ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 21, 1996 TAG: 9612230149
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
An assurance that he would get a shot at running back was all Wayne Ward wanted to hear before he made an oral commitment to Virginia Tech.
Ward, who rushed for 1,660 yards and 20 touchdowns this season at Plant City (Fla.) High School, would not visit Miami after the Hurricanes made him an offer to play defensive back.
He visited Tech and Wake Forest and canceled trips to Clemson, South Carolina and Georgia Tech.
The Hokies have been high on Ward's list since offering him a scholarship in May.
``No matter how the season went, I didn't have to worry,'' said Ward, a 6-foot, 195-pounder. ``That meant a lot to me.''
Ward, whose home is 15 miles from Tampa, was named all-conference, all-district and all-area. He runs track in the spring and has run 100 meters in 10.6 seconds, with a 4.4 clocking for 40 yards.
``They said I would play some next year,'' said Ward, who was recruited by offensive coordinator Rick Bustle and was escorted by Loren Johnson last week on his visit.
As expected, the Hokies also received a commitment from 6-3, 255-pound Derek Carter, who played tight end at Fork Union Military Academy. Carter is a graduate of Smithfield High School, northwest of Portsmouth.
``He's a good blocker and receiver, but I would expect to see him as a defensive player,'' Fork Union coach John Shuman said. ``We wanted to play him on the defensive line, but he still needs to toughen up a little bit.''
The Hokies have 13 commitments with the addition of Ward and Carter, who was offered by North Carolina State.
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB