Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 17, 1994 TAG: 9404170134
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Well, never mind that. The second-year player from Glenvar High School performed well enough at whip (aka outside linebacker) during drills to earn a start in Tech's spring game Saturday night at Salem Stadium.
Will the former prolific running back at Glenvar be lashing opponents come September? He's competing against highly recruited redshirt freshman Korey Irby, but consider that Semones had spent only a few days at the position and earned a first-team berth in Saturday's game.
"He's just been impressive," said Bud Foster, the Tech linebackers coach.
Semones, who was a backup rover and special-teams player last year, fields questions about his flash at his new position with a somewhat self-conscious grin. The spring game was only his second game-situation outing at whip, but he didn't psyche himself out.
"Tonight I was more focused on trying not to make mental errors. I made a lot Thursday [in a controlled scrimmage]," said the 6-foot, 195-pounder. "I don't think I made any tonight."
He had four tackles and a sack as his White team (first-team defense, second-team offense) beat the Maroon (first offense, second defense) 21-12 to finish what Tech coach Frank Beamer called "the best spring practice I've ever been associated with."
That should soothe any fans worried that Tech's 9-3 1993 season, ending with a 45-20 blowout of Indiana in the Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl, would make for a satisfied, lethargic 1994 team.
"Generally during spring, you're having to invent ways to have good practices. A couple [times] you call it off because you're not getting done what you want to get done," Beamer said. "We didn't have any of that.
"The way we practiced is a good indication that we want more. We're not satisfied."
The defense, which went from erratic to solid by the end of '93, finished its spring by holding Maurice DeShazo, Antonio Freeman, Dwayne Thomas and company to two field goals (the Maroon's other score was a 43-yard fumble return by Ben Scott).
In one stretch of the first half, the Maroon offense, under Maroon head coach and new offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill, had two consecutive possessions inside the 5-yard line and came away with three points.
Defensive end Lawrence Lewis tackled DeShazo on an option keeper on fourth-and-goal at the 5-yard line on one possession; on the next, DeShazo's pass on third down from the 4 was knocked down at the line of scrimmage.
DeShazo said the defense, on a scale of 1-to-10, was a nine.
"We didn't restrict our defense in any way," Beamer said. "The defense will have the advantage.
"We've got to come along and execute a little better offensively."
Free safety Antonio Banks, the defensive MVP of the Independence Bowl, had three interceptions and was named the defensive player of the game. Tailback Tommy Edwards, who ran for 130 yards and a touchdown for the White team, was the outstanding offensive player.
Other eye-openers included redshirt freshman receiver Shawn Scales' 81-yard catch-and-run touchdown from Jim Druckenmiller, and tailback Ken Landrum's 30-yard touchdown run.
At halftime, tailback Ranall White and starting linebacker Ken Brown were given the Frank Moseley award as top spring hustlers. Split end Michael Williams and defensive end Hank Coleman were named the spring's most improved players.
Semones wasn't far behind, having been switched to whip from rover after he missed the first couple weeks of spring practice with a hamstring pull.
Foster described whip as a cross between a defensive back and a linebacker, requiring "the coverage skills of a defensive back, but [with the] toughness and ability to attack."
That last part is what makes Semones smile. He could do without the heavier pass-coverage responsibilities at rover.
"I like the pass rush," he said. "I feel like I'm probably a better run player than a pass-cover man."
Foster said he likes Semones' aggressiveness. He certainly wasn't a shy runner at Glenvar, accounting for more than 5,000 yards and scoring 85 touchdowns.
He also had 410 tackles as a defensive back, and he was Timesland's defensive player of the year as a senior.
But a whip? Even Semones can't quite get used to it, yet.
"It still hasn't hit me that I'm actually in a position to start next year," he said, grinning, of course.
by CNB