ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 24, 1997 TAG: 9704240035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
The NFL didn't forget Virginia Tech after all.
Within days after four Hokies were selected in the NFL draft, eight of their teammates have reached terms with teams that will bring them to camp as free agents.
The free agents include much of the protection for quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, chosen in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers. Center Bill Conaty is headed to Buffalo, tackle Jay Hagood to the New York Jets, tackle T.J. Washington to Dallas, tight end Bryan Jennings to Houston and fullback Brian Edmonds to Seattle.
Also agreeing to terms were wide receiver Cornelius White with Tampa Bay, and defensive tackle Waverly Jackson and linebacker Myron Newsome with Carolina. Newsome, listed at 5 feet 9, won't feel self-conscious in the company of the Panthers' 5-9 All-Pro linebacker, Sam Mills.
Of the 15 Tech seniors, the three who remain unclaimed were all contributors - second-team All-Big East linebacker Brandon Semones, backup tight end Shaine Miles and his special-teams colleague, deep snapper Tim Wade.
Drafted players from Tech, in addition to Druckenmiller, were defensive backs Torrian Gray and Antonio Banks, both selected by Minnesota, and defensive end Cornell Brown by Baltimore.
``I wouldn't say [the free-agent spree] was amazing because we thought a few more of our players might be drafted,'' said John Ballein, assistant to head coach Frank Beamer. ``Billy Conaty and Bryan Jennings were two who were really sought-after.
``As a matter of fact, several players received above-average signing bonuses. It was very competitive. Some of the players will have to leave [today] for mini-camps and some of the teams put an offer on the table and said, `Take it now or lose it.'''
MARIUCCI ON `DRUCK': San Francisco's decision to select Druckenmiller came only three days after 49ers president Carmen Policy said he wouldn't take any of the top three quarterbacks, which apparently applied to Jake Plummer and Pat Barnes but not Druckenmiller.
``We didn't think he would be there at No.26,'' 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. ``It was good news when he was sitting there. He was the highest player left on our draft board and it allowed us to keep with the 49ers' policy of taking the best available player.
``His arm reminds me of Brett Favre's arm. He has a cannon all over the field. The other two quarterbacks may have very good mobility, but Druckenmiller is so strong that when he is hit, he can rip a guy off and escape. I'm a firm believer that the quarterback has to be a tough guy.''
PRIZE WALK-ON: One of Tech's walk-on candidates for next fall is Jason Martinelli, a 6-5, 240-pound defensive lineman from Milford (Conn.) Academy who signed with Clemson in 1996 but did not play for the Tigers.
Martinelli, 21, was named to the SuperPrep All-America team after his senior year at Milford, where he had 150 tackles, 12 sacks and six caused fumbles as an outside linebacker. Milford is the alma mater of Conaty and current Tech offensive guard Gennaro Dinapoli.
QUICK HEALER: All-ACC quarterback Chris Keldorf, who suffered a fractured ankle in North Carolina's final regular-season game, received doctors' clearance for full contact with three days remaining in spring practice and started in the Tar Heels' annual blue-white scrimmage.
RECRUITING: VMI's first basketball signee of the spring is 6-7, 215-pound Nick Richardson, who averaged 13.1 points and five rebounds this year at Charlotte (N.C.) Christian School, coached by ex-North Carolina and Philadelphia 76ers standout Bobby Jones.
The Keydets' lone fall signee was 6-5 Aaron Trombley from Fork Union Military Academy. Trombley has been on VMI's recruiting list since last year, when he was a senior at East Anchorage (Ala.) High School, alma mater of Duke guard Trajan Langdon.
Elena Kravchenko, a 6-10 exchange student from Belarus, said she has signed a letter-of-intent with the Virginia women's basketball team. Kravchenko averaged 9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.9 blocked shots this year at Plymouth (Pa.) Whitemarsh High School.
HALL OF FAMER: Former Roanoker Grover ``Tom'' Martin was inducted into the William and Mary Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday. Martin, a retired FBI agent living in Radford, almost lost a leg in the Korean War but returned to have an outstanding career in football and baseball.
Martin played tackle, guard, blocking back, linebacker and kicker for the Tribe's football team and was co-captain of the ``Iron Indians'' in 1953. He played first base and outfield for William and Mary's baseball team and led the Tribe in batting in 1954.
NON-REVENUE: VMI won the Southern Conference title in men's outdoor track and field for the ninth time under Mike Bozeman, who was named conference coach of the year for the eighth time. The championship followed a fifth-place finish in the Southern Conference indoor meet.
VMI athletes had 21 season's best performances despite conditions in Boone, N.C., that delayed the start of the meet for four hours because of snow and a sub-freezing wind chill. The Keydets had at least one finisher in the top three in 14 events.
Virginia, regular-season and tournament champions in ACC men's lacrosse, swept the postseason awards. Four-time All-ACC selection Michael Watson was named player of the year, faceoff specialist Jason Hard was rookie of the year and Dom Starsia was coach of the year.
LENGTH: Medium: 97 linesby CNB