227 Tyrod Taylor 12 738 0 Victor Harris 13 48 63 Kenny Lewis 6 237 30 Jarrett Boykin 14 0 441 Danny Coale 14 14 408 Greg Boone 14 76 278 Andre Smith 14 0 129 Stephan Virgil 14 0 0 Josh Oglesby 12 88 14 Davon Morgan 5 0 0 Chris Drager 14 0 37 Dorian Porch 13 0 0 Brett Warren 13 0 0 Jahre Cheeseman 12 21 0 Dustin Pickle 14 17 21 Kenny Jefferson 14 2 19 Cody Grimm 14 0 0 Ike Whitaker 3 0 14 Cris Hill 14 0 0 Devin Perez 13 0 2 Xavier Boyce 3 0 7 Cory Holt 4 -11 0 Sean Glennon 9 -48 0 Team 14 -43 0 Total 14 2441 1807 Opponents 14 1462 2450
TB 6 0 6 11
FC I20 Blkd 11 24 0 0 0 2 11 24 2 16 18 1
OB Retn 3 0 0 0 3 1206 1 947
PR KOR IR 0 0 0 0 545 0 0 0 0 233 60 142 0 222 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 94 0 0 0 0 78 0 0 6 0 0 0 40 0 0 39 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -5 0 0 242 947 335 298 1206 76
Net
YdLn
42.4 42.0
27 27
Tot Avg/G 1382 98.7 809 57.8 738 61.5 546 42.0 489 81.5 441 31.5 422 30.1 354 25.3 129 9.2 108 7.7 102 8.5 78 15.6 43 3.1 40 3.1 39 3.0 39 3.2 38 2.7 21 1.5 20 1.4 14 4.7 11 0.8 9 0.7 7 2.3 -11 -2.8 -5.3 -48 -48 -3.4 5772 412.3 5492 392.3
2009 Virginia Tech Football
21
2008 Game-by-game East Carolina
Late Rally Lifts Pirates to 27-22 Win Over No. 17 Hokies in Opener CHARLOTTE, N.C. – East Carolina beat No. 17 Virginia Tech at its own game when T.J. Lee blocked a punt and returned it for the gamewinning touchdown during the final two minutes of a 27-22 season-opening victory at Bank of America Stadium. The Pirates, who fell behind 14-0 in the first half, and trailed 22-13 with less than four minutes to go, used Tech miscues and the outstanding play of quarterback Pat Pinkney to position themselves for the win. ECU intercepted a Tech pass at its own 5-yard line to stop the Hokies’ first possession and then used a pick at the Tech 20 to set up a crucial score just before the half. Pinkney threw for one TD and ran for another in the second half to pull his team within two points at 22-20 with 3:36 left. Tech had a chance to get a big jump early, but failed to post points on trips inside the ECU 20 on its first two possessions. The Hokies still managed to build a 14-0 lead on a 30-yard fumble return by cornerback Stephan Virgil and a 6-yard run by tailback Kenny Lewis, Jr., within a four-minute span during the second quarter. Lewis’ score was set up by an ECU fumble on a kickoff. ECU was poised to tie the game at 14-all in the third quarter, but Tech’s John Graves blocked the extra point and Virgil returned it for a two-point defensive conversion.
Stephan Virgil opened the scoring with a 30yard fumble return.
Hokies-Pirates Game Notes • East Carolina’s win in Charlotte snapped a six-game Virginia Tech winning streak in the series and was the Hokies’ third loss in as many trips to the city of Charlotte. • Ten players made their first collegiate starts for the Hokies in Charlotte. The first-time starters on offense were split end Danny Coale, right tackle Blake DeChristopher and flanker Dyrell Roberts. Defensively, cornerbacks Rashad Carmichael and Stephan Virgil, tackles John Graves and Cordarrow Thompson, end Jason Worilds, linebacker Purnell Sturdivant and rover Davon Morgan all made their debuts as starters. • The Hokies had no penalty yards against the Pirates. The last time that happened was in a 1980 game against William & Mary.
Kenny Lewis, Jr., scored a 6-yard touchdown against ECU.
Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, N.C. Aug. 30, 2008 • Attendance: 72,169 Virginia Tech 0 14 2 6 – 22 East Carolina 0 7 6 14 – 27 VT (12:19 re 2nd) – Virgil 30 fumble return (Keys kick) VT (8:54 re 2nd) – Lewis 6 run (Keys kick) ECU (1:16 re 2nd) – Williams 1 run (Ryan kick) ECU (10:05 re 3rd) – Bryant 12 pass from Pinkney (kick blocked) VT (10:05 re 3rd) – Virgil PAT return VT (14:56 re 4th) – Evans 3 run (kick failed) ECU (3:36 re 4th) – Pinkney 3 run (Ryan kick) ECU (1:52 re 4th) – Lee 27 blocked punt return (Ryan kick) Team Stats VT ECU First downs 12 19 Rushes-yds. 35-104 41-158 Passing yds. 139 211 Return yds. 30 64 Passes 14-23-2 19-25-0 Punts-avg. 3-31.0 3-43.3 Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-2 Penalties-yds. 1-0 6-60 Time of poss. 26:52 33:08 Sacks by 0-0 2-12
22
2009 Virginia Tech Football
Individual Totals Rushing – VT, Lewis 11-62, Evans 12-37, Boone 4-4, Glennon 7-3, Jefferson 1-2, Oglesby 1-(-4); ECU, Simmons 17-54, Williams 9-48, Harris 3-32, Pinkney 11-24, Reynolds 1-0. Passing – VT, Glennon 14-23-2139; ECU, Pinkney 19-23-0-211, Kass 0-2-0-0. Receiving – VT, Smith 3-32, Whitaker 3-14, Coale 2-15, Lewis 2-(-6), Roberts 1-62, Boone 1-9, Boyce 1-7, Evans 1-6; ECU, Drew 5-65, Harris 4-68, Bryant 4-34, Lee 2-26, Simmons 2-11, Gidrey 1-5, Williams 1-2.
2008 Game-by-game Furman
Big Third Quarter Leads to 24-7 Victory over Paladins
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech scored three touchdowns in a three-minute span of the third quarter to win their 13th-consecutive home opener with a 24-7 decision against Furman University. After managing just three points in an uneventful first half, the Hokies finally got things going their way in the third quarter. A 50-yard run by sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor moved Tech to the Furman 14 on its first possession of the half. Senior signal caller Sean Glennon took it from there, capping the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Lewis, Jr., the first touchdown reception of his career. Lewis scored again 85 seconds later after Tech’s defense forced a fumble at the Furman 31. This time, the junior tailback scooted 23 yards up the middle to put the Hokies on top 17-0. It took the Hokies just two plays to get the ball back, thanks to a Stephan Virgil interception and return to the Paladins’ 9-yard line. Redshirt freshman tailback Darren Evans covered the final 9 yards on two carries to complete the 21-point outburst. Taylor rushed for 112 yards in the game as the Hokies piled up 261 yards on the ground, including 104 in the third quarter. The Paladins passed for 213 yards but battled poor field position the entire game. Furman’s average starting point was its own 16-yard line.
Hokies-Paladins Game Notes • Ike Whitaker made his first collegiate start at any position. Whitaker’s start came as the third wide receiver in the Hokies’ opening set.
Sean Glennon (7) and Tyrod Taylor (5) celebrate after a touchdown.
• For the second game in a row, defensive tackle John Graves blocked a kick. Graves, who had a blocked extra point against East Carolina, blocked a Furman field goal. • Senior Dustin Keys made his first collegiate field goal, a 22-yarder with 29 seconds left in the first half. • Tech turned in its first 200yard rushing game since piling up 224 yards against Clemson in 2006. The Hokies had 261 against Furman. • Justin Myer handled the kickoff duties for Tech, becoming the ninth true freshman to see action for the Hokies.
Dyrell Roberts turns upfield after a catch. Brothers Cam (41) and Orion (90) Martin celebrate a big play.
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field • Blacksburg, Va. Sept. 6, 2008 • Attendance: 66,233 Furman Virginia Tech VT (0:29 re 2nd) VT (8:41 re 3rd) VT (7:16 re 3rd) VT (6:12 re 3rd) FU (6:02 re 4th)
0 0 0 7 – 7 0 3 21 0 – 24 – FG Keys 22 – Lewis 10 pass from Glennon (Keys kick) – Lewis 10 run (Keys kick) – Evans 3 run (Keys kick) – Truss 17 pass from Sorrells (Cesari kick)
Team Stats FU VT First downs 13 14 Rushes-yds. 20-34 48-261 Passing yds. 213 68 Return yds. 3 48 Passes 21-37-1 7-13-1 Punts-avg. 7-42.7 6-43.0 Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0 Penalties-yds. 5-32 9-60 Time of poss. 27:00 33:00 Sacks by 4-26 1-3
Individual Totals Rushing – FU, Brown 10-20, Kendall 2-13, Coleman 1-4, LaFrance 2-4, Uhaa 1-1, Team 1-(-1), Sorrells 3-(-7); VT, Taylor 14-112, Evans 11-72, Lewis 13-50, Cheeseman 4-21, Oglesby 4-7, Glennon 2-(-1). Passing – FU, Sorrells 21-37-1213; VT, Glennon 3-8-1-42, Taylor 4-5-0-26. Receiving – FU, Mims 7-61, Brown 4-49, Cunningham 3-25, Truss 2-39, Hendrix 2-21, LaFrance 2-11, Uhaa 1-7; VT, Lewis 3-36, Roberts 2-24, Boone 1-5, Boykin 1-3.
2009 Virginia Tech Football
23
2008 Game-by-game Georgia Tech
Hokies Prevail 20-17 in Tight ACC Affair Against Yellow Jackets BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech drove 76 yards for a tie-breaking field goal, and then held off Georgia Tech twice during the final four minutes to open Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 20-17 victory at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. The Hokies’ winning drive was fueled by the running of redshirt freshman Darren Evans and two costly Georgia Tech penalties. The march ended at the Yellow Jackets’ 4-yard line, leading to a 21-yard field goal by Dustin Keys. Georgia Tech got two more cracks at the Hokies, but was stymied both times after compiling over 350 yards of offense over the first 56 minutes of play. Georgia Tech erased a 17-9 deficit with an 81-yard fourth-quarter drive that quarterback Josh Nesbitt capped with an 18-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion pass that tied the score with 9:28 remaining. The visitors piled up 387 yards of offense to the home team’s 247 yards, but offset that advantage by committing three turnovers and eight penalties. Evans and quarterback Tyrod Taylor each contributed touchdowns for the Hokies, while Keys booted a pair of field goals. The Hokies did not commit a turnover in the game and had just three penalties.
Hokies-Yellow Jackets Game Notes • Defensive end Nekos Brown and tight end Chris Drager made their first collegiate starts in the game, while veteran Victor “Macho” Harris got a start on both offense and defense. Harris, the Hokies’ regular starter at the boundary cornerback position, also got the nod at one of the starting wide receiver slots. It was his first appearance on offense for the Hokies. • Georgia Tech’s five pass completions were the fewest against the Hokies since 2005 when Duke had five. The nine passes attempted by the Yellow Jackets tied for the second-fewest against a Frank Beamer-coached Hokie team. Temple attempted nine passes in 1998, while Clemson tried just eight during a 1989 game with the Hokies. • The Hokies’ 48 yards passing were the fewest for a Virginia Tech team since throwing for just 44 yards in a win at Miami in 2003. • John Graves became the first player under Beamer to block a kick in three straight games. He blocked a PAT against ECU, a field goal against Furman and a PAT against Georgia Tech.
Center Ryan Shuman clears the way for Tyrod Taylor.
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field • Blacksburg, Va. Sept. 13, 2008 • Attendance: 66,233
The Tech defense had three takeaways against the Yellow Jackets.
24
2009 Virginia Tech Football
Georgia Tech 3 6 0 8 – 17 Virginia Tech 0 14 0 6 – 20 GT (4:35 re 1st) – FG Blair 32 VT (13:01 re 2nd) – Evans 8 run (Keys kick) GT (3:44 re 2nd) – Jones 41 pass from Nesbitt (Keys kick) VT (0:10 re 2nd) – Taylor 2 run (Keys kick) VT (13:58 re 4th) – FG Keys 25 GT (9:28 re 4th) – Nesbitt 18 run (Cox pass from Nesbitt) VT (4:37 re 4th) – FG Keys 21 Team Stats GT VT Individual Totals First downs 19 17 Rushing – GT, Nesbitt 28-151, Rushes-yds. 50-278 46-199 Cox 5-63, Dwyer 10-28, Jones Passing yds. 109 48 4-28, Smith 2-5, Peeples 1-3; VT, Return yds. 8 10 Evans 19-94, Taylor 15-74, Pickle Passes 5-9-1 9-15-0 4-18, Lewis 8-13. Punts-avg. 2-47.5 6-38.8 Passing – GT, Nesbitt 5-8-1Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0 109, Team 0-1-0-0; VT, Taylor Penalties-yds. 8-61 3-15 9-14-0-48, Team 0-1-0-0. Time of poss. 29:58 30:02 Receiving – GT, Fisher 2-37, Sacks by 1-13 1-2 Melton 2-31, Jones 1-41; VT, Roberts 2-18, Coale 2-15, Boone 2-13, Drager 1-8, Harris 1-(-1), Pickle 1-(-5).
2008 Game-by-game North Carolina
Hokies Escape Chapel Hill With 20-17 Victory Over the Tar Heels CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – An inspired second-half rally gave Virginia Tech a crucial 20-17 ACC Coastal Division road win over the University of North Carolina at Kenan Stadium. Trailing 17-3 late in the third quarter, the Hokies pulled themselves together with a 13-play, 89-yard drive that culminated with a 10-yard scoring run by redshirt freshman Darren Evans. A third-and-7 pass from quarterback Tyrod Taylor to freshman Dyrell Roberts that netted 15 yards proved to be the key play. The Tech defense needed just two plays to get the ball back for the offense, forcing a fumble that was recovered on the UNC 30. It took Tech just five plays to tie the game with tailback Kenny Lewis, Jr., covering the final 11 yards with 13:46 remaining. The Hokies completed their comeback with a 45-yard field goal by senior Dustin Keys at the 10:42 mark. Tech then thwarted the Tar Heels’ final two possessions with interceptions to complete one of the best comebacks of the Frank Beamer era in Blacksburg.
Danny Coale had 54 yards receiving to lead the way against UNC.
Hokies-Tar Heels Game Notes • Freshman receiver Jarrett Boykin made his first collegiate start, coming as the third receiver, while redshirt freshman Darren Evans made his first start as the Hokies started two tailbacks. • Tech’s comeback from 14 points down in the second half equaled the second-biggest rally for a Tech team under Beamer. The Hokies rallied from a 15-point deficit at Virginia in 1995 and previously came back from 14 points down against Georgia Tech in 2004 and Syracuse in 2000. • The Hokies failed to score in the first quarter for the sixth consecutive game, dating back to last year when they failed to score in the opening quarter of season-ending games against Boston College and Kansas. The last time Tech failed to score in four straight first quarters in one season was in 1981 under Coach Bill Dooley. • Redshirt freshman tailback Darren Evans registered a rushing touchdown for the fourth straight game.
Kenan Stadium • Chapel Hill, N.C. Sept. 20, 2008 • Attendance: 59,800 Virginia Tech North Carolina NC VT NC NC VT VT VT
0 0
3 10
10 0
– –
20 17
(12:31 re 2nd) – FG Wooten 27 (6:59 re 2nd) – FG Keys 19 (1:02 re 2nd) – Tate 32 pass from Yates (Wooten kick) (6:44 re 3rd) – Little 50 run (Wooten kick) (1:09 re 3rd) – Evans 10 run (Keys kick) (13:46 re 4th) – Lewis 11 run (Keys kick) (10:42 re 4th) – FG Keys 45
Team Stats VT NC First downs 16 14 Rushes-yds. 42-127 32-103 Passing yds. 141 204 Return yds. 33 25 Passes 12-22-2 14-26-2 Punts-avg. 6-34.8 5-44.2 Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2 Penalties-yds. 4-21 14-121 Time of poss. 32:42 27:18 Sacks by 4-39 2-6
Davon Morgan scoops up a loose ball to stop a Tar Heel drive.
7 7
Individual Totals Rushing – VT, Evans 14-61, Taylor 12-35, Lewis 7-28, Oglesby 4-9, Roberts 2-0, Boone 1-(-2), Team 2-(-4); NC, Little 18-71, Foster 3-45, Tate 2-16, Draughn 5-10, Paulus 1-(-10), Yates 3-(29). Passing – VT, Taylor 11-21-2125, Glennon 1-1-0-16; NC, Yates 11-18-0-181, Paulus 3-8-2-23. Receiving – VT, Coale 4-54, Boykin 2-33, Roberts 1-15, Drager 1-15, Harris 1-9, Evans 1-5, Smith 1-5, Boone 1-5; NC, Nicks 4-51, Tate 3-66, Foster 3-52, Pianalto 3-31, Little 1-4.
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2008 Game-by-game Nebraska
Virginia Tech Holds On for Wild 35-30 Road Win over ‘Huskers
LINCOLN, Neb. – A blocked punt and an interception helped Virginia Tech to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter, and the Hokies never trailed on the way to a hard fought 3530 non-conference victory over previously unbeaten Nebraska before a record crowd at Memorial Stadium. The turnout of 85,831 fans got their money’s worth as the home-standing Cornhuskers breathed down the Hokies’ neck all evening long. After Tech grabbed a 28-10 advantage late in the third quarter, Nebraska used a 75-yard drive and a stunning 88-yard punt return to pull within five points with just under eight minutes to go. Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor responded by marching the Hokies 80 yards in 11 plays for a 35-23 lead at the 2:28 mark, but it took Nebraska just four plays and 56 seconds to answer once again on quarterback Joe Ganz’s, second TD pass of the game. Nebraska got one last chance with 25 seconds left, but the Hokie defense forced a fumble and took over at the NU 48. Tech ran for 206 yards, picking up two rushing touchdowns from tailback Darren Evans, and got a strong performance from kicker Dustin Keys who booted four field goals.
Hokies Cornhuskers Game Notes • The Memorial Stadium crowd of 85,831 was the largest in the stadium’s history and marked the third-largest crowd that Virginia Tech had ever played football in front of, trailing only LSU in 2007 (92,739) and USC at FedEx Field in 2004 (91,665). • The Hokies scored in the first quarter for the first time in their last seven games, dating back to last year. • Senior Victor Harris recorded the 11th pass interception of his Tech career (second of 2008) in the first quarter, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run for Darren Evans. Harris’ pick tied him for eighth place in career interceptions at Tech.
Tailback Darren Evans scored two touchdowns against the Cornhuskers.
Memorial Stadium/Osborne Field • Lincoln, Neb. Taylor caption Sept. 27, 2008 • Attendance: 85,831 Virginia Tech Nebraska VT VT NU VT NU VT VT VT VT NU NU VT NU
9 7
9 3
26
2009 Virginia Tech Football
7 13
– –
35 30
(8:35 re 1st) - Team safety (blocked punt out of back of end zone) (5:22 re 1st) – Evans 1 run (Keys kick) (3:54 re 1st) – McNeill 32 pass from Ganz (Henery kick) (14:51 re 2nd) – FG Keys 19 (10:45 re 2nd) – FG Henery 48 (7:10 re 2nd) – FG Keys 38 (1:15 re 2nd) – FG Keys 27 (10:25 re 3rd) – FG Keys 36 (6:54 re 3rd) – Evans 19 run (Keys kick) (0:04 re 3rd) – Helu 12 run (Henery kick) (7:52 re 4th) – Swift 88 punt return (pass failed) (2:28 re 4th) – Taylor 2 run (Keys kick) (1:32 re 4th) – Peterson 17 pass from Ganz (Henery kick)
Team Stats VT NU First downs 21 14 Rushes-yds. 55-206 25-55 Passing yds. 171 278 Return yds. 86 84 Passes 9-15-0 17-26-1 Punts-avg. 5-34.6 5-29.4 Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-1 Penalties-yds. 4-30 7-69 Time of poss. 34:44 25:16 Sacks by 2-11 2-4
Dustin Keys drilled four field goals in Tech’s big road win.
10 7
Individual Totals Rushing – VT, Taylor 15-87, Evans 21-72, Lewis 17-50, Coale 1-(-1), Team 1-(-2); NU, Helu 4-21, Ganz 8-18, Lucky 8-17, Castile 3-8, Team 1-(-3), Paul 1-(-6). Passing – VT, Taylor 9-15-0171; NU, Ganz 17-26-1-278. Receiving – VT, Boykin 2-58, Smith 2-54, Boone 2-33, Coale 2-14, Roberts 1-12; NU, Peterson 4-60, McNeill 3-66, Swift 3-58, Lucky 3-38, Paul 1-21, Holt 1-20, Young 1-10, Gilleylen 1-5.
2008 Game-by-game Western Kentucky
Virginia Tech Wins Homecoming Contest Over Hilltoppers, 27-13 BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech extended its string of consecutive home wins over nonconference opponents to 30 with a sluggish 2713 Homecoming victory over Western Kentucky University at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. It took a 10-point spurt in the final seconds of the first half to give the Hokies some breathing room against the visiting Hilltoppers. Tech went ahead 17-3 when redshirt freshman tailback Darren Evans scored from the 1 on a fourth-and-goal play with 25 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Just seconds later, the Hokies got the ball back on an interception by senior cornerback Victor Harris. Harris returned the pick 49 yards to the WKU 5, leading to a field goal from Dustin Keys to put Tech up 20-3 at the half. Evans added another TD less than five minutes into the second half, but the Tech offense sputtered the rest of the way, posting just three first downs during the final 26 minutes of play. WKU capitalized on a fake punt and a successful on-side kick but hurt itself with 13 penalties for 113 yards. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor picked up his first touchdown pass of the season, tossing a 27yard scoring pass to tight end Greg Boone. Taylor also had a key 19-yard run on Tech’s final touchdown drive. WKU was just 3-of-14 on third-down conversions and managed a total of eight first downs.
Hokies-Hilltoppers Game Notes • Dorian Porch made his first collegiate start in the WKU game. Porch started at rover for Davon Morgan, who tore his ACL in the Nebraska game.
Greg Boone hauls in a 27-yard touchdown pass against the Hilltoppers.
• When quarterback Tyrod Taylor lost a fumble in the second quarter, it marked the Hokies’ first lost fumble of the 2008 season. • Darren Evans scored two touchdowns for the second-straight game. Evans scored in each of his first six collegiate games. Tech also got an interception from cornerback Victor Harris for the third straight week. • Tech backup long snapper Matt Tuttle was named the Homecoming King. The redshirt junior joined the team last season as a walk-on. • Starting tailback Kenny Lewis, Jr., was lost for the season when he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the third quarter of the game.
The Hokie defense limited WKU to just eight first downs.
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field • Blacksburg, Va. Oct. 4, 2008 • Attendance: 66,233 Western Kentucky 0 3 3 7 – 13 Virginia Tech 10 10 7 0 – 27 VT (7:38 re 1st) – FG Keys 27 VT (2:11 re 1st) – Boone 27 pass from Taylor (Keys kick) WK (13:53 re 2nd) – FG Siewert 48 VT (0:25 re 2nd) – Evans 1 run (Keys kick) VT (0:01 re 2nd) – FG Keys 22 VT (10:39 re 3rd) – Evans 2 run (Keys kick) WK (0:30 re 3rd) – FG Siewert 24 WK (11:58 re 4th) – Jones 3 pass from Wolke (Siewert kick) Team Stats WKU VT First downs 8 19 Rushes-yds. 32-148 51-151 Passing yds. 95 142 Return yds. 3 89 Passes 8-20-1 13-18-0 Punts-avg. 6-37.0 4-39.8 Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-1 Penalties-yds. 13-113 6-40 Time of poss. 25:22 34:38 Sacks by 5-18 3-12
Individual Totals Rushing – WKU, Taylor 14-96, Rainey 8-54, Booker 2-5, Wolke 6-(-2), Hayden 1-(-2), McCloud 1-(-3); VT, Evans 21-79, Lewis 7-38, Taylor 10-30, Oglesby 7-19, Team 1-(-2), Glennon 5-(-13). Passing – WKU, Wolke 7-191-49, Moore 1-1-0-46; VT, Taylor 10-15-0-125, Glennon 3-3-0-17. Receiving – WKU, Graves 4-41, Boyd 1-46, Gaebler 1-3, Jones 1-3, Willis 1-2; VT, Coale 2-34, Boykin 2-22, Harris 2-15, Oglesby 2-7, Boone 1-27, Smith 1-17, Drager 1-14, Roberts 1-6, Lewis 1-0.
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2008 Game-by-game Boston College
Eagles Continue Recent Success Over Hokies with 28-23 Victory CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College overcame five turnovers and a fast start by Virginia Tech to hand the Hokies their first ACC loss of the season, a 28-23 decision at Alumni Stadium. Tech scored 10 points in the first six minutes of the game, but a 21-point second quarter put BC up 28-17 at the half. From there, the Eagles’ defense took over, limiting the Hokies to a pair of field goals over the final two quarters. Boston College stopped three straight secondhalf drives that reached its 30-yard line, forcing field goals on two and halting Tech on downs on the other. A 65-yard punt return for a touchdown by Rich Gunnell put the Eagles ahead to stay in the second quarter, but the key play came later in the quarter after the Hokies cut the lead to 21-17 on a 55-yard interception return for a score by cornerback Victor “Macho” Harris. BC got the ball back and faced a third-and-11 situation from its own 24 with under a minute to go, when quarterback Chris Crane found receiver Brandon Robinson open down the right sideline for a 48-yard gain. Two plays later, the Eagles reached the end zone with just 27 seconds showing. Tech’s defense adjusted during the intermission to hold the Eagles scoreless in the second half, but the Hokies were unable to respond offensively, failing to score an offensive touchdown for the second straight time at BC.
Hokies-Eagles Game Notes • Linebacker Brett Warren’s 36-yard interception return at BC resulted in his first collegiate touchdown. Victor Harris posted his third career interception return for a TD and his fourth career touchdown overall. • Harris intercepted a pass for the fourth straight game. The last Tech player to accomplish that feat was Carter Wiley during the 1985 season. • Tech allowed a punt to be returned for a score for the second time this season, and counting a blocked punt that was returned for a TD by ECU, has officially allowed three punt returns for scores. It marks the first time under head coach Frank Beamer that two (non-blocked) punts have been returned for touchdowns in the same season. Tech gave up two punt returns for TDs in 1988, but one was on a blocked punt. A check of Tech records beginning in 1954 show no other season with two (non-blocked) punts returned for touchdowns. • Quarterback Tyrod Taylor rushed for 110 yards on 15 carries. It was Taylor’s second 100yard rushing game of the season and the third of his career.
Purnell Sturdivant (45) and Kam Chancellor wrap up BC quarterback Chris Crane.
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2009 Virginia Tech Football
Brett Warren scored a touchdown on an interception return against BC.
Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, Mass. Oct. 18, 2008 • Attendance: 44,127 Virginia Tech 10 7 3 3 – 23 Boston College 7 21 0 0 – 28 VT (13:09 re 1st) – Br. Warren 36 interception return (Keys kick) VT (9:31 re 1st) – FG Keys 30 BC (4:08 re 1st) – Harris 6 run (Aponavicius kick) BC (9:08 re 2nd) – Gunnell 65 punt return (Aponavicius kick) BC (6:43 re 2nd) – Momah 10 pass from Crane (Aponavicius kick) VT (1:39 re 2nd) – Harris 55 interception return (Keys kick) BC (0:27 re 2nd) – McCluskey 2 run (Aponavicius kick) VT (3:08 re 3rd) – FG Keys 45 VT (6:32 re 4th) – FG Keys 45 Team Stats VT BC Individual Totals First downs 14 22 Rushing – VT, Taylor 15-110, Rushes-yds. 38-150 37-82 Evans 17-27, Oglesby 6-13; Passing yds. 90 218 BC, Harris 15-61, Haden 9-38, Return yds. 91 65 McCluskey 1-2, Team 1-0, Crane Passes 12-27-1 16-32-3 11-(-19). Punts-avg. 3-30.2 2-42.0 Passing – VT, Taylor 12-27-1Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-2 90; BC, Crane 16-32-3-218. Penalties-yds. 10-76 3-19 Receiving – VT, Coale 4-28, Time of poss. 29:45 30:15 Boykin 2-19, Oglesby 2-6, Harris Sacks by 3-39 1-3 1-16, Pickle 1-10, Roberts 1-8, Evans 1-3; BC, Robinson 4-97, Momah 3-57, Jarvis 2-19, Gunnell 2-15, McCluskey 2-8, Megwa 1-14, Haden 1-6, Purvis 1-2.
2008 Game-by-game Florida State
Hokies Lose Two Quarterbacks and Game, 30-20, to ‘Noles
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 24 Florida State took advantage of a crucial roughing the punter penalty and Tech’s misfortunes at quarterback to post a 30-20 come-from-behind ACC victory at Doak Campbell Stadium. Tech, which lost starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor to an ankle injury on the game’s first play from scrimmage, jumped to a 10-0 lead and still clung to a 13-10 advantage midway through the third quarter. After holding FSU on a third-and-19 play with a little over seven minutes left in the third quarter, Tech made an all-out bid to block punter Graham Gano’s kick from his own 31. The Hokies missed the ball, but hit Gano, giving the Seminoles a first down and new life. It took just three plays for Florida State to cash in on the opportunity and take a 17-13 lead. Tech’s fortunes took an even bigger turn for the worse on its next offensive play when No. 2 quarterback Sean Glennon was injured on a sack. Glennon, who had rushed for a touchdown and completed nine passes for 133 yards, joined Taylor on the sidelines for the remainder of the game. With FSU leading 27-13, Cory Holt, the Hokies’ third quarterback of the day, capped a 46-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andre Smith to pull Tech within striking distance with 8:20 left in the game. The Seminoles ended the suspense by taking nearly five minutes off the clock on the way to a Gano field goal and a 10-point lead. Both defenses made yards hard to come by in the physical contest, which saw FSU finish with a slight 248 to 243 lead in total offense.
Hokies-Seminoles Game Notes • Quarterback Sean Glennon’s 133 yards passing against FSU moved him past Jim Druckenmiller (4,383) for fifth place in career passing yards at Virginia Tech. Glennon now has 4,471 yards passing. Glennon also picked up the third rushing touchdown of his career during the game. • Tight end Andre Smith posted his first collegiate touchdown, snagging a 4-yard TD toss from Cory Holt during the fourth quarter. • Freshman receiver Jarrett Boykin had personal-bests of four catches and 89 yards receiving against the Seminoles. Boykin’s 41-yard reception in the second quarter was the second-longest pass completion of the year for the Hokies. • Fullback Devin Perez made his first collegiate start in the game, while Victor Harris got a start at wide receiver and cornerback for the second time in 2008. • The announced attendance of 81,876 made it the sixthlargest crowd to see a Virginia Tech football game.
Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Fla. Oct. 25, 2008 • Attendance: 81,876 Virginia Tech Florida State VT VT FS FS VT FS FS FS VT FS
Sean Glennon came off the bench to throw for 133 yards and rush for a score.
Cody Grimm had two sacks against the Seminoles.
10 0
3 10
0 14
7 6
– –
20 30
(5:51 re 1st) – FG Keys 41 (0:00 re 1st) – Glennon 1 run (Keys kick) (12:40 re 2nd) – Smith 39 run (Gano kick) (9:33 re 2nd) – FG Gano 50 (0:03 re 2nd) – FG Keys 20 (6:05 re 3rd) – Easterling 4 pass from Ponder (Gano kick) (1:09 re 3rd) – Sims 1 run (Gano kick) (13:26 re 4th) – FG Gano 29 (8:26 re 4th) – Smith 4 pass from Holt (Keys kick) (2:14 re 4th) – FG Gano 46
Team Stats VT FS First downs 15 13 Rushing yds. 34-82 38-89 Passing yds. 161 159 Return yds. 49 24 Passes 12-22-0 11-19-0 Punts-avg. 5-43.4 5-48.4 Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0 Penalties-yds. 7-49 8-73 Time of poss. 28:03 31:57 Sacks by 4-36 6-35
Individual Totals Rushing – VT, Evans 15-77, Harris 1-13, Oglesby 4-11, Glennon 9-(-2), Taylor 1-(-6), Holt 4-(11); FS, Smith 9-57, Sims 8-29, Richardson 4-21, Thomas 2-1, Jones 1-(-1), Easterling 2-(-5), Ponder 12-(-13). Passing – VT, Glennon 9-16-0133, Holt 3-6-0-28, Taylor 0-0-0-0; FS, Ponder 11-19-0-159. Receiving – VT, Boykin 4-89, Boone 2-24, Coale 2-22, Harris 2-14, Jefferson 1-8, Smith 1-4; FS, Carr 3-100, Easterling 2-25, Parker 2-15, Smith 2-14, Sims 2-5.
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2008 Game-by-game Maryland
Evans Runs Wild in 23-13 Thursday Night Win Over No. 23 Terps BLACKSBURG – Redshirt freshman tailback Darren Evans rushed for a school record 253 yards as Virginia Tech snapped a two-game losing streak with a crucial 2313 Thursday night ACC victory over No. 23 Maryland. Tech piled up a season-high 400 yards of total offense, including 273 yards on the ground, and never trailed in the game. Quarterback Sean Glennon, coming off an ankle injury 12 days earlier at Florida State, hit 14 of 20 passes, including a 5-yard TD toss to tight end Greg Boone that started the scoring. Evans scored on a 1-yard plunge to put the Hokies up 14-3 in the second quarter. He ran for 116 yards as Tech built a 17-3 halftime advantage, and took over the game in the second half after the Terrapins trimmed the lead to 20-13 with over a quarter still to play. During Tech’s final possession, Evans carried the football on eight consecutive plays, gaining 77 yards and allowing the Hokies to eat up the final 5:38 of the game. The Tech defense held ACC rushing leader Da’Rel Scott to 11 yards. The Terps finished the game with minus-12 yards rushing overall and failed to register a rushing first down. Maryland managed 240 yards through the air, with 63 coming on a third-quarter screen pass that produced its lone touchdown.
Hokies-Terrapins Game Notes • Darren Evans’ 253 yards rushing topped the previous Tech single-game rushing record of 243 yards set by Mike Imoh in a 2004 game at the University of North Carolina. He became the first freshman and eighth overall Tech player to rush for more than 200 yards in a game. Evans also caught two passes for 20 yards in the win to give him 273 allpurpose yards. • The Tech defense limited Maryland to minus-12 yards, equaling the fourth-lowest rushing total for an opponent during Coach Frank Beamer’s 22 seasons. • Junior Greg Boone saw his first action at quarterback since his high school days. Boone did not attempt any passes, but ran six times for 22 yards. He also lined up as a running back during the game, as well as starting at tight end. • A game after breaking off a 54-yard kickoff return at Florida State, true freshman Dyrell Roberts turned in a career-best 55-yard return against Maryland.
Darren Evans rushed for a school-record 253 yards against the Terps.
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field • Blacksburg, Va. Nov. 6, 2008 • Attendance: 66,233 Maryland 0 3 10 0 – 13 Virginia Tech 7 10 3 3 – 23 VT (2:49 re 1st) – Boone 5 pass from Glennon (Keys kick) MD (13:36 re 2nd) – FG Egekeze 41 VT (3:48 re 2nd) – Evans 1 run (Keys kick) VT (0:09 re 2nd) – FG Keys 35 VT (12:44 re 3rd) – FG Keys 30 MD (6:43 re 3rd) – Heyward-Bey 63 pass from Turner (Egekeze kick) MD (2:29 re 3rd) – FG Egekeze 27 VT (7:30 re 4th) – FG Keys 27 Turner 3-(-26); VT, Evans 32-253, Boone 6-22, Harris 1-8, Roberts 1-3, Oglesby 1-1, Coale 1-(-3), Team 3-(-5), Glennon 6-(-6). Passing – MD, Turner 19-310-240; VT, Glennon 14-20-0-127, Team 0-1-0-0. Receiving – MD, Heyward-Bey 5-92, Scott 5-57, Smith 4-62, Watson 1-11, Oquendo 1-10, Gronkowski 1-4, Williams 1-4, Meggett 1-0; VT, Coale 3-38, Individual Totals Boykin 3-13, Boone 2-31, Evans Rushing – MD, Meggett 4-13, 2-20, Oglesby 1-1, Roberts 1-13, Scott 10-11, Heyward-Bey 1-(-10), Pickle 1-11. Team Stats MD VT First downs 12 20 Rushes-yds. 18-(-12) 52-273 Passing yds. 240 127 Return yds. 5 20 Passes 19-31-0 14-21-0 Punts-avg. 6-48.3 5-39.2 Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1 Penalties-yds. 3-19 8-55 Time of poss. 22:26 37:34 Sacks by 3-8 3-26
Cordarrow Thompson and the Hokie defense harassed Maryland quarterback Chris Turner all night.
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2008 Game-by-game Miami
Hurricanes Hold On for 16-14 Win in Defensive-Minded Contest MIAMI, Fla. – The University of Miami broke a 7-7 tie, and some of Virginia Tech’s ACC title hopes, with three second-half field goals that led to a 16-14 victory over the Hokies at Dolphin Stadium in a Thursday night ESPN game. Tech, which lost its third straight road game, had a chance to win the game in the final two minutes. The Hokies got the ball on their own 32-yard line with 1:56 remaining but never managed to get a first down. Moving the ball was a problem most of the game for the Hokies, even though they outgained the Hurricanes by a slim 3-yard margin, 250-247. During the third quarter, Tech ran just six offensive plays for minus-11 yards. The Hokies stayed in the game, however, when their defense halted UM drives at the Tech 4, 14 and 6 yard lines, forcing the ‘Canes to settle for field goals each time. The Hokies rallied with a 69-yard drive in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to two points after quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s second touchdown run of the game. Taylor ran 14 yards for a TD in the second quarter to knot the score at 7-7. Miami registered six quarterback sacks in the game and held Tech to just 77 yards on the ground. UM controlled field position in the second half with an average starting field position of its own 43 yard line. Tech, which went into the game controlling its own destiny in the ACC Coastal Division race, finished the evening depending on others to determine its fate.
Hokies-Hurricanes Game Notes • The loss to Miami marked Virginia Tech’s third straight loss in a road game. The last time the Hokies lost three straight games on the road in a season was in 1997. Tech lost consecutive road games at West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Virginia that year. • Quarterback Tyrod Taylor rushed for two touchdowns in a game for the second time in his brief career. The sophomore also had two TD runs in a game at Virginia during the 2007 season, giving him 10 career rushing touchdowns as a Hokie. • Tech had three different players take snaps as the quarterback during one first quarter possession. Tyrod Taylor took the opening snap, followed by one snap by Greg Boone and two by Sean Glennon. • After posting a season-high 273 yards rushing in their previous game against Maryland, the Hokies were held to a season-low 77 yards on the ground by Miami.
Jason Worilds takes down Miami quarterback Robert Marve.
Dolphin Stadium • Miami, Fla. Nov. 13, 2008 • Attendance: 46,838 Virginia Tech Miami UM (2:36 re 1st) VT (4:54 re 2nd) UM (10:05 re 3rd) UM (5:00 re 3rd) UM (11:58 re 4th) VT (3:28 re 4th)
0 7 0 7 7 0 6 3 – James 3 run (Bosher kick) – Taylor 14 run (Keys kick) – FG Bosher 21 – FG Bosher 31 – FG Bosher 23 – Taylor 6 run (Keys kick)
Team Stats VT UM First downs 14 13 Rushing yds. 38-77 42-123 Passing yds. 173 124 Return yds. -1 2 Passes 12-20-0 8-18-0 Punts-avg. 6-37.3 5-42.0 Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-1 Penalties-yds. 3-35 1-10 Time of poss. 29:18 30:42 Sacks by 4-21 6-40
The Hokie defense played well all night, limiting Miami to less than 250 yards of offense.
– –
14 16
Individual Totals Rushing – VT, Taylor 14-43, Evans 17-43, Harris 1-3, Boone 1-0, Pickle 1-(-1), Glennon 4-(11); UM, Cooper 15-52, Marve 14-44, James 7-29, Harris 3-5, Team 3-(-7). Passing – VT, Taylor 6-12-0-75, Glennon 6-8-0-98; UM, Marve 7-16-0-121, Harris 1-2-0-3. Receiving – VT, Coale 4-59, Evans 3-33, Boone 2-25, Boykin 1-38, Harris 1-10, Smith 1-8; UM, Johnson 3-48, Farquharson 1-50, James 1-19, Collier 1-3, Byrd 1-2, Cooper 1-2.
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2008 Game-by-game Duke
Stout Defense Shuts Down Duke in 14-3 Tech Victory
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech senior cornerback Victor Harris returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown with 1:23 remaining in the game to clinch a hard-fought 14-3 ACC victory over Duke on a bitter cold night at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. Tech committed a season-high five turnovers in the first half, but still managed to lead at the intermission thanks to a stout defense and an 11-play, 86-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown with just 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Hokies’ first five possessions of the game resulted in two interceptions, two fumbles and a punt. Despite the miscues, and the fact that the Blue Devils had an average first-half field position of their own 43 yard line, the Hokies surrendered just three points. The Blue Devils managed just 136 total yards in the game, including just 20 through the air. Duke quarterback Zack Asack rushed for 87 yards, but completed just two of nine passes and was intercepted four times. Sean Glennon took over for Tech starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor midway through the second quarter and directed the Hokies’ only scoring drive. Glennon completed seven of 10 passes during the march, including two on thirddown situations. His final pass of the drive was a 19-yard TD strike to freshman Jarrett Boykin. Tailback Darren Evans contributed 111 yards on the ground as Tech finished with 334 yards of total offense. Defensively, Harris and fellow cornerback Stephan Virgil contributed two interceptions apiece.
Hokies-Blue Devils Game Notes
Jarrett Boykin stretches across the goal line for his first collegiate touchdown.
• The temperature was 29 degrees at kickoff, making the game the secondcoldest game at kickoff under Coach Frank Beamer. Tech’s 1987 home game against Cincinnati kicked off at 25 degrees. • The two passing completions and the 20 yards receiving by Duke were both alltime lows against the Hokies during Frank Beamer’s 22-year tenure as coach. The previous low for completions was three by Clemson in 1989, while the previous low for yardage was 22 by Duke in 2005. • Virginia Tech won despite committing five turnovers (3 interceptions, 2 fumbles). The last time Tech turned the ball over five times and won a game was in 1999 at home against UAB. The Hokies had three interceptions and two fumbles in that game as well. • Tech had two players with two INTs each in the game. The last time that happened was in 1992 against Rutgers when Tyronne Drakeford and Kirk Alexander each had two picks.
Victor “Macho” Harris celebrates his touchdown via interception return.
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field • Blacksburg, Va. Nov. 22, 2008 • Attendance: 66,233 Duke Virginia Tech
0 0
3 7
0 0
0 7
– –
3 14
DU (14:50 re 2nd) – FG Maggio 39 VT (0:38 re 2nd) – Boykin 19 pass from Glennon (Keys kick) VT (1:23 re 4th) – Harris 23 interception return (Keys kick) Team Stats D VT First downs 6 19 Rushes-yds. 40-116 47-187 Passing yds. 20 147 Return yds. 34 47 Passes 2-9-4 14-25-3 Punts-avg. 9-37.4 7-43.0 Fumbles-lost 2-0 3-2 Penalties-yds. 6-58 5-29 Time of poss. 26:33 33:27 Sacks by 4-27 2-23
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Individual Totals Rushing – D, Asack 24-87, Hollingsworth 8-24, Robinson 3-17, Jackson 3-(-6), Team 2-(-6); VT, Evans 24-111, Taylor 9-39, Boone 5-25, Harris 1-18, Coale 1-6, Team 1-(-1), Glennon 6-(-11). Passing – D, Asack 2-9-4-20; VT, Glennon 12-20-1-132, Taylor 2-5-2-15. Receiving – D, Chestnut 1-15, Huffman 1-5; VT, Boykin 4-67, Evans 3-16, Boone 2-33, Coale 2-7, Roberts 1-13, Smith 1-9, Perez 1-2.
2008 Game-by-game Virginia
Strong Second Half Lifts the Hokies Over the Cavaliers 17-14
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech scored 10 unanswered points in the second half to rally past state rival Virginia for a 17-14 victory that put the Hokies in the ACC Championship game for the third time in four years. Sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor directed a five-play, 85-yard scoring drive on Tech’s first possession of the second half to even the score at 14-all. Greg Boone scored the tying touchdown from 4 yards out after taking a direct snap from center, but it was Taylor’s dazzling 73-yard run that provided the spark. Taylor made plays with his arm to put the Hokies in position for a 28-yard field goal by Dustin Keys with 6:37 remaining. On that drive, the Tech QB completed all three of his passing attempts with each producing a first down. Virginia had an opportunity to take the lead or tie the game when it marched to the Tech 25 with a little over two minutes remaining. An interception in the end zone by rover Dorian Porch on a third-and 11 pass ended the threat. The Cavs got one last possession at their own 13, but were unable to pick up a first down. Tech racked up a season-high 24 first downs and out-gained Virginia 392-249, but the Hokies capitalized on just three of seven trips inside the red zone.
Hokies-Cavaliers Game Notes • Tech’s touchdown on its opening drive against the Cavaliers marked the first offensive touchdown on a first drive for the Hokies this season. • The Cavaliers’ 14-7 lead at halftime marked their first halftime lead against the Hokies since 1997 (20-3). It was the first time Tech had trailed UVa at halftime in a game played at Blacksburg since the 1996 season (9-7). • Tyrod Taylor rushed for a career-high 137 yards, highlighted by a career-long 73-yard run. It was the fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career and his third in 2008. • Dorian Porch registered his first collegiate interception when he picked off a Virginia pass in the end zone and returned it 40 yards to end a late threat.
Dorian Porch helped seal the win over Virginia with this interception in the end zone late in the game.
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field • Blacksburg, Va. Nov. 29, 2008 • Attendance: 66,233 Virginia Virginia Tech VA (11:57 re 1st) VT (5:27 re 1st) VA (3:24 re 2nd) VT (12:54 re 3rd) VT (6:37 re 4th)
7 7 0 0 – 7 0 7 3 – - Hall 40 run (Randolph kick) - Boykin 3 pass from Taylor (Keys kick) - Hall 16 run (Randolph kick) - Boone 4 run (Keys kick) - FG Keys 28
Team Stats VA VT First downs 12 24 Rushes-yds. 31-172 52-216 Passing yds. 77 176 Return yds. 10 40 Passes 8-15-1 15-28-1 Punts-avg. 5-38.2 3-48.3 Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-0 Penalties-yds. 4-40 4-32 Time of poss. 23:35 36:25 Sacks by 1-8 2-17
Tyrod Taylor rushed for 137 yards and also threw for 137 yards against the Cavs.
14 17
Individual Totals Rushing – VA, Hall 16-109, Peerman 12-67, Team 1-(-1), Verica 2-(-3); VT, Taylor 16-137, Evans 25-72, Boone 3-8, Harris 1-6, Oglesby 3-2, Team 2-(-2), Glennon 2-(-7). Passing – VA, Verica 8-14-1-77, Hall 0-1-0-0; VT, Taylor 12-18-0137, Glennon 3-9-1-39, Boone 0-1-0-0. Receiving – VA, Jackson 2-18, Peerman 2-10, Covington 1-38, Koch 1-6, Ogletree 1-4, Phillips 1-1; VT, Boykin 6-65, Coale 5-66, Boone 2-29, Jefferson 1-9, Evans 1-7.
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2008 Game-by-game ACC Championship Game
Hokies Execute Well in All Phases to Defeat Boston College 30-12 TAMPA, Fla. – Virginia Tech combined a determined offense with some bruising defense and solid special teams play to earn its second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference championship with a 30-12 victory over No. 18 Boston College in the 2008 league title game at Raymond James Stadium. The Hokies, who also defeated BC in the 2007 championship game, gained the ACC’s automatic BCS bid to the FedEx Orange Bowl. Sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor got Tech’s winning effort going with a pair of short touchdown runs during the first 19 minutes of the game. After leading 14-7 at the half, the Hokies extended their lead in the third quarter, picking up a career-best 50-yard field goal from senior Dustin Keys and a 10-yard touchdown run from redshirt freshman tailback Darren Evans. Tech’s defense, which limited the Eagles to just three third-down conversions in 15 attempts, held Boston College out of the end zone in the second half, and cemented the victory when a quarterback sack by end Jason Worilds created a fourth-quarter fumble that was returned 19 yards for a touchdown by fellow end Orion Martin. The Hokies also got interceptions from corner Stephan Virgil and linebacker Brett Warren. Taylor completed 11-of-19 passes on the way to game Most Valuable Player honors, while Evans set a championship rushing mark with 114 yards on 31 carries.
ACC Championship Game Notes • With a 4-yard gain on his first rushing attempt, Darren Evans became the first freshman in Virginia Tech history and the sixth freshman in ACC history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Evans went on to gain 114 yards on 31 carries. His total was a new rushing record for the ACC Championship game, surpassing the old mark of 100 yards set by Georgia Tech’s Tashard Choice against Wake Forest in the 2006 title game. • Defensive end Orion Martin became the 74th Tech player during Frank Beamer’s 22 seasons as head coach to score a touchdown on defense or special teams. Martin collected a Boston College fumble in the fourth quarter and ran 17 yards for the Hokies’ final score. • Dustin Keys kicked a personal-best 50yard field goal for the Hokies. The field goal was the longest in ACC Championship game history. The old mark was 45 yards shared by Tech’s Brandon Pace (2005) and Wake Forest’s Sam Swank (2006). • Freshman Dyrell Roberts caught a personal-best four passes in the game. He also returned three kickoffs for 79 yards, the second-highest kickoff return yards in an ACC title game.
The Tech special teams played a big role in pinning the Eagles deep all game.
Jason Worilds forces a fumble that Orion Martin returned for a touchdown.
Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, Fla. Dec. 6, 2008 • Attendance: 53,927 Boston College Virginia Tech VT VT BC VT VT BC VT BC
0 7
7 7
2009 Virginia Tech Football
5 6
– –
12 30
(6:27 re 1st) - Taylor 5 run (Keys kick) (11:08 re 2nd) - Taylor 4 run (Keys kick) (1:29 re 2nd) - Gunnell 16 pass from Davis (Aponavicius kick) (6:07 re 3rd) - FG Keys 50 (1:17 re 3rd) - Evans 10 run (Keys kick) (12:54 re 4th) - FG Apanavicius 24 (9:05 re 4th) - O. Martin 17 fumble return (kick failed) (2:58 re 4th) - Team safety
Team Stats BC VT First downs 13 15 Rushes-yds. 24-45 53-150 Passing yds. 263 84 Return yds. 31 83 Passes 17-43-2 11-19-1 Punts-avg. 8-35.5 7-42.0 Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-2 Penalties-yds. 4-38 3-26 Time of poss. 24:06 35:54 Sacks by 2-12 5-37
34
0 10
Individual Totals Rushing – BC, Harris 9-34, Davis 14-12, Team 1-(-1); VT, Evans 31-114, Taylor 11-30, Oglesby 6-18, Coale 2-5, Team 3-(-17). Passing – BC, Davis 17-43-2263; VT, Taylor 11-19-1-84. Receiving – BC, Gunnell 7-114, Larmond 3-25, Harris 2-62, Jarvis 2-28, Robinson 2-25, Anderson 1-9; VT, Roberts 4-44, Evans 3-22, Boykin 1-6, Pickle 1-5, Coale 1-4, Boone 1-3.
ACC Standings & Honors 2008 ACSMA/AP All-ACC Football Team (Total Points) • Maximum 134 Points / 67 Voters
OFFENSE
First Team Second Team Quarterback Russell Wilson, NC State, Fr. (106) Thaddeus Lewis, Duke, Jr. (28) Running Back Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech, So. (134)† Darren Evans, Virginia Tech, Fr. (58) Da'Rel Scott, Maryland, So. (76) C.J. Spiller, Clemson, Jr. (50) Wide Receiver Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina, Jr. (130) Eron Riley, Duke, Sr. (57) D.J. Boldin, Wake Forest, Sr. (76) Aaron Kelly, Clemson, Sr. (56) Tight End John Phillips, Virginia, Sr. (88) Ryan Purvis, Boston College, Sr. (45) Tackle Eugene Monroe, Virginia, Sr. (117) Garrett Reynolds, North Carolina, Sr. (42) Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech, Sr. (107) Anthony Castonzo, Boston College, So. (41) Guard Rodney Hudson, Florida State, So. (99) Sergio Render, Virginia Tech, Jr. (48) Clif Ramsey, Boston College, Sr. (78) Cord Howard, Georgia Tech, Jr. (45) Center Edwin Williams, Maryland, Sr. (62) Thomas Austin, Clemson, Jr. (48) Honorable Mention (20 points or more) QB - Riley Skinner, Wake Forest, Jr. (26) RB - Antone Smith, Florida State, Sr. (33); Cedric Peerman, Virginia, Sr. (30) WR - Darius Heyward-Bey, Maryland, Jr. (34); Kevin Ogletree, Virginia, Jr. (32) TE - Dan Gronkowski, Maryland, Sr. (41) OT - Scott Burley, Maryland, Sr. (34) OG - Thomas Claiborne, Boston College, So. (38); Calvin Darity, North Carolina, Sr. (34); Jaimie Thomas, Maryland, Sr. (33); Nick Marshman, Virginia Tech, Sr. (24) C - Ryan McMahon, Florida State, Sr. (35); Matt Tennant, Boston College, Jr. (33); Ryan Shuman, Virginia Tech, Sr. (23)
DEFENSE
First Team Second Team Defensive End Everette Brown, Florida State, Jr. (131) Orion Martin, Virginia Tech, Sr. (61) Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech, Sr. (99) Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech, So. (39) Defensive Tackle B.J. Raji, Boston College, Sr. (103) Ron Brace, Boston College, Sr. (52) Vance Walker, Georgia Tech, Sr. (62) Darryl Richard, Georgia Tech, Sr. (50) Linebacker Mark Herzlich, Boston College, Jr. (118) Clint Sintim, Virginia, Sr. (79) Michael Tauiliili, Duke, Sr. (110) Alex Wujciak, Maryland, So. (43) Aaron Curry, Wake Forest, Sr. (106) Mark Paschal, North Carolina, Sr. (40) Cornerback Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, Sr. (134)† Ras-I Dowling, Virginia, So. (49) Victor Harris, Virginia Tech, Sr. (125) Tony Carter, Florida State, Sr. (34) tie Kendric Burney, North Carolina, So. (34) Safety Trimane Goddard, North Carolina, Sr. (105) Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech, So. (85) Michael Hamlin, Clemson, Gr. (89) Myron Rolle, Florida State, Jr. (55) Honorable Mention (20 points or more) DE - Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech, So. (26); Willie Young, NC State, Jr. (25) DT - Vince Oghobaase, Duke, Jr. (40); Boo Robinson, Wake Forest, Jr. (31); Jeremy Navarre, Maryland, Sr. (29) LB - Nate Irving, NC State, So. (28) S - Paul Anderson, Boston College, Sr. (35); Anthony Reddick, Miami, Sr. (23)
SPECIAL TEAMS First Team Second Team
Placekicker Graham Gano, Florida State, Sr. (127) Matt Bosher, Miami, So. (34) Punter Travis Baltz, Maryland, So. (105) Matt Bosher, Miami, So. (60) Specialist C.J. Spiller, Clemson, Gr. (66) Michael Ray Garvin, Florida State, Sr. (41) Honorable Mention (20 points or more) PK - Dustin Keys, Virginia Tech, Sr. (25) SP - Brandon Tate, North Carolina, Sr. (33); T.J. Graham, NC State, Fr. (31)
2008 Individual Awards Rookie of the Year Russell Wilson, NC State Coach of the Year Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech Offensive Player of the Year Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech Defensive Player of the Year Mark Hezrlich, Boston College
Final ACC Standings
Coastal Division
School ACC Overall Virginia Tech 5-3 10-4 Georgia Tech 5-3 9-4 North Carolina 4-4 8-5 Miami 4-4 7-6 Virginia 3-5 5-7 Duke 1-7 4-8
Atlantic Division
School ACC Overall Boston College 5-3 9-5 Florida State 5-3 9-4 Maryland 4-4 8-5 Wake Forest 4-4 8-5 Clemson 4-4 7-6 NC State 4-4 6-7
†Unanimous selection
ACC Bowl Results Summary Bowl Site EagleBank Bowl Washington, D.C. Meineke Car Care Bowl Charlotte, N.C. Champs Sports Bowl Orlando, Fla. Emerald Bowl San Francisco, Calif. Papajohns.com Bowl Birmingham, Ala. Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl Boise, Idaho Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Nashville, Tenn. Chick-fil-A Bowl Atlanta, Ga. Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. FedEx Orange Bowl Miami, Fla.
Date Score Dec. 20, 2008 Wake Forest 29, Navy 19 Dec. 27, 2008 West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30 Dec. 27, 2008 Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13 Dec. 27, 2008 California 24, Miami 17 Dec. 29, 2008 Rutgers 29, NC State 23 Dec. 30, 2008 Maryland 42, Nevada 35 Dec. 31, 2008 Vanderbilt 16, #24 Boston College 14 Dec. 31, 2008 LSU 38, #14 Georgia Tech 3 Jan. 1, 2009 Nebraska 26, Clemson 21 Jan. 1, 2009 #19 Virginia Tech 20, #12 Cincinnati 7
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2008 Final ACC Statistics
RUSHING Team Cl G Att Yds Avg TD Long Yds/G SCORING (KICK) Team Cl G PATs FGs Pts Pts/G Jonathan Dwyer GT SO 13 200 1395 7.0 12 88 107.3 Graham Gano FS SR 11 33-34 24-26 105 9.5 Da’Rel Scott MD SO 12 209 1133 5.4 8 63 94.4 Matt Bosher UM SO 13 40-40 18-20 94 7.2 Darren Evans VT FR 14 287 1265 4.4 11 50 90.4 Dustin Keys VT SR 14 32-34 23-29 101 7.2 Cedric Peerman VA SR 11 153 774 5.1 7 79 70.4 Mark Buchholz CU SR 13 40-40 15-21 85 6.5 Montel Harris BC FR 13 179 900 5.0 5 47 69.2 Casey Barth NC FR 10 33-33 10-15 63 6.3 Shaun Draughn NC SO 13 198 866 4.4 3 39 66.6 Graig Cooper UM SO 13 171 841 4.9 4 51 64.7 FIELD GOAL PCT Team Cl G FG FGA Long Pct. Josh Nesbitt GT SO 11 172 693 4.0 7 54 63.0 Graham Gano FS SR 11 24 26 53 92.3 Tyrod Taylor VT SO 12 147 738 5.0 7 73 61.5 Matt Bosher UM SO 13 18 20 52 90.0 Antone Smith FS SR 13 177 792 4.5 15 60 60.9 Josh Czajkowski ST SO 13 16 19 42 84.2 Dustin Keys VT SR 14 23 29 50 79.3 PASSING AVG/GAME Team Cl G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds TD Avg/G Nick Maggio DU SO 11 11 14 46 78.6 Cullen Harper CU SR 13 360 221 14 61.4 2601 13 200.1 Thaddeus Lewis DU JR 11 361 224 6 62.0 2171 15 197.4 Chris Turner MD JR 13 374 214 11 57.2 2516 13 193.5 TACKLES (All positions) Marc Verica VA SO 11 354 226 16 63.8 2037 8 185.2 Player Team Cl G Pos Solo Ast Total Avg/G Sack Riley Skinner WF JR 13 363 232 7 63.9 2347 13 180.5 Michael Tauiliili DU SR 12 LB 63 77 140 11.7 0.5 Alex Wujciak MD SO 13 56 77 133 10.2 1.5 TOTAL OFFENSE Team Cl G Rush Pass Plays Total Yds/G Quan Sturdivant NC SO 13 LB 87 35 122 9.4 2.0 Russell Wilson ST FR 11 388 1955 391 2343 213.0 Mark Paschal NC SR 11 LB 65 38 103 9.4 2.0 206.1 Thaddeus Lewis DU JR 11 96 2171 430 2267 Vincent Rey DU JR 12 LB 61 48 109 9.1 2.0 Riley Skinner WF JR 13 144 2347 467 2491 191.6 Cullen Harper CU SR 13 -140 2601 414 2461 189.3 Jon Copper VA SR 12 LB 58 43 101 8.4 2.5 Christian Ponder FS SO 13 423 2006 437 2429 186.8 Aaron Curry SR 13 LB 66 39 105 8.1 2.5 WF Chris Turner MD JR 13 -154 2516 417 2362 181.7 Nate Irving ST SO 10 LB 42 38 80 8.0 1.0 Marc Verica VA SO 11 -71 2037 386 1966 178.7 Mark Herzlich BC JR 14 LB 81 29 110 7.9 2.5 Chris Crane BC SR 11 225 1721 388 1946 176.9 Michael Hamlin CU SR 13 56 41 97 7.5 1.0 Tyrod Taylor VT SO 12 738 1036 320 1774 147.8 Kavell Conner CU JR 13 35 62 97 7.5 1.0 Josh Nesbitt GT SO 11 693 808 295 1501 136.5 Dave Philistin MD SR 13 41 53 94 7.2 2.0 Morgan Burnett GT SO 13 62 31 93 7.2 0.0 PUNT RETURN AVG Team Cl G Ret Yds TD Long Avg Purnell Sturdivant VT SR 14 LB 43 56 99 7.1 3.5 Travis Benjamin UM FR 12 16 181 0 44 11.3 Stanley Arnoux WF SR 13 LB 47 42 89 6.8 1.5 33 10.5 C.J. Spiller CU JR 12 18 189 0 Chip Vaughn WF SR 13 59 28 87 6.7 0.0 Victor Harris VT SR 13 25 233 0 32 9.3 Brett Warren VT SR 13 LB 37 49 86 6.6 0.5 Vic Hall VA JR 12 16 102 0 16 6.4 Antonio Appleby VA SR 11 LB 49 23 72 6.5 1.0 Tyler Melton GT FR 10 15 86 0 16 5.7 Ray Michel ST JR 13 LB 40 45 85 6.5 0.0 KICK RETURN AVG Team Cl G Ret Yds TD Long Avg Robbie Leonard ST SR 13 LB 43 40 83 6.4 0.0 Michael Ray Garvin FS SR 12 22 662 1 94 30.1 Mike McLaughlin BC JR 14 LB 53 36 89 6.4 3.5 C.J. Spiller CU JR 12 19 516 1 96 27.2 Torrey Smith MD FR 13 42 1089 1 99 25.9 SACKS Team Cl G Pos Solo Ast Yds Total Avg/G Johnny White NC SO 12 15 379 0 50 25.3 Everette Brown FS JR 13 13 1 97 13.5 1.04 Dyrell Roberts VT FR 14 22 545 0 55 24.8 Clint Sintim VA SR 12 LB 9 4 88 11.0 0.92 Michael Johnson GT SR 13 DE 8 2 85 9.0 0.69 PUNTING Team Cl G Punt Yds Long Avg Jason Worilds VT SO 13 DE 7 2 66 8.0 0.62 Travis Baltz MD SO 13 61 2506 59 41.1 Cody Grimm VT JR 14 LB 7 1 57 7.5 0.54 Kevin Jones DU SO 12 71 2899 68 40.8 Orion Martin VT SR 14 DE 7 1 55 7.5 0.54 Jimmy Maners CU SR 12 49 1985 54 40.5 B.J. Raji BC SR 13 DT 7 1 48 7.5 0.58 Brent Bowden VT JR 14 69 2785 57 40.4 Derrick Morgan GT SO 13 DE 5 4 50 7.0 0.54 Matt Bosher UM SO 13 66 2659 76 40.3 ALL PURPOSE Team Cl G Rush Rcv PR KR Yds Avg/G TACKLES FOR LOSS Team Cl G Pos Solo Ast Yds Total Avg/G C.J. Spiller CU JR 12 629 436 189 516 1770 147.5 Everette Brown FS JR 13 20 3 130 21.5 1.65 Jonathan Dwyer GT SO 13 1395 209 0 171 1775 136.5 Jason Worilds VT SO 13 DE 14 9 93 18.5 1.42 Montel Harris BC FR 13 900 160 6 413 1479 113.8 Michael Johnson GT SR 13 DE 15 5 99 17.5 1.35 Torrey Smith MD FR 13 0 336 0 1089 1425 109.6 Aaron Curry WF SR 13 LB 13 6 48 16.0 1.23 Da’Rel Scott MD SO 12 1133 171 0 0 1304 108.7 Derek Nicholson FS SR 13 11 8 34 15.0 1.15 Hakeem Nicks NC JR 13 34 1222 0 134 1390 106.9 Greg Akinbiyi DU SR 12 DE 11 7 58 14.5 1.21 T.J. Graham ST FR 13 3 251 123 974 1351 103.9 Cody Grimm VT JR 14 LB 12 4 75 14.0 1.00 Darren Evans VT FR 14 1265 117 0 0 1382 98.7 B.J. Raji BC SR 13 DT 12 4 79 14.0 1.08 Cedric Peerman VA SR 11 774 193 0 108 1075 97.7 Roddy Jones GT FR 13 690 155 53 354 1252 96.3 INTERCEPTIONS Team Cl G Int Yds TD Long Int/G Trimane Goddard NC SR 13 7 156 1 51 0.54 SCORING Team Cl G TD XPT FG 2XP Pts Pts/G Morgan Burnett GT SO 13 7 95 1 47 0.54 Graham Gano FS SR 11 0 33 24 0 105 9.5 Antone Smith FS SR 13 16 0 0 0 96 7.4 Alphonso Smith WF SR 13 7 33 0 18 0.54 Matt Bosher UM SO 13 0 40 18 0 94 7.2 Victor Harris VT SR 13 6 142 2 55 0.46 Dustin Keys VT SR 14 0 32 23 0 101 7.2 Michael Hamlin CU SR 13 6 111 0 37 0.46 Mark Buchholz CU SR 13 0 40 15 0 85 6.5 Paul Anderson BC SR 14 6 149 1 76 0.43 Mark Herzlich BC JR 14 6 121 2 60 0.43 Team Cl G TD Rush Pass Ret PAT Pts Pts/G SCORING (TDs) Stephan Virgil VT JR 14 6 94 0 36 0.43 Antone Smith FS SR 13 16 15 1 0 0 96 7.4 Nate Irving ST SO 10 4 83 1 40 0.40 Jonathan Dwyer GT SO 13 13 12 1 0 1 80 6.2 Michael Tauiliili DU SR 12 4 15 0 14 0.33 Hakeem Nicks NC JR 13 13 1 12 0 0 78 6.0 C.J. Spiller CU JR 12 11 7 3 1 0 66 5.5 PASSES DEFENDED Team Cl G Brup Int Total Avg/G James Davis CU SR 13 11 11 0 0 0 66 5.1 Alphonso Smith WF SR 13 13 7 20 1.54 Darren Evans VT FR 14 11 11 0 0 0 66 4.7 Ras-I Dowling VA SO 11 11 3 14 1.27 Andre Brown ST SR 13 9 7 2 0 0 54 4.2 Morgan Burnett GT SO 13 8 7 15 1.15 FIELD GOALS Team Cl G FG FGA Pct. FG/G Michael Hamlin CU SR 13 8 6 14 1.08 Graham Gano FS SR 11 24 26 92.3 2.18 Victor Harris VT SR 13 8 6 14 1.08 Dustin Keys VT SR 14 23 29 79.3 1.64 Mark Herzlich BC JR 14 8 6 14 1.00 Matt Bosher UM SO 13 18 20 90.0 1.38 DeAndre Morgan ST SO 13 10 2 12 0.92 Josh Czajkowski ST SO 13 16 19 84.2 1.23 Trimane Goddard NC SR 13 5 7 12 0.92 Mark Buchholz CU SR 13 15 21 71.4 1.15
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2009 Virginia Tech Football
2008 Final Team Rankings
G
SCORING OFFENSE G Florida State 13 North Carolina 13 Miami 13 Clemson 13 Boston College 14 Georgia Tech 13 NC State 13 Virginia Tech 14 Maryland 13 Wake Forest 13 Duke 12 Virginia 12
TD 51 45 42 40 43 40 37 34 34 31 29 24
XP 47 44 40 40 42 33 33 32 32 27 28 22
2XP 1 0 1 0 1 3 1 0 1 2 0 0
DXP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
RUSHING OFFENSE G Att Georgia Tech 13 640 Florida State 13 483 Virginia Tech 14 645 Maryland 13 435 Boston College 14 517 Miami 13 426 NC State 13 442 North Carolina 13 451 Wake Forest 13 515 Clemson 13 431 Duke 12 419 Virginia 12 339 SCORING DEFENSE G Virginia Tech 14 Clemson 13 Wake Forest 13 Boston College 14 Florida State 13 Georgia Tech 13 North Carolina 13 Virginia 12 Maryland 13 Duke 12 Miami 13 NC State 13
TD 27 25 27 31 29 33 33 32 35 35 39 39
XP 23 22 23 30 29 31 29 32 35 34 37 38
FG Saf 25 2 14 2 18 2 15 1 14 1 12 1 16 0 23 1 15 0 18 1 13 0 9 0
Yds Avg 3552 5.6 2328 4.8 2441 3.8 1872 4.3 2006 3.9 1680 3.9 1601 3.6 1594 3.5 1578 3.1 1450 3.4 1274 3.0 1159 3.4 2XP 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0
DXP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yards Avg. 1277 2.8 1462 3.2 1564 3.6 1614 3.5 1656 3.7 1723 3.8 1812 3.7 1849 4.2 1907 3.9 1795 3.7 1818 3.8 1974 4.0
PASS OFFENSE G Att Clemson 13 400 Maryland 13 399 NC State 13 392 Virginia 12 439 North Carolina 13 320 Duke 12 410 Miami 13 411 Florida State 13 387 Wake Forest 13 370 Boston College 14 448 Virginia Tech 14 291 Georgia Tech 13 165
Pct. 62.0 56.9 50.3 61.3 56.9 60.5 57.7 54.5 63.2 52.0 57.4 44.8
TOTAL OFFENSE G Rush Georgia Tech 13 3552 Florida State 13 2328 Maryland 13 1872 Clemson 13 1450 NC State 13 1601 Miami 13 1680 North Carolina 13 1594 Boston College 14 2006 Wake Forest 13 1578 Duke 12 1274 Virginia Tech 14 2441 Virginia 12 1159
Pass 1290 2506 2687 2832 2678 2558 2584 2471 2430 2372 1807 2438
Plays 805 870 834 831 834 837 771 965 885 829 936 778
TD 32 27 23 18 18 17 14 18 14 22 9 14
FG Saf 15 1 17 0 17 0 13 1 19 1 11 0 16 0 12 0 15 1 11 1 13 1 22 2
RUSHING DEFENSE G Rushes Boston College 14 454 Virginia Tech 14 451 Georgia Tech 13 432 Wake Forest 13 458 Clemson 13 443 Florida State 13 450 North Carolina 13 484 NC State 13 442 Maryland 13 487 Virginia 12 488 12 475 Duke Miami 13 493 Cmp Int 248 16 227 13 197 14 269 20 182 12 248 12 237 20 211 16 234 7 233 17 167 12 74 7
Pts Avg 434 33.4 360 27.7 352 27.1 327 25.2 346 24.7 317 24.4 305 23.5 309 22.1 283 21.8 273 21.0 241 20.1 193 16.1
Yards Avg/P 4842 6.0 4834 5.6 4559 5.5 4282 5.2 4279 5.1 4238 5.1 4178 5.4 4477 4.6 4008 4.5 3646 4.4 4248 4.5 3597 4.6
Yds/G 273.2 179.1 174.4 144.0 143.3 129.2 123.2 122.6 121.4 111.5 106.2 96.6
Pts Avg 234 16.7 225 17.3 238 18.3 257 18.4 262 20.2 264 20.3 275 21.2 260 21.7 292 22.5 281 23.4 314 24.2 342 26.3
TD 14 12 13 10 7 12 15 17 13 16 16 21
Yds Avg 2832 7.1 2687 6.7 2678 6.8 2438 5.6 2584 8.1 2372 5.8 2558 6.2 2506 6.5 2430 6.6 2471 5.5 1807 6.2 1290 7.8
PASS DEFENSE G Att Florida State 13 342 Miami 13 336 Clemson 13 428 Wake Forest 13 382 Virginia Tech 14 343 Boston College 14 435 Virginia 12 333 Georgia Tech 13 415 Duke 12 315 Maryland 13 427 North Carolina 13 466 NC State 13 447
Yds/G 91.2 104.4 120.3 124.2 127.4 132.5 139.4 142.2 146.7 149.6 151.5 151.8 TD Yds/G 15 217.8 15 206.7 20 206.0 9 203.2 21 198.8 17 197.7 22 196.8 18 192.8 14 186.9 17 176.5 6 129.1 5 99.2
TD 37 45 33 37 34 39 39 35 28 26 29 23
Yds/G 372.5 371.8 350.7 329.4 329.2 326.0 321.4 319.8 308.3 303.8 303.4 299.8
TOTAL DEFENSE G Rush Boston College 14 1277 Virginia Tech 14 1462 Florida State 13 1723 Wake Forest 13 1614 Clemson 13 1656 Georgia Tech 13 1564 Miami 13 1974 Virginia 12 1795 Duke 12 1818 Maryland 13 1907 North Carolina 13 1812 NC State 13 1849 PUNT RETURN AVG G Ret Miami 13 28 North Carolina 13 22 Virginia Tech 14 27 Florida State 13 24 Clemson 13 35 NC State 13 20 Boston College 14 23 Maryland 13 27 Georgia Tech 13 27 Virginia 12 17 Wake Forest 13 31 Duke 12 23
Cmp Int 175 9 172 4 239 19 199 18 181 20 244 26 197 11 246 18 179 15 257 10 287 20 278 18 Pass 2477 2450 2111 2243 2243 2512 2153 2204 2465 2837 2938 3233 Yds 319 240 242 209 298 166 183 189 182 112 195 127
Plys 889 794 792 840 871 847 829 821 790 914 950 889
Yds Avg 2111 6.2 2153 6.4 2243 5.2 2243 5.9 2450 7.1 2477 5.7 2204 6.6 2512 6.1 2465 7.8 2837 6.6 2938 6.3 3233 7.2
Yards Avg 3754 4.2 3912 4.9 3834 4.8 3857 4.6 3899 4.5 4076 4.8 4127 5.0 3999 4.9 4283 5.4 4744 5.2 4750 5.0 5082 5.7
TD Yds/G 15 162.4 15 165.6 14 172.5 15 172.5 12 175.0 9 176.9 14 183.7 20 193.2 17 205.4 20 218.2 15 226.0 20 248.7 TD 23 24 27 25 21 33 36 30 33 33 30 37
Yds/G 268.1 279.4 294.9 296.7 299.9 313.5 317.5 333.2 356.9 364.9 365.4 390.9
Mar +17 +14 +8 +6 +5 +3 +2 +0 -1 -7 -8 -10
Per/G 1.31 1.00 0.62 0.46 0.42 0.21 0.15 0.00 -0.08 -0.58 -0.62 -0.77
TD Avg 1 11.4 2 10.9 0 9.0 1 8.7 0 8.5 8.3 0 2 8.0 0 7.0 0 6.7 0 6.6 0 6.3 0 5.5
Gained TURNOVER MARGIN G Fum Int Tot Wake Forest 13 19 18 37 Virginia Tech 14 14 20 34 NC State 13 10 18 28 North Carolina 13 9 20 29 Duke 12 11 15 26 Boston College 14 10 26 36 Georgia Tech 13 11 18 29 Florida State 13 17 9 26 Clemson 13 9 19 28 Virginia 12 12 11 23 Maryland 13 7 10 17 Miami 13 11 4 15 SACKS BY G Sacks Florida State 13 39 Boston College 14 35 Virginia Tech 14 34 Georgia Tech 13 34 Miami 13 31 Virginia 12 29 Maryland 13 28 Duke 12 27 Wake Forest 13 24 NC State 13 23 North Carolina 13 22 Clemson 13 14
Pct. 51.2 51.2 55.8 52.1 52.8 56.1 59.2 59.3 56.8 60.2 61.6 62.2
Lost Fum Int 13 7 8 12 6 14 11 12 9 12 16 17 20 7 10 16 13 16 10 20 12 13 5 20
Tot 20 20 20 23 21 33 27 26 29 30 25 25
Yards 288 225 264 252 239 214 148 138 141 144 119 121
FIELD GOALS G Made Att Miami 13 18 20 NC State 13 16 19 Florida State 13 25 30 Virginia Tech 14 23 29 Duke 12 13 18 Clemson 13 15 21 Boston College 14 14 21 North Carolina 13 14 21 Maryland 13 15 24 Wake Forest 13 18 29 Georgia Tech 13 12 20 Virginia 12 9 15
Pct .900 .842 .833 .793 .722 .714 .667 .667 .625 .621 .600 .600
2009 Virginia Tech Football
37
Football Grants-in-Aid Five All-Americans highlight group of 21 signees The top player in the state of Virginia, and five prep All-Americans, highlight a football recruiting class composed of 21 studentathletes, as announced by Virginia Tech in February. “The athletic ability of this class is excellent,” said head coach Frank Beamer. “I think the character and academics of this class are also excellent. I couldn’t be more happy with this group. I think it’s a terrific class. I don’t think it’s just a good class, I think it’s a terrific class. We were limited initially on who we offered, but in the end, I like the way things turned out.” With such a small senior class from this past season, Tech announced just 21 players total Wednesday, including 15 players from Virginia. For the fifth time in the last nine years (2001,
2003, 2005, 2007 and now 2009), the top player in the state as ranked by The Roanoke Times has signed to play football in Blacksburg. That honor this year goes to Danville product David Wilson, who attends George Washington High. In all, Tech signed four of the top 11 players in the state and eight of the top 23. Highlighting this year’s in-state group are three talented players — Wilson, Logan Thomas (#4 by Roanoke Times) and DeAntre Rhodes (#8 by Roanoke Times) — who all earned SuperPrep All-America honors. Wilson, Thomas, kicker Cody Journell (#50 by Roanoke Times) and Florida cornerback Jayron Hosley were named AllAmericans by PrepStar. Wilson, who is ranked the No. 4 running back in the country by Rivals, rushed for 2,291 yards and 35 touchdowns – both school records – his senior
season en route to earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors for Virginia. Thomas, from Brookville High in Lynchburg, is ranked the No. 1 tight end in the country by Rivals and the No. 17 overall prospect nationally by SuperPrep. Thomas moved to quarterback his senior season and completed 118 of 204 passes for 1,535 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also ran for 842 yards and 11 touchdowns his final year in leading the Bees to the state championship game. Rhodes, from Richmond’s Varina High, finished with 48 tackles, including 14.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks, along with three forced fumbles his senior season. He is ranked the No. 35 defensive tackle prospect nationally by Rivals. Journell, who is rated as the No. 3 kicker nationally by ESPN.com, booted six field goals as a senior, including three of at least 42 yards after kicking
10 field goals his junior season, with a long of 54 yards. Just five players from out-ofstate signed with Tech, including three from South Carolina. Jerrodd Williams (Central) is rated the No. 30 cornerback in the country by ESPN.com, while twins Tariq and Tyrell Edwards (Cheraw) also signed with the Hokies. Tariq is ranked the No. 23 strongside linebacker prospect nationally by Scout.com while Tyrell is listed as the No. 82 athlete in the country by Rivals. Only one player from North Carolina — James Hopper from Fayetteville — signed with Tech this year. Hopper is rated the No. 33 cornerback prospect in the nation according to ESPN.com. Hosley, from Delray Beach, Fla., is ranked the No. 11 cornerback in the country by Rivals and had five interceptions as a senior at Atlantic High. With his signing, it marks the 19th year since
Virginia Tech’s 2009 Football Recruiting Class Name
Position
Ht..
Wt..
Last School
Hometown
Telvion Clark
Linebacker
6-1
220
Norfolk, Va.
Granby
D.J. Coles
Wide Receiver
6-3
215
Maidens, Va.
Fork Union
Lanford Collins
Defensive End
6-4
240
Stafford, Va.
Brooke Point
Tariq Edwards
Linebacker/Defensive End
6-3
212
Cheraw, S.C.
Marlboro County
Tyrell Edwards
Tight End
6-3
220
Cheraw, S.C.
Marlboro County
Antone Exum
Athlete
6-0
190
Glen Allen, Va.
Deep Run
James Gayle
Defensive End
6-5
215
Hampton, Va.
Bethel
James Hopper
Cornerback
5-9
180
Fayetteville, N.C.
Seventy-First
Jayron Hosley
Cornerback/Kick Return
5-11
180
Delray Beach, Fla.
Atlantic
Kory Gough
Offensive Tackle
6-5
265
Goldvein, Va.
Liberty
Cody Journell
Kicker
6-0
180
Ripplemead, Va.
Giles
Nubian Peak
Athlete
6-1
180
Radford, Va.
Pulaski County
Duan Perez-Means
Defensive End
6-4
230
Richmond, Va.
Hermitage
Andrew Miller
Offensive Line
6-4
275
Bassett, Va.
Bassett
Theron Norman
Free Safety
6-3
190
Richmond, Va.
Hermitage
DeAntre Rhodes
Defensive Tackle
6-3
270
Sandston, Va.
Varina
Logan Thomas
Athlete
6-6
230
Lynchburg, Va.
Brookville
David Wang
Defensive Tackle
6-2
290
Ashburn, Va.
Stone Bridge
Jerrodd Williams
Cornerback
6-0
185
Central, S.C.
D.W. Daniel
David Wilson
Tailback
5-11
195
Danville, Va.
George Washington
Tyrel Wilson
Defensive End
6-2
230
Hampton, Va.
Hampton
38
2009 Virginia Tech Football
Letterwinners & Returning Starters Letterwinners Returning (40) OFFENSE (17) 2008 Career Pos. Name Starts Starts WR Danny Coale 14 14 WR Jarrett Boykin 8 8 WR Dyrell Roberts 5 5 TE Greg Boone 13 29 TE Andre Smith 8 8 TE Chris Drager 1 1 TB Darren Evans 9 9 TB Josh Oglesby 0 0 TB Kenny Lewis, Jr. 6 9 FB Kenny Jefferson 0 0 QB Tyrod Taylor 10 15 OT Ed Wang 14 24 OT Blake DeChristopher 11 11 OG Jaymes Brooks 1 1 OG Sergio Render 14 40 OG Richard Graham 3 22 C Beau Warren 0 2
2008 starters listed in bold
1988 Tech has signed a player from Florida. “I think signing Hosley and the Edwards twins is another example of how our former players continue to support our program,” Beamer said. Hosley was recommended to the Tech staff by Brandon Flowers, a former Hokie All-America cornerback who also attended Atlantic High School, as did former Tech receiver and current NFL player David Clowney. The Edwards are the sons of former Tech standout receiver/return man Bo Campbell, who lettered from 1989-1992. Five other players from the state of Virginia are ranked in the top 23 in the state by The Roanoke Times. They are: Stafford defensive end Lanford Collins (#11), Glen Allen athlete Antone Exum (#16), Ashburn defensive tackle David Wang (#18), Bassett offensive lineman Andrew Miller (#19)
DEFENSE (20) 2008 Career Pos. Name Starts Starts DE Jason Worilds 12 12 DE Steven Friday 0 0 DE Nekos Brown 2 2 DT John Graves 14 14 Cordarrow Thompson 14 DT 14 DT Demetrius Taylor 0 0 OLB Cam Martin 13 26 OLB Cody Grimm 1 2 ILB Barquell Rivers 1 1 ILB Jake Johnson 0 0 ILB Quillie Odom 0 0 CB Stephan Virgil 14 14 CB Rashad Carmichael 1 1 CB Cris Hill 0 0 CB Jacob Sykes 0 0 CB Eddie Whitley 0 0 ROV Dorian Porch 9 9 ROV Davon Morgan 5 5 FS Kam Chancellor 14 28 FS Lorenzo Williams 0 0 SPECIALISTS (3) 2008 Career Pos. Name Starts Starts P Brent Bowden 14 28 KO Justin Myer 13 13 LS Collin Carroll 14 14
and Richmond free safety Theron Norman (#23). Collins is ranked as the No. 20 defensive end in the country by ESPN.com, while Exum is rated as the No. 38 athlete in the country by Rivals. Wang (#44 defensive tackle by ESPN.com), Miller (#33 offensive tackle by Rivals) and Norman (#16 athlete by ESPN.com) are also nationally ranked by various publications. Wang is the brother of current Hokie offensive tackle Ed Wang. Miller was also ranked the No. 1 senior heavyweight in the country heading into his final high school wrestling season and could compete for the Hokies in that sport next season. The in-state class also features seven others ranked in the top 50 by The Roanoke Times: Hampton defensive end James Gayle (#26), Norfolk linebacker Telvion Clark (#29), Pulaski County athlete Nubian Peak (#33), Richmond defensive end Duan Perez-Means (#34),
Letterwinners Lost (16) OFFENSE (6) 2008 Career Pos. Name Starts Starts FB Devin Perez 5 5 TB Dustin Pickle 0 0 OG Nick Marshman 13 29 C Ryan Shuman 14 34 QB Sean Glennon 4 26 WR Cory Holt 0 0 DEFENSE (8) 2008 Career Pos. Name Starts Starts DE Orion Martin 14 29 ILB Brett Warren 13 17 ILB Purnell Sturdivant 14 14 ILB Dylan McGreevy 0 0 ILB Mark Muncey 0 0 OLB Jonas Houseright 0 0 ROV Matt Reidy 0 0 CB Victor Harris 13 40 SPECIALISTS (2) 2008 Career Pos. Name Starts Starts PK Dustin Keys 14 14 LS Jacob Gardner 0 0
Hampton defensive end Tyrel Wilson (#45), Bealeton offensive tackle Kory Gough (#46) and Journell (#50), who is from Ripplemead. Among the national ratings for this group are: Gayle (#25 strongside defensive end by Rivals), Clark (#29 linebacker by Rivals), Peak (#66 running back by ESPN.com), Perez-Means (#26 weakside defensive end by Rivals) and Wilson (#61 inside linebacker by Rivals). Also included in the class is D.J. Coles, who signed with Tech last February but went the Fork Union last fall. He is listed as the No. 7 prep school player in the country by Rivals and was ranked the No. 11 player in the state of Virginia by The Roanoke Times coming out of Goochland High in 2008. The Tech staff put heavy emphasis on the defensive line and cornerback positions as 11 players are listed on the defensive side of the ball.
“Defensive end is a critical area for us right now,” Beamer said. “We have four guys in this class who are possible defensive ends who are extremely fast, athletic guys ... the kind of ends we like to have. We didn’t get a quarterback but I feel we have some athletic people who are excellent quarterbacks in our program: JuJu Clayton, Marcus Davis and Greg Boone. We signed Antone Exum and we’re going to give him a shot at quarterback, and I think Logan Thomas could play just about any skilled position in the offense, including quarterback. I really feel we have some athletic guys who are capable of being a quarterback in our program.” Twenty of the 22 studentathletes who made official visits to Virginia Tech (lineman Andrew Miller has yet to take an official visit) and were offered scholarships signed with the Hokies.
2009 Virginia Tech Football
39
Series vs. 2009 Opponents Alabama
Alabama leads 10-1-0 1932 aL 6- 1933 aL 0- 1952 aL 0- 1968 nL14 7- 1969 hL 13- 1970 nL14 18- 1972 aL 13- 1973 aL 6- 1978 aL 0- 1979 aL 7- 1998 nW30 38-
9 27 33 14 17 51 52 77 35 31 7
Marshall Tech leads 7-2-0 1913 hW 1914 hW 1939 aL 1940 aL 1951 nW6 1952 nW6 1953 nW6 2002 hW 2005 hW
47- 54- 0- 7- 18- 19- 7- 47- 41-
0 6 20 13 12 14 0 21 14
21- 35-
41 30
Nebraska Series tied 1-1-0 1996 nL29 2008 aW
Miami Miami leads 17-9-0 1953 1966 1967 1968 1974 1980 1981 1982 1987
aL nL26 hL aL aL nL24 aL hL aL
0- 7- 7- 8- 7- 10- 14- 8- 13-
26 14 14 13 14 20 21 14 27
Neutral Sites
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.
40
Roanoke Richmond Lynchburg Norfolk Winston-Salem, N.C. Bluefield, W. Va. Bedford Staunton Charlotte, N.C. Danville Knoxville, Tenn. Columbia, S.C. Huntington, W. Va. Birmingham, Ala. Greensboro, N.C. Charleston, W. Va. Louisville, Ky. Washington, D.C. Raleigh, N.C. Orlando, Fla. Portsmouth Alexandria Baltimore, Md. Atlanta, Ga. Jacksonville, Fla. Memphis, Tenn. El Paso, Texas New Orleans, La. Miami, Fla. Nashville, Tenn. Tampa, Fla.
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
hL aL aL hW aW hW aW hW aL hL aL hW aW hL aW hW aL
23- 2- 3- 13- 21- 27- (ot)27- 43- 21- 24- 45- 31- 16- 7- 17- 44- 14-
Duke Tech leads 9-7-0 1937 1938 1948 1949 1950 1951 1969 1981 1982 1983 1984 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
nL15 nL15 nL1 aL nL5 nL4 nW4 aL aW hW hW hW aW hW aW hW
0- 0- 0- 7- 6- 6- 48- 7- 22- 27- 27- 41- 45- 36- 43- 14-
43 21 24 7 7 25 20 10 41 26 56 7 10 27 10 14 16
25 18 7 55 47 55 12 14 21 14 0 17 0 0 14 3
Boston College Tech leads 11-6-0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008
aL aW hL aW hW aW hW aW hW aW hL hW aL hL nW25 aL nW31
34- 12- 14- 45- 17- 17- 38- 48- 34- 28- 27- 30- 3- 10- 30- 23- 30-
48 7 20 7 7 0 14 34 20 23 34 10 22 14 16 28 12
Georgia Tech Virginia Tech leads 4-2-0 1990 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
aL aW hW hL aW hW
3- 34- 51- 27- 27- 20-
6 20 7 38 3 17
North Carolina Tech leads 16-9-6 1895 1896 1897 1898 1900 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908
nL9 nT10 nW10 nL5 aT nT1 nW4 hL nW2 nT2 nW2 nW2
5- 0- 4- 6- 0- 0- 21- 0- 35- 0- 20- 10-
32 0 0 28 0 0 0 6 6 0 6 0
QB Al Clark got Tech on the board early when the Hokies played Alabama in the Music City Bowl. 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1916 1928 1929 1930 1938 1939 1945 1946 1998 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
nW2 nW2 nT2 nW19 nW5 nW1 aW aL hL aL nL4 nL1 aT nL25 aW hW aW hW aW
15- 20- 0- 26- 14- 14- 16- 13- 21- 0- 6- 0- 14- 3- 27- 30- 35- 17- 20-
0 0 0 0 7 7 14 38 39 7 13 14 14 42 24 3 10 10 17
East Carolina Tech leads 9-5-0 1956 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2007 2008
nW6 hL hW aL aW hL aL hW aW hW hW aW hW nL9
37- 23- 27- 10- 24- 17- 27- 31- 27- 35- 38- 45- 17- 22-
2 32 16 14 23 24 30 12 20 14 3 28 7 27
Maryland Maryland leads 15-14-0 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1990
aW hL nL18 hW nW18 nW18 nW18 nW4 nL4 nW4 nL4 nL4 hL aW nW4 nL4 nL23 nL1 hW aL hL nL18 hL aL aL
2009 Virginia Tech Football
6- 0- 7- 21- 16- 12- 3- 24- 7- 9- 0- 7- 0- 23- 14- 9- 0- 0- 21- 0- 19- 0- 7- 7- 13-
0 7 10 0 7 0 0 8 13 6 24 13 20 0 0 14 7 6 13 6 21 28 34 63 20
1993 2004 2005 2008
hW hW aW hW
55- 55- 28- 23-
28 6 9 13
18- 11- 21- 6- 5- 18- 3- 3- 3- 40- 7- 25- 0- 6- 7- 24- 16- 3- 0- 7- 0- 0- 7- 7- 14- 0- 14- 13- 6- 14- 30- 34- 35- 0- 14- 13- 14- 7- 28- 25- 25- 20- 0- 13- 16- 20-
2 6 0 0 6 5 5 0 0 0 7 0 3 14 3 0 0 6 0 6 6 13 13 0 13 6 6 14 34 19 21 26 6 12 14 15 29 13 19 24 23 16 7 13 17 16
NC State
Tech leads 24-18-4 1900 aW 1902 hW 1903 hW 1906 nW2 1908 nL4 1909 nW4 1910 nL4 1911 nW4 1914 nW4 1916 nW4 1917 nT4 1918 nW4 1919 nL4 1920 nL4 1921 nW4 1922 nW4 1923 nW4 1924 aL 1925 hT 1934 nW21 1935 nL21 1936 aL 1937 aL 1938 hW 1941 nW5 1945 aL 1946 hW 1949 nL4 1950 aL 1951 hL 1954 hW 1955 nW6 1956 nW4 1957 nL1 1958 aT 1959 nL4 1960 aL 1963 aL 1964 hW 1986 nW24 1989 aW 1990 hW 1991 aL 1992 hT 2004 hL 2005 aW
Virginia Tech leads 48-37-5 1895 aL 0- 38 1896 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904
aL aL aL hL aL nL2 nL2
0- 0- 5- 0- 0- 0- 0-
44 28 17 16 6 21 5
1905 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
aW aW hL aL hW aL hW aW hW aT hW aT hW aT hW aW hL aW nW4 nL4 nW4 nL1 nT1 nL1 nL1 nL1 nL1 nL1 nL1 aW nW1 nW1 nW1 nL2 nW1 nW2 nW1 nW1 nW1 nW1 aL hW aW hL aW aL hW aL hW aW hT aL aL hW aW hW aW hL aW hW aL hL aL hW aL hL aW hL aW hW aL hL aW hW aW hW aL hW aW hW aW hW
11- 0 6- 3 0- 6 0- 10 6- 0 0- 7 20- 0 32- 12 34- 13 0- 0 13- 0 6- 6 19- 6 0- 0 7- 6 14- 7 6- 14 13- 0 0 6- 0- 34 20- 14 13- 31 21- 21 7- 41 0- 28 0- 26 6- 45 0- 33 0- 42 20- 6 6- 0 17- 13 14- 7 7- 38 22- 13 40- 14 40- 6 20- 0 20- 15 10- 0 17- 20 22- 14 24- 7 0- 7 6- 0 20- 24 27- 15 27- 28 24- 17 14- 10 14- 14 7- 17 18- 20 30- 0 20- 3 21- 14 48- 0 23- 26 28- 10 42- 10 13- 14 10- 16 25- 32 38- 13 0- 3838- 41 20- 17 23- 42 36- 29 26- 9 20- 34 32- 36 31- 7 42- 21 31- 17 21- 9 21- 35 24- 10 52- 14 17- 0 33- 21 17- 14
Virginia Tech Coaches
Frank Beamer Head Coach
Billy Hite Associate Head Coach and Running Backs Coach
Bryan Stinespring Offensive Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach
Bud Foster Defensive Coordinator and Inside Linebackers Coach
Curt Newsome Offensive Line Coach
Kevin Sherman Wide Receivers Coach
Jim Cavanaugh Recruiting Coordinator and Strong Safety and Outside Linebackers Coach
Mike O’Cain Quarterbacks Coach
Torrian Gray Defensive Backfield Coach
Charley Wiles Defensive Line Coach
Zac Lowe Graduate Assistant Coach
Jamel Smith Graduate Assistant Coach
Football Support Staff
John Ballein Associate A.D. for Football Operations
Gunnar Brolinson, D.O. Team Physician
Diana Clark Secretary to Coach Beamer
Jarrett Ferguson Coordinator of Strength & Conditioning
Bruce Garnes Football Operations Assistant
Mike Gentry Assistant A.D. for Athletic Performance
Mike Goforth Director of Athletic Training
Kevin Hicks Director of Broadcasting
Chad Hyatt Athletic Trainer
Lester Karlin Equipment Manager
Lisa Marie Football Program Support Technician
Johnny Shelton Chaplain
Keith Short Coordinator of Strength & Conditioning
Kristie Verniel Football Program Support Technician
2009 Hokie Seniors 16 Jeff Beyer QB • Fairfax, Va.
8 GREG BOONE TE • Chesapeake, Va.
97 brent bowden P • Centreville, Va.
26 cody grimm LB • Fairfax, Va.
47 nekos brown DE • Brandywine, Md.
17 kam chancellor FS • Norfolk, Va.
80 Brandon dillard FL • Martinsville, Va.
64 richard graham C • Richmond, Va.
42 Kenny jefferson FB • Port Tobacco, Md.
20 kenny Lewis, Jr. TB • Danville, Va.
41 cam martin LB • Martinsville, Va.
94 mark muncey LB • Tazewell, Va.
23 matt reidy ROV • Gaithersburg, Md.
70 sergio render OG • Newnan, Ga.
56 demetrius taylor DT • Virginia Beach, Va.
22 stephan virgil CB • Rocky Mount, Va.
mattHEW waldron PK • Oakfield, N.Y.
95 Cordarrow Thompson DT • Stafford, Va.
77 ed wang OT • Ashburn, Va.
24 dorian porch ROV • Calhoun, Ga.
63 matt tuttle SN • Chesapeake, Va.
18 sam wheeler TE • Blacksburg, Va.