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Breaking Down VT's 2005 Recruiting Class: The Offensive Backfield (QB, RB,
and FB)
by Phil Martin, 6/26/05
In my last three articles I provided a “macro” analysis of recent
recruiting trends by looking at different criteria such as recruiting
competition, the location of the recruits, and the positions being recruited.
Now I'd like to take more of a “micro” view by analyzing the last recruiting
class in depth. Each position will be evaluated as to the players offered and
how heavily they were recruited. Based on this evaluation we can have an idea of
whether Tech landed the recruits that were on the top of their recruiting board.
Also, I will provide a subjective evaluation on how I see these players fitting
into the team.
Quarterbacks
With two first-year quarterbacks, Sean Glennon and Cory Holt, on the team and
an uncertain future with Marcus Vick, Tech needed to sign two quality
quarterbacks in this class. The Hokies were looking for highly talented players
that could potentially contribute early. Ideally, Tech wanted one pure
quarterback and another athlete that could potentially be moved to another
position if he did not develop as quickly as the other. Here are the
quarterbacks that Tech offered last year:
Virginia Tech beat Maryland for both Ike Whitaker and Greg Boone, whom I
believe were the top two QBs on Tech’s recruiting board.
VT QB Signees
Tech knew Ike Whitaker well from being in three camps and offered him
after his sophomore year. Florida recruited him hard after attending their camp
and Maryland made a late push, but Whitaker was basically Tech’s to lose based
on the strong relationship he had developed with the coaching staff. He has all
of the physical tools – excellent height (6-4.5), mobility, and arm strength
– you look for in a quarterback and has uncanny accuracy in his passing.
However, his greatest attribute may be his attitude and desire to succeed. His
only discernible weakness is 3/4 arm delivery, but that has not limited him in
making any of the necessary throws.
Prediction: I believe Whitaker is the top quarterback recruit in the ACC for
this past year and should provide strong competition for Glennon and Holt in the
future. I can easily see Whitaker being a two-year starter at QB for Tech.
Greg Boone from Chesapeake (Oscar Smith HS) is another phenomenal athlete
with great competitive desire. The recruiting battle was tight with Maryland,
who had a greater need at QB than Tech. The Tech coaches had to convince Greg
that he would get a shot at quarterback, and he certainly has the physical tools
to compete for the position. As a QB, Boone definitely has the talent with
incredible size, mobility, and arm strength, but he needs to work on his
throwing mechanics and increase his passing accuracy. As an athlete, there is no
position on the field that he is not capable of playing given his size and
athletic ability (except maybe CB). If quarterback does not work out, he would
likely play defensive end or tight end.
Prediction: I see Boone playing QB for his first two years and, if he doesn’t
break the two-deep by this time, moving to defensive end. I expect Boone to be
an exceptional special teams player as a redshirt-freshman and his desire to
contribute will lead to a position switch prior to his third year. Boone would
likely be a two-year starter at defensive end or any other position he should
decide to play.
Non-VT QB Signees
Tech made a good push for Antonio Bass and Cameron Sexton as
well. Bass, from Jackson, MI, is one of the premier athletes in the last
recruiting class but was very raw at quarterback. On film, he is the closest
player to Michael Vick athletically that I have seen, but he has a long ways to
go as a quarterback. In the end, his childhood favorite, Michigan, won out over
rival Michigan State, but I seriously doubt Bass will ever take a snap at QB for
the Wolverines. Look for him to be moved to DB or WR early in his career.
Sexton, despite exceptional speed, is considered a pure QB with excellent
potential. He needs to gain some size in the weight room and develop in a
passing offense, but he should be a contributor for North Carolina. The Heels
beat Florida State and withstood a late push by Steve Spurrier at South Carolina
to land Sexton.
Tech was never in the running for Jonathan Crompton, from Waynesville,
NC – Tuscola HS, who is a prototypical drop-back quarterback. Crompton has
good size and excellent arm strength, but he will need a little time to develop
in a college passing offense. Despite wavering a couple of times, Tennessee
landed Crompton over Georgia with Michigan, LSU, Miami, Florida State, and
Southern Cal also offering.
Tech took a different approach in recruiting Derrick Williams, from
Greenbelt, MD – Eleanor Roosevelt HS, who many regarded as the top recruit in
the nation. While most sought Williams at wide receiver, Tech recruited him at
his high school position, quarterback. The Hokies were never in serious
consideration and Williams eventually signed with Penn State based on his strong
relationship with the coaching staff from attending the Nittany Lions’ camp
for five years. Penn State won this heated recruiting battle over Oklahoma,
Florida, Tennessee, and Texas with virtually every school in the nation offering
Williams. He will be an immediate impact player at WR for Joe Paterno.
QB Conclusion
I’m sure Tech would have been happy signing any two of the six quarterbacks
offered, but I believe the Hokies landed the two QBs that were at the top of
their list. Whitaker was probably the top pure QB and Boone the top jumbo
athlete on the east coast. Virginia Tech certainly met their recruiting needs at
quarterback this year. Statistically, looking at the offers, Tech’s QB
recruiting would have a “won-loss percentage” of 88.2% which reflects on how
well the Hokies did in landing two premier signal callers.
Running Backs
Tech was looking for at least one elite running back prospect in this class
since only two underclass tailbacks are currently in the system – Brandon Ore
and George Bell. Uncertainty existed with regards to Bell’s knee so running
back was a priority position for the Hokies. Tech would have liked to have had
two RBs in this class, but one blue-chip back was imperative. Here are the
running backs that Tech offered last year:
Table 2 - Running Backs Offered by Virginia Tech (2005) |
Name |
St |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Signed |
Offers |
1-4 |
5-9 |
10-19 |
20+ |
Toney Baker |
NC |
5-10 |
220 |
4.5 |
N.C. State |
|
|
X |
|
Elan Lewis |
VA |
5-8 |
215 |
4.6 |
Virginia Tech |
|
|
X |
|
Montario Hardesty |
NC |
6-0 |
198 |
4.5 |
Tennessee |
|
|
X |
|
James Davis |
GA |
5-11 |
205 |
4.6 |
Clemson |
|
|
X |
|
T.J. Pitts |
GA |
5-11 |
190 |
4.5 |
Memphis |
|
X |
|
|
VT RB Signees
Tech signed the top running back in Virginia in three-time all-state Elan
Lewis from one of the top high school programs in the state – Phoebus HS
in Hampton. Lewis is a power back with incredible leg strength and exceptional
vision. While not a flashy runner, Lewis is the type of back that will get the
extra yard and is impossible to arm tackle. He has good all-around skills with
good hands and a willingness to block. Speed is the only attribute that keeps
Lewis from being considered one of the top backs in the country. Tech won the
recruiting battle for Lewis over offers by Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, and
Ohio State.
Prediction: Lewis will likely redshirt as a freshman due to Tech’s depth
at tailback (Humes and Imoh are seniors), but he should compete for the
two-deep in his second year. Elan Lewis is a competitor and I would be
surprised if he doesn’t see a lot of action at tailback in his career at
Tech.
Non-VT RB Signees
When looking for the physical skills required at running back, you don’t
have to look any farther than Toney Baker, from Jamestown, NC –
Ragsdale HS. He has excellent size, exceptional strength (over 400 in the
bench press), and great speed. Baker is a power runner who can break the long
run if he gets free. He is not overly elusive and his vision is average, but
his physical tools are incredible. Baker wanted to play locally and reduced
his recruiting list to five schools early in the process with N.C. State
winning the recruiting battle over Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and
North Carolina. Baker will likely play early for the Wolfpack but I would not
see a dramatic improvement in his play through his college career since he
already possesses the physical traits you need as a college running back.
Another running back from North Carolina, Montario Hardesty from New
Bern HS, may have the most potential of the backs that Tech offered last year.
He is exceptionally fast and athletic and could play a number of positions in
college including cornerback, safety, or wide receiver in addition to running
back. Hardesty is currently an “outside” runner and needs to gain strength
to run between the tackles. He also runs fairly upright and will need to lower
his pad level in college. However, he is elusive and capable of breaking big
plays at any time. Hardesty was a Tennessee lean throughout most of the
recruiting year, but he wavered after his official visit to Knoxville because
his mother did not want to travel that far to see him play (8 hour drive). He
committed to North Carolina but then changed his mind in the last week and
signed with Tennessee instead. The Hokies probably finished third for Hardesty
who also had offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Florida State, Auburn,
Alabama, and Virginia. He should have a good career at Tennessee. He might get
moved to the secondary early due to needs there but he certainly could have a
good future at RB as well.
The other Virginia Tech offers for running backs were to a pair from
Georgia – James Davis and T.J. Pitts. James Davis, from
Atlanta – Frederick Douglass HS, is another power back with very good size,
speed, and strength. While not exceptional in one particular area, he has no
discernible weakness either. Davis is just a solid all-around back who was a
bit of an enigma as a recruit. He actually committed to the Hokies on his
official visit, but he still wanted to take his other visits so Tech did not
consider him truly “committed.” He then appeared to favor every school
after his official visit and Tech became impatient with his indecisiveness. In
the end, he committed to Clemson over Alabama and Tech with additional offers
from Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Ohio State, Georgia, and Auburn. Davis should be
a solid contributor for the Tigers.
T.J. Pitts, from Gainesville, GA – North Hill HS, is a talented runner
that was not as heavily recruited due to qualification concerns. UVA and Tech
were his leaders through most of the recruiting year, but he had contingent
offers from both schools based on his academic status. Tech backed off late in
the fall after Davis “committed” and UVA focused on recruiting another RB,
Mikell Simpson. Pitts received a qualifying test score in January but UVA
still had concerns in admitting him and wanted him to prep. In the mean time,
Memphis entered the picture, along with Mississippi State and North Carolina,
and Pitts selected the Tigers. Don’t be surprised if you hear Pitts' name
again because he is a back with a great deal of potential.
RB Conclusion
Tech needed to sign one of the elite running backs that were offered and
landed Elan Lewis, so the coaching staff has to be happy with this position.
The Hokies would like to have landed another top back, but came up a bit short
for Baker, Hardesty, and Davis. Losing Davis after receiving a “commitment”
on his official visit especially hurts, but I believe the Tech staff would
have really liked to sign Hardesty due to his versatility. Statistically, Tech
rated 69.2% in the “win-loss percentage” based on offers, so the Hokies
scored well based on this method as well.