I have to think a guy like Engelberger wouldn't fly under the radar like in the recruiting process (at most schools!) these days. Too many services and too much ability to get a talented guy noticed in today's world. The time of finding talented-diamonds in the rough-type players that nobody else has identified, unfortunately, is pretty much over.
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He would have. He was a 6-3, 200lb tight end. He had more sacks his freshman year at VT than he did his entire career at Lee HS in Springfield. His story was really unique- completely changed his body.
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Agreed, it has to be John Engleburger. Walk-on to 1st round draft pick with the Niners, I believe. I wish we had more guys on our D-line with his motor.
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Yes, starting Safety for the Bucs, and was playing great until the old injury bug caught up with him. I saw him as a starter for a game against the Ravens, and believe he had a prety good game. He was a scrappy, Jim Leonard-kind of d-back, always in the right place at the right time, and a damn solid tackler.
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Brandon Semones. Paved the way for the how Bud successfully used the WHIP in his scheme. Also doesn't hurt being Frank's nephew, but he made the most of each and every snap.
Lived around the corner from him and his family growing up. A true Hokie family through and through.
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That's a true OG also way outplayed his eligibility as an 8th year senior, also transfer portaled before it was cool and flip floped back to VT after a stint at UNC
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Nice little piece on Caleb, I knew he came in as Shyane's holder, and its nice to see the Todd Grantham connection as well. Went to be in the Pit crew for NASCAR as a Gas Man and now is the Video coordinator for Gibbs racing.
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I have a signed and framed Orion jersey hanging in my basement. I played two years of high school football with Martin Scales (they're cousins, for those unaware) and he introduced him to me after one of our games...their most recent game? 07 BC.
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Was Nick Sorenson a walk on? He was fun and played all over the field.
Will Montgomery was a great hokie...had a rough playoff game for the Skins vs Seattle
in 2012 though...RIP RG3's knee
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Scrappy? High-motor? Sneaky athletic? High football IQ? Deceptive speed? Gritty? Good fundamentals who get the most out of their abilities? They all had intangibles, and most importantly, they were lunch pail guys who played the game the right way.
Got to give props to my favorite Hokie football player Big John Burke. He put the pass threat TE on the map at VT. He laid the foundation for many a good TE's.
Comments
John Engelberger and Will Montgomery.
Most other answers are recency bias.
Will Montgomery will always be my wife's all-time favorite Hokie.
She met him on field after a spring game and talked to him because he was all alone.
I used to serve him salads at West End. He was always quiet and polite.
John Engleberger went from a walk on tight end to a 2nd team All American. No doubt he is the top guy.
and spent several years in the NFL
I have to think a guy like Engelberger wouldn't fly under the radar like in the recruiting process (at most schools!) these days. Too many services and too much ability to get a talented guy noticed in today's world. The time of finding talented-diamonds in the rough-type players that nobody else has identified, unfortunately, is pretty much over.
He would have. He was a 6-3, 200lb tight end. He had more sacks his freshman year at VT than he did his entire career at Lee HS in Springfield. His story was really unique- completely changed his body.
There are plenty of kids who come out of nowhere at both the college but also pro level. It's still possible.
Agreed, it has to be John Engleburger. Walk-on to 1st round draft pick with the Niners, I believe. I wish we had more guys on our D-line with his motor.
Jarrett Ferguson.
Came here to say Jarrett
Jack Tyler was pretty good!
Any love for Paul Debnam, the ultimate VT Basketball Hype Man?
Sam Rogers. Not necessarily better than everyone else mentioned, but a strong asset to the school, and much better than initially projected.
Described by Bud Foster as being a "nonstop ball of butcher knives"
Cody Grimm needs to be in the conversation:
1st Team ACC
3rd Team All American
2 ACC championships
1 SB ring as a coach
Started some games in the NFL at safety as well.
True - I think Engleberger and others have more storied NFL careers, though.
I'm not pitching him as the best walk-on in VT history, just adding a little bit to his resume.
Yes, starting Safety for the Bucs, and was playing great until the old injury bug caught up with him. I saw him as a starter for a game against the Ravens, and believe he had a prety good game. He was a scrappy, Jim Leonard-kind of d-back, always in the right place at the right time, and a damn solid tackler.
Brandon Semones. Paved the way for the how Bud successfully used the WHIP in his scheme. Also doesn't hurt being Frank's nephew, but he made the most of each and every snap.
Lived around the corner from him and his family growing up. A true Hokie family through and through.
Pretty sure Brandon was recruited and on a scholly from day 1
Grimm and Tyler
Hunter Carpenter
That's a true OG also way outplayed his eligibility as an 8th year senior, also transfer portaled before it was cool and flip floped back to VT after a stint at UNC
College - the best 7 or 8 years of your life, amirite?
Tyrell Smith says "Hold my beer."
The correct answer is Sam Rodgers, but also we are at peak offseason and it's only the beginning of November. My heart hurts for Hokies football
There is no D in Rogers
This comment is oddly nostalgic
How is this possible? We all know that Sam MF Rogers fucks.
on vs in -- one vowel makes a world of difference in this scenario
Caleb Hurd!
https://allstatesugarbowl.org/champions-caleb-hurd/
Nice little piece on Caleb, I knew he came in as Shyane's holder, and its nice to see the Todd Grantham connection as well. Went to be in the Pit crew for NASCAR as a Gas Man and now is the Video coordinator for Gibbs racing.
The answer needs to be Engleberger. Great guy.
This would be an awesome bracketology exercise.
Fun and cathartic!
Didn't Orion Martin start as a walk on?
He prepped at Hargrave and went to Norfolk State before transferring. Probably got a scholly to transfer but Wikipedia doesn't say.
Finally looked at Hokiesports. He was a walk on for 15 spring practices after his Norfolk St transfer. Either way it was fun to watch him play.
I have a signed and framed Orion jersey hanging in my basement. I played two years of high school football with Martin Scales (they're cousins, for those unaware) and he introduced him to me after one of our games...their most recent game? 07 BC.
Did Scales play at Martinsville?
Yes
Me.
Barely squeaked into VT out of high school and finished with a 3.8 GPA in Civil Engineering.
/s
Kerwin Hairston
I'd probably vote for Cody Grimm or John Engelberger, but two other names worth mentioning are John Burke (VT 90-94), and the second Fuller, Corey.
Was Nick Sorenson a walk on? He was fun and played all over the field.
Will Montgomery was a great hokie...had a rough playoff game for the Skins vs Seattle
in 2012 though...RIP RG3's knee
Cartoons Plural
I thought he was schollie all the way...
I don't know about that, but he was Hokie, through and through.
I like all of the names mentioned above. They all put in a heck of a motor for the Hokies and I wish them all the very best
I believe Stephen Peoples was also a Walk-on Initially, so was Joey Slye
Most kickers are walk-ons initially.
And:
A lot of these guys...seem to be pretty similar, you know what I mean?
Real gym rats?
Scrappy? High-motor? Sneaky athletic? High football IQ? Deceptive speed? Gritty? Good fundamentals who get the most out of their abilities? They all had intangibles, and most importantly, they were lunch pail guys who played the game the right way.
*Edited to include the list here.*
Got to give props to my favorite Hokie football player Big John Burke. He put the pass threat TE on the map at VT. He laid the foundation for many a good TE's.
https://image.isu.pub/090716204258-31b0bce338b248458f12c9c445256160/jpg/page_105.jpg
It would have been me if Coach had just seen me in the stands and called me down like I was daydreaming about.
That you uncle Rico?
I'll throw a football clear over that mountain top.
They were too busy ignoring the play calls I was yelling from the stands
Michael "Brunswick " Stuewe!!!