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EARLY
BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007 |
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VIRGINIA
TECH HOKIES |
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OFFENSE
- 7 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
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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 |
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Quarterback
/ Cornerback |
Glennon and
Taylor may be the best QB combination
in the country. CBs Flowers
and Harris are worthy of Sunday
playtime already. |
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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. |
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QB
Sean Glennon |
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CB
Brandon Flowers |
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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 2008 Preseason Preview due out this
coming spring. |
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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 |
.. |
.. |
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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 |
.. |
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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.
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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
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