Another spring has come and gone with 30,000 or so Hokies visiting Lane Stadium to see the Maroon-White scrimmage. In particular, the Hokies that I spoke with were wondering two things: (1) just how good is Marcus Vick? and (2) just how good is DeAngelo Hall at receiver?

The short answer, as the VT coaches have indicated publicly, is very good. Although both questions certainly are important, there are still a lot of other questions that won�t be resolved until the fall. What follows is one take on the players that stepped up this spring, and other players that haven�t received much hype in the spring but may be essential for the Hokies to have the banner season many are expecting.

Emerging Player: Marcus Vick. Marcus has a very nice pocket presence, a quick release and very good arm strength. You can see why everyone associated with the program has been effusive with their phrase. With that being said, Bryan Randall also greatly improved this spring and his experience gives him the edge going into the fall.

Man on the Spot: Frank Beamer. Trying to decide between Randall and Vick will be very difficult. Randall has invaluable game experience, is a better decision maker at this point and understands his role in the offense. Based only on what I saw Saturday, I would say Marcus has a quicker release and throws the deep ball better. Both are accomplished runners.

In my opinion, Virginia Tech has two of the top twenty-five quarterbacks in the country, and that�s a pretty good dilemma to have. With no other depth at the position, Hokie fans need both Randall and Vick to stay upright and healthy. My guess is that they will both see some time early in the year with the ultimate decision not being made until Texas A & M, at the earliest.

Emerging Player: Cedric Humes. It is easy to see why Humes received so much scout team praise during his redshirt season. It took a little while for him to adjust back to tailback after spending last season at fullback, but Humes is a big back with the ability to juke. VT�s top three tailbacks all have divergent styles: Kevin Jones is a homerun threat with a chiseled physique, Humes is a big back that can pound inside and that has a little "wiggle" in him, and Mike Imoh is a smaller back with underrated strength, great quickness and superb hands.

Man on the Spot: Mike Imoh. His numbers weren�t great in the spring game, but that is deceptive. He made some terrific effort runs just to get back to the line of scrimmage because of some spotty offensive line play. Even assuming Humes wins the backup tailback job, and that isn�t a certainty, I think Imoh can contribute a lot this year. He is the perfect third down back with good enough hands to have played receiver last year, plus he strikes me as a great option on kickoffs. He has great vision, quickness and burst.

Emerging Player: Jeff King. Many people wondered how a 6�5", 260 lb. tight end would be able to adjust to having to hit moving targets with a running start. Based on the coaches� praise and the way he blocked in the hole during the spring game, I think he has done remarkably well. King adds a pass catching and pass protecting element to the backfield that is unique. Also, when VT goes to a jumbo set this year, they really mean business as they can put three tight ends on the field leading Kevin Jones or Humes. King did a fantastic job adjusting so quickly to his new role.

Man on the Spot: Joey Razzano. While a third fullback (behind starter Doug Easlick and King) may not be necessary this year, it doesn�t appear that either Steve Canter or Jesse Allen has established themselves firmly in the spot. Incoming freshman Razzano may be redshirted, but he also seems to have the physicality to play early if needed because of an injury at fullback or tight end (which could necessitate King moving back to tight end full time).

Emerging Player: Chris Clifton. Clifton has had terrific statistics all spring and he has shown signs of why the staff was wowed by him at VT�s summer camp the year he was recruited. He may have to be the star of the Hokie wide receiver corps in 2004, and I expect him to get plenty of reps this year with an expanded passing attack. He has great size, solid hands and is a very good athlete.

Man on the Spot: Justin Hamilton. Everything about Hamilton screams to me future big time player. He had a relatively quiet spring, but his overall size, athleticism and running ability (remember, he came in as a tailback) make him an intriguing player down the line. Like Clifton, he is still learning the position.

Emerging Player: DeAngelo Hall. Great insight, I know. Hall is a special, special athlete, and if he does play 30 snaps a game on offense he will change the schemes of opposing defenses. The comparisons to Champ Bailey and Terrance Newman aren�t out of line, although Hall is more physical on the defensive side of the ball than either of them were in college. He gives VT the vertical threat it has lacked since Andre Davis went to the pros.

Man on the Spot: Richard Johnson. He was the top-rated recruit in his class, but Hokie fans have not yet seen his explosiveness in the passing game. Is he going to settle in as an okay third receiver, or will he step up and be a real weapon in the slot? He has the ability and as a redshirt junior it is a make or break season for Johnson. He also is a candidate to return kickoffs.

Emerging Player: Jon Dunn. The time is now for Dunn to show why he was a big time recruit. He has great size (6�7", 343), solid footwork and long arms. His strength is still subpar, but frankly for a left tackle strength is overrated � many blue chip pro prospects at left tackle weren�t that strong, like Chris Samuels and Orlando Pace. A left tackle�s job, first and foremost, is to be the blind side protector for whichever right handed QB wins the job. Dunn has apparently been solid this spring. He will need to play well this fall or an otherwise explosive offense may stall.

Man on the Spot: Reggie Butler. I am going to assume that his experience will win him the backup job over true freshman Tripp Carroll. Regardless of what happens in that position battle, VT�s tackle depth overall clearly is an issue. Dunn had problems last year, and if he plays poorly again or gets injured, Butler is going to have to step in and play well. Miami�s defensive linemen and Pitt�s Claude Harriott are going to be coming, and the Hokies need someone that can withstand the charge and give the quarterbacks time to make plays.

Emerging Player: Will Montgomery. Montgomery had an excellent spring and is dueling with Jacob Gibson for the starting position. He won the award for the most improved offensive performer. Montgomery has excellent weight room strength and seems to be ready to take the next step as a redshirt sophomore. The nice thing about both guard positions is that VT has some depth and competition which should mean improved production on the field.

Man on the Spot: Chris Burnett. Burnett is a weight room standout that is adjusting to the offensive line after initially being recruited as a defensive tackle. He therefore has solid feet, although the footwork is new to him. He really is not on the spot in the fall, as Gibson and Montgomery should take most of the repetitions, but Burnett is one to watch for the future.

Emerging Player: Robert Ramsey. He seemed to be in danger of being buried on the depth chart with the new influx of offensive linemen, but Ramsey has improved his play to the point where he might be the backup to Jake Grove. Grove is a warrior and probably the most underrated player on the team, so he can�t be replaced, but Ramsey has helped the backup situation considerably.

Man on the Spot: Danny McGrath. McGrath has added a considerable amount of weight to his frame since matriculating, and he has very good strength too. He might be able to redshirt this year if Ramsey establishes himself as the backup pivot.

Emerging Player: Jim Miller. Miller appears firmly established at right guard, and he has excellent size for someone playing inside (6�6", 304). As a rising true junior, Miller should start to become one of the leaders on this group. He has received significant playing time coming into this year.

Man on the Spot: Jason Murphy. Murphy came in a highly touted defensive tackle recruit who put up ridiculous sack totals in Baltimore. He now seems to have found a home on the offensive side of the ball. Redshirt freshman Brandon Gore has shown potential, and he also could figure in the backup mix.

Emerging Player: Jimmy Martin. Martin played well last year for a true freshman, and he should be outstanding with an extra year of experience and some added weight. He has footwork good enough that he played the blind side spot last year, so that should serve him well. Martin is the most established of all of the Hokies tackles, somewhat of a scary proposition, but I expect him to have a good year.

Man on the Spot: Chris Pannell. Pannell was a defensive tackle when spring practice started, and now as a redshirt sophomore he is the #2 right tackle. He is light for a tackle at only 274, so he will need a solid summer of weight training to add muscle and hopefully some weight.

Overall, I think this Virginia Tech offense has the potential to be as explosive a unit as any in the Frank Beamer bowl era. If he stays healthy, I think Kevin Jones will have a monster junior season. Couple that with the best wide receiver tandem in recent VT memory in Wilford and Hall, as well as an NFL prototype in Keith Willis at tight end, and whichever quarterback wins the job will have great weapons.

The offensive line is the key. Jake Grove is tremendous in the middle, and I feel comfortable that there are enough players at guard for the Hokies to get solid play there. I do have concerns at tackle, particularly with the depth. If the tackles stay healthy and play well, the sky is the limit for this offense.

Emerging Player: Noland Burchette. Burchette was voted the top defensive newcomer, and if Jim Davis redshirts this year as is presently anticipated, then Burchette will be in the two deep. Burchette is tough, competitive and shows a nice burst to the ball. He has a very bright future.

Man on the Spot: Cols Colas. Right now the depth chart suggests he and Nathaniel Adibi are both at stud end, although I suspect that will change if Davis doesn�t return. Colas is the most disruptive of all the Hokie pass rushers off the edge, so a healthy and strong senior season for Cols will make the defense immeasurably better. VT thrives on negative plays, and he makes more of them than anyone.

Emerging Player: Darryl Tapp. Voted the top defensive hustler of the spring, Tapp parlayed his experience last season, primarily on special teams, into a huge spring. He has a great motor and used the time since the bowl game to get even bigger and stronger. He and Burchette suggest the Hokies will be okay in the long run, despite the significant departures of Colas and Adibi after this season.

Man on the Spot: Chris Ellis/Mike Brown. My guess is that the coaches will give both of these recruits a good look in the fall in case Jim Davis has to redshirt. If Davis does redshirt, I think whichever one of these recruits is most impressive will get time (especially if they also can play special teams) much like Darryl Tapp did last year. Ellis has the prototype body, while Brown is a hustler from Florida who is physically advanced. The Hokies are reloading at defensive end, and I am excited to see some of the young talent this year.

Emerging Player: Jonathan Lewis. Actually, it was a fairly quiet spring for Jonathan, but he showed enough last year as a true freshman that expectations are high. The defensive tackle play must improve, and with youngsters like Lewis learning at the school of hard knocks last year, I think the defense will be more stout up front.

Man on the Spot: Isaac Montgomery. This highly touted North Carolina transfer played very well on the scout team last year and has nice size and strength. He injured his MCL in the spring, but he should be fine for the fall. It was disappointing to see him lose practice repetitions, but he could be a key figure this fall as a "space-eater" inside for VT.

Emerging Player: Tim Sandidge. Sandidge came in last year and just made plays. After an off-season where his strength improved, his ability to penetrate and disrupt should only be better. He was a force in the spring game.

Man on the Spot: Kevin Lewis. The elder Lewis fought through injuries last year and didn�t have the kind of year that he probably anticipated. If he can return healthy this fall, he likely will flash the ability that had VT coaches calling him the "bell cow" up front last year.

Emerging Player: Blake Warren. He is bigger and more experienced this year, which means he is in much better shape to compete than when he was thrown into the fire last season. Warren played well this spring, earning praise from Bud Foster.

Man on the Spot: Vegas Robinson. Robinson has lingering ankle problems from last year, and a return to form this fall is essential for the defense. Robinson is a senior leader with impressive athleticism. From a weight room perspective, he is far ahead of the other candidates at backer, so his presence in the lineup might help the questionable rush defense the Hokies had over the second half of last year.

Emerging Player: Mikal Baaqee. Bud Foster thought he was perhaps the best defensive player for Tech this spring, and that is great news for Hokie fans. Now up to 227 lbs (from 215), Baaqee is a compact, aggressive and athletic linebacker that should thrive if the defensive tackles play a little better and allow him to flow to the ball. He may very well be VT�s leading tackler in 2003.

Man on the Spot: Jordan Trott/Chad Cooper. One of these two should emerge as the top backup in the middle. Heralded recruit Vince Hall is a tremendous player with a bright future, but my suspicion is that he will redshirt as these two more experienced players take the field. Trott was very active in the spring game.

Emerging Player: Aaron Rouse. Rouse has drawn raves from his practice team work, and it translated onto the field this spring. While he still reportedly is out of position at times � a problem with any young player - he is tough and instinctive. He has a great frame and also has a gear coming off the corner rarely seen at the whip position. Rouse�s nose for the ball is reminiscent of Jimmy Williams. He probably made the play of the spring game when he tipped away an out route on fourth and goal. Expect Rouse to be a special teams demon and get a lot of time at whip as well.

Man on the Spot: James Anderson. Anderson has been moved outside from backer so the coaches could see how he operated in space. Anderson is a tremendous athlete with size, strength and speed. Rouse passed him on the depth chart this spring, but at the very least Anderson should contribute on special teams. Both Rouse and Anderson have bigger frames than the typical VT whip.

Emerging Player: James Griffin. This highly anticipated junior college transfer was very active during the spring game as he made a number of big hits. Much like Rouse, Griffin earned praise from Beamer, Stinespring and Foster this spring, suggesting that he might be an impact player this fall. His pedigree also suggests he could be a special teams force.

Man on the Spot: D.J. Walton. Walton�s speed indicates that he is a better fit at rover than corner, and he certainly is physical enough to make an impact. As a sophomore, Walton has the ability to establish himself as the underclassman to beat for the position in future years.

Emerging Player: Jimmy Williams. Williams has star written all over him. He won the most improved defensive player award, and many writers have commented that he was perhaps the best defensive player on the field for VT during the spring. He has tremendous range in both pass coverage and run support; he epitomizes a sideline-to-sideline player. Make no mistake about it, Miami�s Sean Taylor is the best safety in the Big East. However, Williams could very well emerge as a leading candidate for the other spot on the all league team.

Man on the Spot: Mike Daniels. Daniels made a nice transition from whip back to free safety. Daniels brings very solid run support and intelligence to the position. The experience of Daniels hopefully allows the Hokies to redshirt true freshman safety prospect Corey Gordon.

Emerging Player: Eric Green. His recovery from a torn ACL is great news for Hokie fans. Green has always been a playmaker on both special teams and defense, and a completely healthy Green adds to what could be the best VT coverage secondary in recent memory. Green is a very good and experienced player.

Man on the Spot: Michael Hinton/Roland Minor. If Green suffers unexpected health issues and/or Hall�s defensive time is limited, either of these true freshmen could get a look. The coaches probably would first look to move someone from boundary corner though. My guess is that Hinton, with his post-graduate experience and overall athleticism, would be the favorite of the freshmen. However, both could be tremendous special teams contributors early as well, as they have nice height and superior speed.

Emerging Player: Garnell Wilds. Lots of fans questioned Wilds going into last season, but he quickly demonstrated that he could make plays last year. VT has never had a corner quartet with the experience and talent of Hall, Wilds, Green and Fuller.

Man on the Spot: Brian McPherson. A good athlete, McPherson is new to playing cornerback. He has a lot to learn, but the raves he earned at VT�s summer camp for his overall ability suggest he will make an impact, even though it may be a few years down the line. The Hokies will need for some young corners to step up in the next few years and hopefully Cary Wade, McPherson and the incoming freshmen will be up to the task.

On the defensive side of the ball, there were too many injuries to really feel like last season�s issues had been addressed. Clearly, though, depth is improved, as is overall athleticism. I am cautiously optimistic that this defense will be very good by this fall. This VT defense probably will be the fastest Bud Foster has ever had, and many of the newcomers have "playmaker" labels that seem to fit. However, health will continue to be a key factor, and the absence of Jim Davis, if he redshirts, will be felt.

I think most of the freshmen that play this year will be on defense, so guys like Ellis, Hall, Hinton and Xavier Adibi may end up playing a part in the season.

The comments related to special teams have primarily dealt with the uncertain placekicking situation, and it is safe to say at this point that Coach Beamer would like all three of the candidates to improve. Hopefully, one of the candidates will emerge and take control of the position.

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