
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 9, 1995                   TAG: 9511090045
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

RECRUIT MAY BE MOVING

Virginia Tech, which struck gold once in its decision to shift a high school recruit to outside linebacker, thinks it has discovered another candidate for such a move in Jamie Forrest.

Forrest, from Jefferson Forest High School, has become the eighth football player to inform the Hokies of his intention to sign a letter of intent with them in February.

``I was talking to [Tech assistant] Rickey Bustle,'' said Bob Christmas, the Jefferson Forest coach, ``and he said they think they're going to use Jamie at Brandon Semones' position, weak-side outside linebacker.''

Semones was an All-Group A running back at Glenvar. Forrest, who plays fullback and halfback in the Cavaliers' wishbone formation, has carried 73 times for 578 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also has scored on a pair of two-point conversions.

Forrest (6 feet 1, 195 pounds) plays middle linebacker on defense for Jefferson Forest (6-3) and has a total of 88 tackles, including 42 first hits. He has been credited with 12 tackles for losses and has caused one fumble.

``The thing that's most impressive about him is that he has 1,150 on the [Scholastic Assessment Test] and has a 4.0 grade-[point] average,'' said Christmas, who coached current Tech tight end Bryan Jennings at Jefferson Forest.

Forrest is the first player to commit during the season to Tech, which had seven commitments by the first week of September. Four of the commitments are from in-state prospects.

by CNB