Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 22, 1993 TAG: 9312220112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Hokies also returned to familiar recruiting territory to get commitments from linemen Anthony Kapp and Gennaro DiNapoli of Milford (Conn.) Academy, alma mater of current Hokies Bill Conaty and Cody Whipple.
Kapp, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle, and DiNapoli, a 6-5, 263-pound tight end, will enroll at Tech for the second semester and count against the Hokies' 1993 recruiting allotment.
Kapp, originally from Toms River, N.J., visited Maryland and was scheduled to look at Tulane and Temple. DiNapoli, from Cazenovia, N.Y., canceled trips to West Virginia, Clemson, South Carolina and Tulane.
"It helps that [the Hokies] are going to a bowl game, but the biggest thing was the coaching staff," said coach Mark Bevino, who said Tech offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle has primary responsibility for recruiting at Milford.
Few kickers have received grants with the reduction in Division I-A scholarships from 95 to 85, but Thomas had offers of full rides to Tech, Rutgers and Kentucky.
Thomas punted for a 40-yard average and made four of seven field-goal attempts, with a long three-pointer of 46 yards, and converted 30 of 32 extra-point tries.
"He also had a streak of 10 or 11 kickoffs that were not returned," said Bill McGregor, his coach. "I had to break the streak so that we could work on our kick coverage."
McGregor said Thomas compares favorably with former DeMatha standout David DeArmas, rated the No. 1 high school kicker in the country by USA Today in 1990. DeArmas now kicks for Connecticut.
"He's every bit as good," McGregor said. "I think [Thomas] is an incredible high school kicker, given the fact that he was our quarterback [passing for 1,500 yards] and never got to work on his kicking during practice."
by CNB