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EARLY
BIRD 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2008 |
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VIRGINIA
TECH HOKIES |
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OFFENSE
- 9 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Sean Glennon-QB, Devin Perez-FB,
Nick Marshman-OG, Ryan Shuman-C,
Dustin Keys-K |
DEFENSE:
Orion
Martin-DE, Brett Warren-ILB, Purnell
Sturdivant-ILB, Victor Harris-CB |
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Quarterback
/ Lunch Box Defense |
The
passing numbers
weren’t very
impressive in 2008
due to a youth movement
at receiver, but
elusive QB Tyrod
Taylor could wind
up being one of
the best dual-threats
of ‘09. This
defense carries
the infamous VT
Lunch Pail, excelling
at stopping both
the run and pass. |
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Linebacker
/ Special Teams |
Linebackers
have been steady
over the years for
the Hokies, but
real-game experience
is extremely short
on the inside. Outside
of finding a new
kicker, Beamer's
special teams have
their work cut out
after uncharacteristically
failing to score
six points last
fall (also lack
a dangerous return
man). |
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QB
Tyrod Taylor |
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DE
Jason Worilds |
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*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed
as a simplistic gauge for listing
players that departed and players
that received the most playing
experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes
the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming
recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with
our full 2009 Preseason Preview
due out this coming spring. |
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VIRGINIA
TECH 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Tyrod
Taylor-Jr |
.. |
FB |
Kenny
Jefferson-Sr |
.. |
TB |
Darren
Evans-So |
Kenny
Lewis-Sr |
WR |
Danny
Coale-So |
Dyrell
Roberts-So |
WR |
Jarrett
Boykin-So |
.. |
TE |
Greg
Boone-Sr |
Andre
Smith-Jr / Chris
Drager-So |
OT |
Ed
Wang-Sr |
.. |
OG |
.. |
.. |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Sergio
Render-Sr |
.. |
OT |
Blake
DeChristopher-So |
Richard
Graham-Sr |
K |
.. |
.. |
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VIRGINIA
TECH 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Nekos
Brown-Sr |
.. |
DT |
John
Graves-Jr |
Demetrius
Taylor-Sr |
DT |
Cordarrow
Thompson-Sr |
.. |
DE |
Jason
Worilds-Jr |
.. |
ILB |
.. |
.. |
ILB |
.. |
.. |
WHIP |
Cam
Martin-Sr |
Cody
Grimm-Sr |
CB |
Stephan
Virgil-Sr |
Cris
Hill-So |
CB |
Rashad
Carmichael-Jr |
.. |
ROV |
Dorian
Porch-Sr |
Davon
Morgan-Jr |
FS |
Kam
Chancellor-Sr |
.. |
P |
Brent
Bowden-Sr |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
12/9/08
Head coach Frank Beamer, by
his own accord, may have pulled
out the greatest coaching job
of his Blacksburg career by
getting his Hokies into another
BCS bowl (ACC Champions). This
team lost the jest of their
starters/stars from 2007 and
still managed to squeak out
a conference title. This time
around, the holes and question
marks won't be quite as glaring.
The receivers are now an important
year older after having been
fed to the lions to start their
Blacksburg careers. The sophomore
trio can now give the offensive
coaching staff some breathing
room. Darren Evans has emerged
in the backfield as yet another
first-year contributor. The
redshirt frosh earned All-Conference
status and fits well into the
Beamer Ball scheme of good defense,
special teams and running well.
The single greatest threat is
at QB, where speedy Tyrod Taylor
enters his third year of starting
duties, though, he won't have
to look over his shoulder anymore.
Taylor has the potential to
be one of the best running/throwing
QBs of 2009. Sure, the team’s
passing numbers were a paltry
111th nationally, but the completely
new set of receivers did not
aid this cause, so don't be
surprised if Taylor makes his
way into Heisman conversations
by mid-season. Big 280-pound
TE Greg Boone is a fan favorite.
He can even line up at QB and
has an amazing burst of quickness
to go with his size. This gives
the Hokies yet another offensive
weapon/dimension. Defensively,
Beamer Ball (and famed coordinator
Bud Foster) is just as ready
as ever for any new challenges.
The D features standout DE Jason
Worilds, a fearsome harasser
of QBs. Both the run and pass
defenses are proven and solid.
Two glaring holes exist –
one at LB and the other in losing
CB Victor "Macho"
Harris to the NFL. Harris’s
exit will hurt the overall athletic
skills of the secondary. But
the rest of the defensive backfield
is an all-senior lineup. The
players remaining are just as
good as any Virginia Tech has
fielded from the “Lunch
Pail” aspect of higher
expectations and extra effort.
The Hokies have survived the
2008 reloading span and are
better for it heading into 2009.
VT can now focus on getting
back to (and staying in) a place
they are accustomed to being...in
the top 15, and they’ll
do it while still setting the
bar for a struggling league.
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VIRGINIA
TECH
2009 SCHEDULE
Sep.
5 vs. Alabama @Atlanta,
GA
Sep. 12 Marshall
Sep. 19 Nebraska
Sep. 26 at East Carolina
TBA North Carolina State
TBA Boston College
TBA North Carolina
TBA Miami FL
TBA at Maryland
TBA at Georgia Tech
TBA at Duke
TBA at Virginia
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