Pre-Shane Recruiting and the Debacle in Chapel Hill

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One of the major problems with the defense is not only the lack of veteran depth in the secondary, but also a lack of veteran depth in the linebacker corps. In previous editions of French on the Bench, I have casually mentioned how the defense has been hampered terribly by horrific recruiting classes from 2008-2010 (prior to Shane Beamer's arrival.) Here is a quick breakdown of the defensive recruiting during that period.

Year Player Position Stars Result
08 Lydell Gibson LB 3 Kicked out
08 Jeron Gouveia-Winslow Whip 3 Marginal starter
08 Isaiah Hamlette DE/DT 3 3rd string/special teams
08 Antoine Hopkins DT 3 Starter/2nd string
08 Jake Johnson LB 3 Transferred
08 Joe Jones DE 2 Left the program
08 Leon McKay DE 3 Don't recall ever joining VT
08 Quillie Odom LB 4 Kicked out
08 Allan Stephens LB 3 Don't recall ever joining VT
08 Bruce Taylor LB 4 Multi-year starter
08 Eddie Whitley DB 3 Multi-year starter
08 Lorenzo Williams DB 3 Left program

Average Rivals Score: 3.08
Number of starters: 3
Number who were in program 4 years: 3
Number of DB's: 1

Year Player Position Stars Result
09 Telvion Clark LB 3 Kicked Out
09 Tariq Edwards LB 3 1 year starter
09 Antone Exum DB 3 2 year starter
09 James Gayle DE 3 2 year starter
09 James Hopper DB 2 Grad assistant
09 Jayron Hosley DB 4 NFL
09 Theo Norman DB 3 Left the program
09 DeAntre Rodes DT 3 Never joined the program
09 David Wang DT 3 Moved to offense
09 Jerrod Williams DB 4 Never joined the program
09 Tyrell Wilson DE 3 Backup/contributor
09 Duan Perez-Means DE 3 Moved to Offense
09 JR Collins (Lanford) DE NA 2 year starter

Average Rivals Score: 3.06
Number of starters: 5
Number who were in program 4 years: 5
Number of DB's: 2

Year Player Position Stars Result
10 Nick Acree DL 4 Moved to offense
10 Dietrick Bonner DB 3 Marginal starter
10 Nick Dew DB 4 Left the program
10 Kyle Fuller DB 3 3 year starter
10 Brian Laiti LB 3 Left the Program
10 Derrick Hopkins DT 3 2 year starter
10 Zach McCray DE 4 Backup
10 Justin Taylor DE 3 Scout Team
10 Chase Williams LB 3 Backup

Average Rivals Score: 3.06
Number of starters: 3
Number who were in program 3 years: 6
Number of DB's: 2

With a few exceptions, the Hokies recruited 3-star or less talent, and the number of marginal players or players who left the program is startling. Until Donaldven Manning last season, the Hokies had barely developed enough defensive back recruits to field a secondary, and many talented players were moved away from safety to the whip wasteland.

Even more serious, the Hokies have a major dearth of veteran talent at mike and backer. Bruce Taylor, Tariq Edwards, and Chase Williams (Tyler was a preferred walk-on) are the only players from this three year recruiting period. In 2010, linebacker was a major focus of the staff. However, Bud Foster looked past consensus top linebacker Curtis Grant, a lifelong Hokie fan playing at a Hokie pipeline in Hermitage. (I heard rumors about Grant wanting some incentives for coming to VT, so perhaps a blessing in disguise.) Foster passed on Grant, and devoted resources to recruiting Stephone Anthony and Travis Hughes, both of whom seemed to be great fits in the Foster defense. Anthony signed with Clemson, Hughes signed with UNC, and both have made huge plays that contributed to Hokie losses over the last calendar year.

Now the talent gap has finally caught up. The Hokies have some young talent, but most of it is unpolished or at a position where they have depth (defensive line). Last year's DB class has promise, but prior classes (Bonner, Cole, RVD, Aromire, etc...) have washed out, outgrew the position, or just are not ACC-caliber starters. The lack of linebacker depth forced a worn out Jack Tyler and Bruce Taylor to play every snap today, and the defensive line had to be oversensitive to play fakes because of the poor run support of the secondary, which froze the pass rush.

This season has now become about next year. The Hokies have limited options in the secondary and fewer at mike and backer, but the trigger needs to be pulled on some changes. First, the Hokies need to figure out a way to get Bruce Taylor and Jack Tyler some rest. They can do it, and perhaps match up a little better against the spread by using Ronny Vandyke and JGW at backer and rotating Taylor & Tyler at mike on third downs. Second, at this point it is clear that Bonner and Cole will always be liabilities. They may get better, but neither have ACC starter athleticism and that isn't going to change. Cole would be better suited as a whip/special teams guy, and Bonner as a back up corner. If they feel that Manning can be a contributor, let him make mistakes and get him snaps. Figure out if Tookes and Frye can play. Spend the time and resources teaching them how to contribute next year, because even if the offense plays lights out and the defensive line starts killing the QB, any decent passing offense that can mix in the run will ultimately shred this defense. Besides the front-four, they just don't have the horses, and even with a few very promising guys, the best position on defense (line) doesn't seem to have that superstar who can wreck a gameplan by himself.

Comments

This day seemed like it was coming

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#Let's Go - Hokies

What makes you so sure it's not gonna happen?

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

Definitely have to agree. The DL has been a huge disappointment.

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"Somebody came on the field and painted a T beside the V"

REACH FOR EXCELLENCE @goobvt_sg

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

Well, if you count Trey Edmunds as a LB ...

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

Virginia

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"Got time. OHH a receiver wide open it's Royal!"

they wanted

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eric

"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky

I think "athleticism" is overrated for a Mike LB.

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True, but it's pretty obvious that's what he was talking about.

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

A lot of DEs become OLBs

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🦃 🦃 🦃

yes.

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Wiley, Brown, Russell, Drakeford, Gray, Banks, Prioleau, Charleton, Midget, Bird, McCadam, Pile, Hall, Green, Fuller, Williams, Hamilton, Rouse, Flowers, Harris, Chancellor, Carmichael, Hosley, Fuller, Exum, Jarrett

I would respectfully disagree about Cole.

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The word was that Farrow transferred because ...

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"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

Recruiting Question

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A new season...new hope

Sportsfans, this is what Attrition looks like

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VT '10--US Citizen; (804) Virginian By Birth; (210) Texan By the Grace of God.

Rick Monday... You Made a Great Play...

I also root for: The Keydets, Army, TexAggies, NY Giants, NY Rangers, ATL Braves, and SA Brahmas

How much of it is offenses just being way ahead...

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Kudos to French

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Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in bad humor.

the post is on tkp

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Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in bad humor.

oops...sorry

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Take the shortest route to the ball and arrive in bad humor.

That's all well and good to say that, but every team wants ...

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Most people don't realize that there is a very fine line ...

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN