ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604250033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DAVID PUGH, an Amherst County lineman, makes the earliest commitment the Hokies have received.
David Pugh, a junior at Amherst County High School, has been hearing since February that Virginia Tech would offer him a football scholarship.
This past weekend, the Hokies finally got to tell him in person.
Pugh, named second-team All-Group AA by the media and coaches, said Tuesday that he has made an oral commitment to Tech.
It is the earliest a player has publicly committed to the Hokies in football.
``I've always liked 'em because I'm from here,'' said Pugh, referring to his in-state status. ``This year, they really distinguished themselves and proved they're one of the top programs in the country.''
Pugh, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound offensive and defensive tackle, has spent three years on the varsity squad at Amherst County and has been a starter for two years on teams that have gone 25-3 and been to a pair of Group AA Division 4 championship games.
The Lancers won the Division 4 title this past season.
``He has amazing speed for someone his size,'' Amherst County coach Mickey Crouch said. ``He got letters from every major university in the country - Oklahoma, Nebraska, Notre Dame, you name 'em.''
Crouch said Pugh has been timed in 4.7 seconds for 40 yards and can lift 305 pounds in the bench press and 425 in the squat.
``I think they're looking at him as a center,'' Crouch said.
Pugh has a 3.3 grade-point average and already has met NCAA requirements on the Scholastic Assessment Test, Crouch said.
``Academics were important to him,'' Crouch said. ``He's interested in forestry or veterinary science and our team doctor said Tech has two of the best departments in those areas.''
The Hokies were prohibited by NCAA rules from calling Pugh until Aug.15 after his junior year; so, they had to wait until he was on campus Saturday for Tech's spring game in order to make an offer in person.
Pugh, rated the No.22 junior in Virginia by The Roanoke Times, is one of nearly half a dozen Division I prospects in Amherst County's junior class. Crouch said Camm Jackson, a first-team All-Group AA linebacker, also wants to go to Tech.
Amherst County senior Maurice Clark took a visit to Tech this past winter, but probably will spend the 1996-97 school year at Hargrave Military Academy. Clark also made first-team all-state.
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