Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 23, 1992 TAG: 9201230192
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
SALEM DEFENSIVE PILLAR COMMITS TO VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech's latest football recruit finished his high school career as something akin to a player-coach.Salem High School linebacker Shaine Miles, who on Wednesday orally committed to attend Tech, was Spartans coach Willis White's defensive captain. The title was more than honorary.
"My defensive captain, we try to verse [him] on the game plan," White said. "He has to have a vision of what I want. During timeouts, I talk to them: `In practice, we did so-and-so. What do you think about that?' I trusted Shaine."
Miles didn't disappoint. He was in on 111 tackles, had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries and was named the state's Group AA defensive player of the year in voting by coaches. He helped Salem reach the Group AA championship game, which they lost to Spotsylvania to finish 13-1.
He picked Tech over Wake Forest.
"Wake was a real fine school. I liked it down there and felt comfortable," Miles said, adding that two things swayed him toward Tech. "[Defensive coordinator Mike] Clark, I like him a lot. And, staying in the eye of the people in this area."
He said the schools' respective conference affiliations didn't play a huge part in his decision, but did say he thought "top to bottom" the Big East was stronger than the ACC.
Miles, recruited by Tech quarterbacks coach Rickey Bustle, said he expects to be redshirted as a freshman. He said Tech has told him he'll be an inside linebacker with an outside chance of being tried at fullback.
Miles listed his knowledge of the game, film-watching habits and play against the run as his strengths. He said he needs to work on his pass coverage. White said he thinks Miles will grow from the 6-foot-1 1/2, 215-pounder he is now to around 230 or more pounds - and that, White said, gives him ideal size for the job.
"He's not the fastest guy in the world, but he's got great reaction," White said. "With his aggressiveness, that makes him an attacker.
"He's a coach's player. He doesn't complain, works hard, is always fair."
White, who said Miles has hung around the Salem program since he was in fourth grade, said he thinks Miles could play as a Tech freshman if the Hokies' coaching staff needs him.
"He understands as well as a player can what a coach wants," White said. "He watches more film than most players."
Miles also watched the Hokies several times this year, and doesn't agree with those who point to Tech's losing record as a sign the program stumbled after two straight winning seasons. The bruising schedule impressed him, as did Tech's play except for the Virginia game, a 38-0 UVa blowout.
"The schedule's going to be so much easier next year," he said. "Tech always plays tough teams real tough and the breaks don't go their way."
Before even enrolling at Tech, Miles offered Hokie faithful a prediction to remember.
"I firmly believe Virginia Tech can beat Miami one of the four or five years I'm there," he said.
Miles is Tech's 11th known oral commitment and second from Timesland, joining Radford running back Tommy Edwards.
The Hokies also received an oral commitment from defensive back Torrian Gray of Lakeland, Fla.
Gray, 6 feet and 170 pounds, had four interceptions for Kathleen High School. He was selected first-team All-Polk County and honorable mention all-state in the 4A division. Gray said he has been clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Gray, also recruited by Bustle, said Kansas and Florida A&M showed interest, but he visited only Tech.
\ In other football recruiting:
Todd White, an all-state defensive lineman from Baton Rouge, La., has made an oral commitment to Virginia.
White, a 6-2, 240-pounder, had 12 quarterback sacks among his 90 tackles as a senior at Catholic High School.
White, a competitive power-lifter, picked the Cavaliers over Tulane, Rice, SMU and Northwestern. He was recruited by UVa assistant Mike Archer, formerly the head coach at Louisiana State.
Sportswriter Doug Doughty also contributed information for this story.