THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997 TAG: 9702060639
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 93 lines
Virginia Tech had to combat its off-the-field problems in recruiting, and seemed to do so effectively with the signing of 26 players on the first day football prospects could sign letters-of-intent Wednesday.
Included in that crop are six of The Roanoke Times' top 25 prospects in Virginia. The Hokies got a late addition from that list with the signing of George Washington-Danville's 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive lineman Tyrone Robertson, the third-highest rated player in the state.
``Without question you could say he's a great potential prospect,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``I think when it's all said and done this will be a really good recruiting class for Virginia Tech.''
Other members of the state's top 25 bound for Blacksburg include defensive end Chad Beasley from Gate City, tight end James Lomax from Evington, running back Camm Jackson from Madison Heights, defensive back Larry Austin from Norfolk's Norview High and lineman David Pugh from Madison Heights.
``Linemen, that was a concern and we helped ourselves there,'' Beamer said. ``And speed at the wide receiver position, I think we've helped ourselves there. For our football team to continue in a good direction, getting more speed at wide receiver position and the corner position was a must, and we've done that.''
Beamer said tight end was another need, and that someone among the four the Hokies recruited will have a chance to play this fall.
Beamer said Wednesday the Hokies took a beating from some rival recruiters on their record the past two seasons. On the field, that record's been a sparkling 20-4. But Tech's also developed a different kind of record, with 22 arrests involving 19 current or former Hokies since November of 1995.
James Boyd of Indian River and Darryl Smith of Hampton, two of the best players in the state, said the off-the-field problems steered them away from Virginia Tech. Boyd chose Penn State and Smith picked Virginia.
``I think it probably was a factor with some kids, but the people who took time to get to know the coaches and players here at Virginia Tech it shouldn't have been,'' Beamer said.
Beamer said Tech coaches addressed the problems with recruits, admitting there were problems while contending some of them were blown out of proportion. He said recruits and their parents were assured players bringing discredit to Tech's programs would not remain with the Hokies.
The trend in Virginia this year was to not remain in state. Seven of the top eight players on the Roanoke list signed with colleges outside state borders. Virginia ended up with eight of the top 25.
``A lot of those kids are kind of down at other end of the state,'' Beamer said. ``Sometimes there isn't a lot of loyalty to the state of Virginia. Their parents maybe didn't grow up in Virginia when you get down to eastern end of state or northern part of the state.''
One noticeable absence from Tech's signing list was a quarterback. Beamer said Al Clark, a rising junior, will be the quarterback this fall and rising sophomores Dave Meyer and Nick Sorensen will serve as backups.
``To me this recruiting is the first quarter, we're opening up and playing the first quarter,'' Beamer said. ``What I'm interested in is how we'll be with these kids in the fourth quarter, which is how they develop and how they do in school.'' ILLUSTRATION: VA. TECH SIGNEES
Players to sign letters-of-intent with Virginia Tech Wednesday:
Larry Austin, 5-10, 190 db, Norfolk
Chad Beasley, 6-4, 235 de, Gate City
Barney Bowman, 6-2, 225 de, Berwick, Pa.
Derek Carter, 6-3, 255 te/dl, Smithfield (Fork Union Military
Academy)
Ron Cook, 6-3, 225 lb, Montclair, N.J.
Andre Davis, 6-1, 180 wr, Niskayuna, N.Y.
Jim Ferugio, 6-2, 222 lb/te, St. Clair, Pa.
Ricky Hall, 6-4, 210 wr, Richmond (Butler County, Kan., Community
College)
Camm Jackson, 5-11, 215 rb, Madison Heights
Dave Kadela, 6-7, 247 ol, Dublin, Ohio (Fork Union Military
Academy)
Matt Lehr, 6-3, 260 ol, Woodbridge
James Lomax, 6-4, 250 te, Evington
Derrius Monroe, 6-5, 252 dl, Tallahassee, Fla.
Butch Patrick, 5-8, 160, wr/rb, Newark, Del. (Hargrave Military
Academy)
Derek Piniella, 6-2, 220 lb, Tampa, Fla.
Adrian Pressey 6-0, 190, wr, Wilmington, Del. (Hargrave Military
Academy)
David Pugh, 6-3, 265 ol/dl, Madison Heights
Tyrone Robertson, 6-5, 280 dl, Danville
Reggie Samuel, 6-1, 180, db, Rutherglen
Tim Selmon, 6-5, 235 de, Trenton, N.J. (Peddie prep school)
Bob Slowikowski, 6-5, 230 te, Pittsburgh
Ben Taylor, 6-3, 200 wr-db, Bellaire, Ohio
Wayne Ward, 5-11, 190 rb, Tampa, Fla.
Brian Welch, 6-1, 215 lb, Fairfax
Dan Wilkinson, 6-2, 225 de, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Matt Wincek, 6-5, 270 ol, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.