Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``I've never had a player develop as much between his junior and senior year,'' said Joel Hicks, the Cougars' coach. ``I think Boston College got a steal.''
Coach Mark Lineburg from Brookville High School in Lynchburg had similar news for Virginia Tech after the Hokies received a commitment from All-Seminole District linebacker Chris Cyrus.
Also saying yes to the Hokies was Nathaniel Williams, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive tackle from Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Fla. Williams, who had 70 solo tackles and 20 assists in 41/2 games, visited Cincinnati and Georgia Southern and canceled a trip to Central Florida.
In other recruiting, two sources confirmed that All-America lineman Johnny Shivers has committed to Virginia for a second time and will go public with his decision later in the week.
In Williams, Tech added a player who was highly regarded as a junior but missed five games this season after he was unable to gain a waiver to play for University Christian School, to which he had planned to transfer.
``Nathan is a true blue-chipper,'' said Dwayne Mitchell, Jackson's coach. ``He was among the super 25 [prospects], but that was last year. This year, he got caught up in a private-vs.-public thing.''
Cyrus, who had visited James Madison and Liberty, committed to Tech on his visit during the weekend. He led Brookville in tackles in each of the past two seasons, with well over 100 as a senior, Lineburg said.
``I never could figure out why he wasn't more heavily recruited,'' Lineburg said. ``He's better than any player we've had since I've been here. He's got the best work ethic by far.''
Cyrus, rated one of the Second 25 prospects in Virginia by the Roanoke Times & World-News, is close to 6-3 and 235 pounds and could grow into the 6-4, 250-pound range, Lineburg said. Cyrus and Williams give Tech six commitments.
Davis, also a Second 25 pick, gives Boston College an unprecedented seven commitments from Virginia. He was recruited by Eagles' assistant John McGregor, who coached against Pulaski County while at William Fleming High School in the early 1980s.
Davis (5-10, 175) started on offense and defense for the Cougars and led the Roanoke Valley District in scoring with 19 touchdowns. He led Pulaski County in rushing with 832 yards on 107 carries.
``You want a running back, you've got one,'' Hicks said. ``You want a wide receiver, you've got one. You want a defensive back, you've got one. You want a kick-returner or a special-teams player, you've got one.
``They're going to start him out in the secondary, but, really, he can play all over.''
by CNB