EARLY BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
OFFENSE - 7
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 6
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Carlton Weatherford-FB, Eddie Royal-WR, Josh Hyman-WR, Josh Morgan-WR, Justin Harper-WR, Duane Brown-OT, Jud Dunlevy-K
DEFENSE: Chris Ellis-DE, Barry Booker-DT, Carlton Powell-DT, Vince Hall-ILB, Xavier Adibi-ILB, D.J. Parker-FS
Quarterback / Cornerback

Glennon and Taylor may be the best QB combination in the country. CBs Flowers and Harris are worthy of Sunday playtime already.

Receiver / Defensive Front Seven

Four top-notch receivers, who have been in this program for four straight years, will be missed. The DL gets dismantled and LBs Adibi and Hall, both former All-Americans, simply cannot have their huge shoes instantly filled.

QB Sean Glennon
 
CB Brandon Flowers
 
* 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 2008 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
 
VIRGINIA TECH 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Sean Glennon-Sr Tyrod Taylor-So
FB Kenny Jefferson-Jr ..
TB Branden Ore-Sr Kenny Lewis-Jr
WR Zach Luckett-So ..
WR Ike Whitaker-Jr ..
TE Sam Wheeler-Jr Greg Boone-Jr
OT .. ..
OG Nick Marshman-Sr Richard Graham-Jr
C Ryan Shuman-Sr Beau Warren-So
OG Sergio Render-Jr ..
OT Ed Wang-Jr ..
K .. ..
 
VIRGINIA TECH 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Jason Worilds-So ..
DT Cordarrow Thompson-Jr ..
DT John Graves-So ..
DE Orion Martin-Sr Nekos Brown-Jr
ILB Brett Warren-Sr ..
ILB Purnell Sturdivant-Sr ..
WHIP Cam Martin-Jr Cody Grimm-Jr
CB Brandon Flowers-Sr Stephan Virgil-Jr
CB Victor Harris-Sr ..
ROV Kam Chancellor-Jr Dorian Porch-Jr
FS Davon Morgan-So ..
P Brent Bowden-Jr ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

Frank Beamer has some holes to fill for sure. His vaunted value system entitled "Beamer Ball", with a heavy emphasis on defense and special teams, has to replace some hefty players on the front seven and an entire crew of receivers/return men. However, the emergence of QBs Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor should give this team enough offensive firepower to help VT overcome the losses. Many other teams under this microscope would not fair so well (in the preseason rankings), but Beamer is one of the best coaches at finding the right recruits to fit/perform well in his system. Glennon is the drop-back type and Taylor is the best running QB in Blacksburg since Michael Vick. Senior RB Branden Ore has to get back to showing the promise of his sophomore campaign. The OL will help his cause as every starter returns up front outside of All-ACC tackle Duane Brown. As mentioned, the biggest problem will be finding ‘go to’ receivers since those leaving have been a staple of this program the last four seasons. The strength of the defense will be at CB - Flowers and Harris are two of the (ACC's) best covermen. Should one (or both) decide to leave early for the NFL, the Hokies are going to drop in the rankings a bit more. With longtime staples like Adibi and Hall gone at the LB spot, and with a DL that loses three starters, this defense has to find leadership from their usually strong secondary (No. 5 rated pass efficiency nationally) to carry the load until the other units develop. The Hokies will be expected (per usual) to win the ACC…well, at least their half. As in ’07, any hopes of a national title won't come from this conference, but Virginia Tech is still the class of the league and has the best shot at making the final match up. This ACC status quo is not likely to change.

 

VIRGINIA TECH
2008 SCHEDULE

9-6 FURMAN
9-13 EAST CAROLINA
9-27 at Nebraska
MARYLAND
at Florida State
at Boston College
VIRGINIA
GEORGIA TECH
DUKE
at North Carolina
at Miami FL
1 non-conference opponent