I spoke with Green Run HS football coach Brandon Williams for another story, and the topic of conversation hit on two other 757 Hokies. The Burden discussion came about as it's related to the aforementioned story, but Williams proactively mentioned Robinson as someone he was enthused about to see in Tech's offense before I probed for a bit more.
THOUGHTS ON AREA RECRUITER ZOHN BURDEN:
If there's an award for the best recruiter of the year, he'll have it back-to-back, let's put it that way. He's been doing this a long time. I have nothing but good things to say about Coach Burden. Great guy, quiet kept guy, but he knows what he's doing and he's good at his job.
ON WHAT MAKES BURDEN A GREAT RECRUITER:
He really cares about the kids. He cares about their lifestyle, what they got going on outside of football. He has the whole nine yards. It's just not football with him. He cares about what type of kids he's recruiting in all the aspects of the game.
BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED [2019 VIRGINIA TECH SIGNEE] TAYVION ROBINSON, HOW DO YOU THINK HIS TRANSITION FROM QUARTERBACK TO PLAYMAKER WILL GO:
It's going to be delightful because he has that natural talent when the ball is in his hands. He can make things happen no matter what. I can see him making an immediate impact next year. That's what type of athlete he is.
Comments
Ayyyee Green Run High School, represent!!
...or gang run, or gun run... all the fun names they used to call us back in the day. lol.
GR really has come a long way, football wise, since I graduated. My entire 4 years at that school the varsity team didn't win one game (01-05). I remember losing my mind when my friend texted me that they finally won one...years after I'd left.
Sorry guys, I know I'm not really adding anything useful. I just got excited when I saw my high school mentioned. Carry on.
another GRHS alum reporting!
Nice, what year did you graduate?
'89. I was there pre-Salem, Tallwood, Ocean Lakes, Landstown AND the new Kellam. LOL
i don't know if you're aware of who Alton Grizzard was, but he was in my Spanish class when i was a sophomore. He was IMO GRHS' most heralded QB who went to the Naval Academy. nice guy, too. read a book on Army-Navy football and Grizzard was well-liked and held in high esteem there with plenty of mentions of his heroics. met a fateful end unfortunately when he got commissioned and stationed in CA. RIP
Kellam 77 lived in Green Run zone but it wasn't built til around 1980.
'89 here too, RIP Grizzard.
I remember when we brought in Zohn, his reception from the fanbase was lukewarm at best, but he's really taken to this position and with all of the "internships" he's been doing, I can see him moving on to a coordinator position or as a position coach in the NFL sooner than later..
https://www.thekeyplay.com/virginia-tech-football/2015/02/8548/virginia-...
Idk everyone seemed pretty psyched about his potential and recruiting the 757
I think you're both right in a way, the mood in that thread seemed to be of a sort of cautious optimism. I think the reality is hiring assistant coaches for a school like ours is hardly ever going to look flashy. The type of assistant we often get is a high performer outside the power 5 looking for a promotion. Zohn fit that profile, and it worked out for us.
Interesting tidbit. Not sure if interested but if you wanted to the coach from Maury high school to answers a couple of questions on any items related to VT, sure I can get him on board, know him personally.
I saw Robinson play - I cant remember against, but barring injury, hell be a starter at some point, at the very least.
I think somehow hes gone underrated because he didnt have the 4th star next to his name when he committed, but if any player we picked up is better than him, theyll be names Virginia Tech will be excited about.
Hes the #1 player All South Hampton Roads
Offensive Player of the year All Beach District
1st Team All Tidewater
https://pilotonline.com/sports/high-school/football/article_15026556-9b1b-11e8-917e-5f8f4c5f8acb.html
A quote from the link above:
I really dont know why people arent more excited about him.
People that follow recruiting pretty closely are very excited for Tayvion
I'm hoping he is the answer at the returner spot on special teams that has been so troublesome since Stro.
Him and E-Bo are the two incoming receivers I see getting pt early
I really want camp to start so that we can see how the WR depth chart starts shaking out. It seems like now more than ever we have loads of raw athleticism AND talent in the WR where it was always one or the other. I would like to see what CornFu can do with a two deep of OKGs, but I have this nagging feeling that this offense won't be kicking into high gear until the RB room can step up to the role.
Agreed - I don't think we can have a top 30 offense without an improved running game. I think King could be a solid back, but it would be great if we landed Feaster.
I don't disagree with your comment but I would like to petition to ban the term OKG unless using it in a sarcastic/mocking way.
I'm still pretty annoyed with Buzz, but I'm fond of the OKG concept/term even after his departure. I feel like it fits the personality of VT... Coachable, hard-working, tough, under 6'6", etc.
My issue is that I'm not convinced OKG ever meant those things to Buzz. He seemed more than happy to walk players whom were coachable, hard-working, and tough if he wanted to take a flier on a newcomer. I'm not even saying that's necessarily wrong, I just don't like parading the guise of "OKG" if you treat guys like Devin Wilson poorly and show the door to Malik Muller, a 6'3" guard forced to guard post players during ACC play as a redshirt freshman.
You arent going to start talking about Kabongo being "walked" again, are you?
You seem to have a bone to pick but I'm afraid you've got the wrong guy, buddy.
Zohn has been a very good recruiter for us. I hope we are making sure he feels important as a member of the staff so we can keep him around for a long time.
Also, really excited to see how our WR depth plays out. Lots of talented guys, but unclear who will force their way onto the field early. Definitely a storyline I'm looking forward to watching play out in the fall.
Agree Chris...I can't think of a better situation for a new WR coach to come into with all of the talent at the WR position...so much talent that a WR as talented as Kumah couldn't get on the field. Really looking forward to see what some of the young kids do this year like Payoute, Simmons, and Bowick..
Good to hear
So you're saying we win a Natty this year?
Nice.