EARLY BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
OFFENSE - 9
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 8
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Jesse Allen-FB, David Clowney-WR, Brandon Frye-OT, Brandon Gore-OG, Danny McGrath-C, Brandon Pace-K
DEFENSE: Noland Burchette-DE, Brenden Hill-WHIP, Aaron Rouse-ROV, Cary Wade-ROV, Nic Schmitt-P
Receiver/Linebacker

The Hokies are set to have the nation's No. 1 set of receivers. LBs Adibi and Hall are worthy of All-American status.

Running Back depth/ Pass rush

Branden Ore is the workhorse carrying the ball. When absent with injury, the Hokies will struggle. VT lacks that usual dominating DE putting heat on opposing QBs.

RB Branden Ore
 
LB Vince Hall
 

* 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 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
VIRGINIA TECH 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Sean Glennon-Jr Ike Whitaker-So
FB Carlton Weatherford-Sr ..
TB Branden Ore-Jr Kenny Lewis-So
WR Eddie Royal-Sr Josh Hyman-Sr
WR Josh Morgan-Sr Justin Harper-Sr
TE Greg Boone-So Sam Wheeler-So / Ed Wang-So
OT Nick Marshman-Jr ..
OG Ryan Shuman-Jr ..
C .. ..
OG Sergio Render-So ..
OT Duane Brown-Sr ..
K .. ..
DEFENSE
DE Chris Ellis-Sr Orion Martin-Jr
DT Barry Booker-Sr Cordarrow Thompson-So
DT Carlton Powell-Sr Kory Robertson-Sr
DE .. ..
ILB Vince Hall-Sr ..
ILB Xavier Adibi-Sr ..
WHIP .. ..
CB Brandon Flowers-Jr ..
CB Victor Harris-Jr ..
ROV .. ..
FS D.J. Parker-Sr ..
P .. ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

By the end of the ‘06 regular season, most felt Virginia Tech was playing the best football in the ACC (beat conference champ Wake Forest 27-6 in Winston-Salem). Well, given the lowly status of what the ACC has become, this may not be the ultimate compliment. But coach Frank Beamer will continue to do what he does best...play defense and get the most out his running game. The 2006 rushing stats may be deceptive (84th nationally), but RB Branden Ore is a workhorse. He continues to get stronger as the game progresses. The Hokies will need this, as a capable backup has not been located. The spring will tell much with this category. Looking back to last summer, no one was quite sure who the starting QB would be to replace Marcus Vick. Sean Glennon took the reigns and has matured into a worthy component in this offensive wheel. He does not maintain the fastest set of legs but has found improvement with each snap he takes in terms of making the right reads and throws. One area Hokies can take full advantage of is their vast set of top quality receivers. In fact, Virginia Tech is likely to become the nation's No. 1 rated set of WRs as unit rankings start to roll out in early summer. Royal, Morgan, Hyman, Harper...get used to these names. When it comes to Hokie defense, LBs Hall and Adibi represent two worthy hard-hitting All-Americans. The nation's No. 1 rated pass defense returns three key starters and the front line is as capable as any that Beamer has had. The only link missing might be that dominant pass rush from a star DE to which most Hokie fans have become accustomed. If the improvement over the course of this past season continues, Virginia Tech will be looked upon as the savior to the ACC in terms of providing a Top 10 caliber member.

 

VIRGINIA TECH
2007 SCHEDULE

9-1 East Carolina
9-8 @ Louisiana State
9-15 Ohio
9-22 William & Mary
TBA @ Duke
TBA @ Georgia Tech
TBA Miami FL
TBA North Carolina
TBA @ Virginia
TBA Boston College
TBA @ Clemson
TBA Florida State