Former Virginia Tech quarterback and 2004 ACC Offensive Player of the Year Bryan Randall is close to signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the “deal” at this point includes nothing more than a plane ticket, a hotel room and an invitation to training camp.

“There’s just a couple of things to work out but, hopefully, it can get done as soon as (Thursday),” Randall told the Free Press on Wednesday. “For me, the sooner the better. All I want to do is get back on the field and play. I love playing football and I’m really at a point in time right now where I just can’t wait to get back out there and play again.”

Randall expects to be at the Bombers’ rookie camp which opens on May 28 and will be competing with incumbent starter Kevin Glenn, backup Ryan Dinwiddie and South Carolina State rookie Cleve McCoy. Rookies report May 28 and will have five days before regular camp opens on June 1. If he makes the team, he’ll join former Hokies Ike Charlton, who has played in parts of the last three seasons with the Bombers.

For more on Randall’s possible future with Winnipeg, read the Free Press article.

Brian Galliford of BuffaloRumblings.com, a popular fan blog covering the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, interviewed Gary Cope, Managing Editor of VTHokieFans.com, about the Bill’s third-round pick Chris Ellis. Ellis was a standout defensive end for the Virginia Tech Hokies. Known for his pass rushing prowess, Ellis will be expected to step in immediately and help out one of the NFL’s worst pass-rushing teams.

Read the complete interview at BuffaloRumblings.com.

(Updated 4/30/2008)

The 2008 NFL draft saw eight Hokies drafted and several left waiting at the altar. Two Hokies didn’t have to wait long. Just minutes after the draft was over, Safety D.J. Parker got a call from the San Francisco 49ers and quickly signed a free-agent deal. Linebacker Vince Hall was contacted and signed by the St. Louis Rams. Barry Booker, Josh Hyman and Korey Robertson had to wait until Monday. Booker got a call from the Tennessee Titan; Hyman will join teammate Hall with the Rams; and Robertson signed with the Dolphins. (Thanks for keeping my posted guys!)

• Read more about Hall and Parker.
• Read more about Booker.
• Read more about Hyman and Robertson.

Five more Hokies got phone calls today letting them know they’d be drafted on the second and final day of the 2008 NFL Draft. Three others never got that call and will now sit back and wait for the phone to ring with an invite to a training camp on the other end.

On Day One, OT Duane Brown was selected by Houston with the No. 26 overall pick; CB Brandon Flowers went to Kansas City with the 4th pick in the 2nd round (36th overall); and WR Eddie Royal will be moving to Denver to play for the Broncos after they selected him with the 11th pick in the 2nd round (42nd overall).

On Day Two, Chris Ellis was the first Hokie to come off the draft boards when the Buffalo Bills used their third round pick (9th) to select the DE (72nd overall).

From ESPN: “Teams are going to have success running at Ellis — he’s undersized and doesn’t have great lower-body strength. In fact, he may never develop into an every-down player. But there’s a lot to like about his potential as a situational pass-rusher. He’s quick, relentless and has the foot speed to develop an arsenal of pass-rush moves.”

From Rivals: “There were times when folks thought Ellis could go as high as the first round. He fits well for the Bills, who like to shift around their pass rushers. Ellis can be used as a DE/OLB, but is best with his hand on the ground.”

Xavier Adibi was the next Hokie to get drafted. He will be joining former teammate Duane Brown in Houston next season after the Texans chose the standout LB with the 19th pick in the 4th round (118th overall).

From ESPN: “Adibi will struggle in run support, but he is a good value here. He has good sideline-to-sideline speed and can run with backs in coverage.”

From Rivals: “Adibi is a highly athletic linebacker that gives the Texans what they looked for in past years when they signed guys like Shawn Barber - a coverage linebacker that can also be used as a blitzer on nickel downs.”

DL Carlton Powell went in the 5th round to the Broncos with the 13th pick (148th overall). Powell will also join a former Hokie teammate, Eddie Royal, in training camp.

From ESPN: “Powell lacks the closing speed to develop into an effective pass-rusher. He misses the occasional open-field tackle, but plays with good leverage and has the upper-body strength to shed blocks. He is a better run-stopper than his size would suggest.”

From Rivals: “Powell is a solid fit for their one-gap scheme. He runs well for his size and can also bench press more than 450 pounds. He has a great motor and is known for being a hustle guy.”

Josh Morgan is heading to the San Francisco 49ers after they selected him with their 6th-round pick (8th, 175th overall). The question is, who will throw him the ball in San Fran?

From ESPN: “Morgan isn’t much of a threat after the catch and he takes far too many plays off. On the other hand, he has good quickness and changes directions well for his size, so he can get open underneath. He can also contribute on special teams.”

From Rivals: “Morgan is a well-built receiver with good poential on special teams. He runs well for his size and also had a 40.5-inch vertical leap.”

Last, but certainly not least, Justin Harper will be staying a little closer to home to play for the Baltimore Ravens, who selected the WR in the 7th round (8th, 215th overall). Just like with Morgan, the question is, who will throw Harper the ball in Baltimore?

From ESPN: “He doesn’t have the burst to consistently separate from man coverage and he drops some passes that should be routine catches. However, he has the wide frame to shield defenders from the ball. He also has excellent leaping ability, making him a candidate to develop into a productive red zone target.”

From Rivals: “Harper has excellent size and speed, but he was inconsistent during his college career. He was worth a gamble this late in the draft.”

Undrafted Free Agents

D.J. Parker, Vince Hall and Barry Booker are all waiting to get an invitation to an NFL camp as undrafted free agents. Hall was probably the most noticeable undrafted Hokies, though his relatively slow 40 time and his injury-plagued senior season did not help. If he gets an invite to a camp, I believe he can make an impact and get on a roster somewhere. His football IQ and his instincts are not easy to find.

Parker should also get a call or two and I think if he can find the right team (more like can they find him), he’ll have a shot at being a solid pro in this league for years to come.

Booker should get an invite as well, but according to the scouting reports, he needs to put on about 15 pounds and add strength to his upper body. He has upside, but will be a project.

Last year, the Houston Texans went out and brought in highly touted, albeit unproven, quarterback Matt Schaub to lead the offense. He played well last season, but got dinged up because of a shaky offensive line. Houston took steps to correct that problem today when they surprised everyone and selected former Virginia Tech OL Duane Brown with the No. 26 overall pick in the first round. The 6-4, 315-pound converted TE has the ability to play either tackle position, which will provide OL depth for the Texans. The pick came as a surprise because Brown was graded by many mock drafts as a third-round selection.

From ESPN: “Houston clearly placed an emphasis on need over value. Brown is a reach because he’s not a great drive-blocker and he can get pushed into the backfield by bull rushes. On the flip side, he’s a former tight end who has the quick feet, athletic ability and initial burst to develop into an outstanding pass-blocker and an effective starter on the left side. It’s also worth pointing out that he was the best tackle left on the board (seventh rated overall).”

From Rivals: “The Texans made a good trade back at first, but the worst case scenarios occurred over the last eight picks. Many of the guys they would have wanted came off the board. Brown is an athletic left tackle, but a guy most graded as a third-round pick.”

Second Round

The Kansas City Chiefs may have found an heir apparent for Ty Law in former Hokie Brandon Flowers. The Chiefs selected the hard-hitting All-American corner with the 4th pick in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

From ESPN: “Flowers doesn’t have elite size or top-end speed. Occasionally, he gets caught out of position trying to make a big play. However, he plays far bigger than his size indicates and faster than his 40 time suggest. He opens his hips very well and has the upper-body strength to deliver a violent punch. There’s also a lot to like about his willingness to play the run.”

From Rivals: “Flowers was the most physical corner available in this draft. He has the inside track to replace Ty Law in the starting lineup as a rookie. He has a high level of development as a cover man, which indicates he can play the nickel corner role almost immediately. He could develop into an early starting NFL corner with shutdown talent.”

Seven picks later, the Denver Broncos got some receiver help for QB Jay Cutler in Eddie Royal, who went a little earlier in the draft than I thought he’d go. He’s undersized, even for a college WR, but his prowess as a return man is probably what appealed to the Broncos.

From ESPN: “Royal has had some problems staying healthy, and the fact that he doesn’t have great size only accentuates concerns about his durability. He has to improve his route-running, but he has the quickness and athletic ability to separate from coverage once that happens. He’s fast enough to stretch the field and make an impact as a punt returner.”

From Rivals: “Royal was pound-for-pound one of the fastest and strongest receivers available in the draft. He also gives the Broncos the added option of using him as their primary return man.”

Hokies hoping to be selected on Day Two of the 2008 NFL Draft:

Xavier Adibi
Barry Booker
Chris Ellis
Vince Hall
Justin Harper
Josh Morgan
D.J. Parker
Carlton Powell

This is an annual event that will take place the last weekend in April. All proceeds will go to the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc., as the “Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund” closed December 2007. More than likely the funds will be placed in the “Hokie Spirit Scholarship Fund.”

Event Info:
Saturday, April 26, 2008
2nd Annual Hokie Spirit Memorial Motorcycle Ride
Registration begins at 9 a.m.
Ride leaves at 11 a.m.
Meet at First Baptist Church, 515 3rd St., Roanoke, VA
Ride to Virginia Tech
Riders $10.00 - Passengers $5.00
Visit www.firstroanoke.com for directions.
For more information, call Charles Teske at (540) 818-3625.

Following Virginia Tech’s annual Maroon vs. White spring football game on Saturday, members of the media asked head coach Frank Beamer about the option of redshirting sophomore QB Tyrod Taylor if redshirt senior Sean Glennon won the QB battler outright. Beamer’s response surprised more than a few people - he didn’t rule it out - though he did say that the competition would remain open throughout fall practice.

I have made my case for Tyrod Taylor being the starter this season, but I’m having second thoughts. Not because I do not think that he is the best quarterback for this team; but because the team, as it stands right now, might not be the best fit for his game, and redshirting him this season would give us two full seasons with him as the uncontested QB. Throw him in there this season and he could very likely be running for his life on every play, which would increase the likelihood of injury.

The offensive line, while massive, is untested and suspect. The running game is in complete disarray with our top two RBs out with injuries and the next three guys, while talented, have no meaningful game experience. In fact, Dustin Pickle, the redshirt senior, is the only one of the three that has run the ball in an actual game, though all of his game experience came in garbage time. He only got one carry in the spring game. The other two, Josh Oglesby and Darren Evans, both redshirted last year. Even when Jahre Cheeseman and Kenny Lewis come back, there is no guarantee that the offensive line will be able to open up the holes necessary to establish an effective ground game.

Then there is the receiving corps, which is completely new. Our top guy right now isn’t even on scholarship. Brandon Dillard is a redshirt junior out of Martinsville and he’s all of 5-11, 180 pounds. He’s one of the fastest guys on the team and looked alright in the spring game, but he also lacks game experience and his lack of height will hurt him in jump ball situations. Then there are Ike Whitaker and Cory Holt, both converted QBs who haven’t seem much action as receivers. Certainly there is talent and potential at the receiver spot, but again, it is untested and there will be growing pains.

Glennon looked good in the spring game and tossed a pair of nice touchdown passes. He showed poise and maturity and looked every bit of the solid QB he proved he could be in the last year’s impressive 27-3 win over Georgia Tech. His issues is inconsistency and that is where I have concerns about making him the full time starter. Who would back him up if he struggles? Right now, Jeff Beyer, a 6-4, 221-pound redshirt junior is listed as the only other QB on the roster. I sincerely doubt they’d moved Ike or Cory back to QB after playing them at receiver all spring, though they could step in should the need arise, a la Nick Sorenson, but that’s a worst-case scenario.

If the Hokies are to redshirt Taylor this season - which is making more and more sense to me - they would need to ride any inconsistencies on Glennon’s part for the entire season. I would think that if Glennon - God forbid - got hurt within the first three games, you could bring Taylor out and burn the redshirt. However, if Glennon remains healthy, you keep Taylor on the bench and give the RBs, OL and WRs a year to mature and adjust to the system. That also gives Tyrod another two years with the incoming, talent-laden ‘08-’09 recruits.

The 2008 NFL Draft is this weekend and one of 11 Hokies hoping to be drafted is safety D.J. Parker. Parker is considered a “sleeper” by the DraftGuys and predict that if he develops the way they believe he will, that he’ll be a solid starting safety in the NFL for years to come.

Sean Glennon (r-sr.) seemed to take the edge in the quarterback battle following Saturday’s annual Maroon vs. White spring game at Lane Stadium. Glennon led White to a 24-3 win over Tyrod Taylor’s Marron squad by completing 9 of 15 passes for 120 yards and tossing a pair of touchdown passes - one to Brandon Dillard on a triple pump fake, and the other to former QB Ike Whitaker, who laid out in the corner of the endzone to make a spectacular catch.

Sophomore Tyrod Taylor wasn’t as impressive and struggled at times to find wide open receivers down field. He completed 11 of 19 passes for just 67 yards and one interception that was returned 55-yards by Kam Chancellor. He did have a touchdown pass called back because of a holding penalty. He didn’t get much protection from his offensive line and was sacked three times, including an unblocked corner blitz by Macho Harris. Taylor showed some elusiveness, but otherwise his performance was uninspiring.

Frank Beamer said after the game that the quarterback battle would continue through the fall, but when asked about the possibility of redshirting Tyrod this season if Glennon wins the QB battle outright, Beamer did not rule it out.

The Lynchburg News & Advance quoted Beamer as saying, “We’ll evaluate it. That will continue. The good thing about us is we’ve got two really good quarterbacks.”

The backfield battle is no closer to being settled. Redshirt freshmen Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby both turned in respectable games. Evans scored the game’s first touchdown when he pounded in a 1-yard TD run to give White a 7-0 lead. Evans finished with nine carriers for 24 yards and two catches. Oglesby rushed for 40 yards on seven carriers. Dustin Pickle (r-sr.) was listed as the No. 1 RB, but only got one carry for four yards. While he didn’t get many snaps, his leadership and work ethic earned him the honor of being a co-captain for White.

Without seeing Kenny Lewis or Jahre Cheeseman in the spring game and knowing that they’ll both likely be back for the season opener, or in Lewis’ case, possibly the Furman game, it’s tough to get a sense of who will be the guy come the ECU game in Charlotte on Aug. 30. The good news is, Oglesby and Evans looked serviceable.

The special teams came up with a blocked punt by Prince Parker that was recovered by Nekos Brown; and Macho Harris returned a missed field goal for 36 yards, using a pretty spin move to gain an extra 10 yards or so. Macho clearly has emerged as the leader of the defensive unit.

The kicking game wasn’t anything to write home about, but it wasn’t horrible either. Kickers combined to make 2 of 3 field goal attempts with the lone miss coming on a 52-yard attempt in which the snap was bobbled by the holder. The result was the 36-yard return by Harris. Chris Hazley connected on a 42-yarder while Dustin Keys hit an 18-yarder.

Wrapping Up…

Macho Harris did not see any snaps on offense, which was a little disappointing. But, Dillard - a non-scholarship player - looked pretty good at receiver and certainly made his case to be among the top three receivers (and possibly earn a scholarship). Dillard caught a 25-yard TD pass and rushed for 49 yards on a reverse.

Tight end Greg Boone, who looks like an undersized offensive lineman, caught two passes for 27 yards and saw one snap as a fullback that saw him lose two yards. Boone was also named the offensive MVP for the spring practice session.

Read more recaps:

• Lynchburg News & Advance
• Roanoke Times
• Daily Press

You’ve probably heard the saying that it is considered a fashion faux pas to wear white after Labor Day, but the Virginia Tech Hokies are making an exception for their Sept. 6, 2008, home game against Furman.

The Hokies will hold their inaugural “White Out” for their home opener in an effort to promote reading throughout the Commonwealth. “White Out” t-shirts will go on sale for $6 each on Saturday, April 19 - the day of the annual Spring Game - at the University Bookstores. Proceeds from the sale of the “White Out” shirts will go to Herma’s Readers, a non-profit organization that promotes the power of reading and literacy to youngsters during their formative years, grades K-3. The organization was established in honor of Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer’s mother, Herma, who taught for more than 30 years in Virginia.

The football team will also sports special white uniforms that combine features of past uniforms. It will mark the first time that the Hokies have worn all-white uniforms at Lane Stadium. For more information about the uniforms, visit HokieSports.com.

Receiving Line
With Tyrod Taylor’s injury and the ongoing drama and injury-riddled backfield, the search to find serviceable replacements for the four departed wide receivers seems to have been lost in the shuffle. But, the Lynchburg News & Advance’s Nate Warters addressed the topic in much detail. Read more…