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Former Virginia Tech standout center Jake Grove signed a five-year, $30 million deal with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday. Grove is one of only four Hokies to earn unanimous All-American honors joining Jim Pyne (‘93), Corey Moore (99) and Jimmy Williams (‘05). Grove earned the Rimington Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate center, following the 2003 season.

Following his collegiate career, Grove was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft. The 29 year old has played five NFL seasons, all with the Raiders, but has been slowed by injuries. He has only play a full 16-game season once in his career – 2006 when he started all 16 games. In his five season and a potential 80 games, Grove has only played in 54; only started 46 and has missed 26. He is, however, coming off a season in which he started 12 games and appears to be healthy heading into the ‘09 campaign.

Grove will be playing in a much better situation with the Dolphins which are coming off the single greatest one-season turnaround in NFL history. In 2007 Miami was 1-15 and a year later, they went 11-5 and made the playoffs.

Thought Grove didn’t live up to the Raiders’ expectations, who does in Oakland? Expect Grove to have a rejuvenated career in Miami with a top-notch organization that encourages winning and is run by one of the brightest minds in the game, i.e. the Tuna. If Bill Parcels thinks you are worth $6 million a year, he obviously thinks that you will be a major contributor to the team.

Best of luck to Jake in the upcoming season!

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