Vega not giving up on football dreams
Brian Wright, CT Sports Reporter
April 27, 2007
Bruno Vega's recent football career has seen its share of setbacks and challenges.
Despite claiming multiple All-District honors during his playing career at Fairfax High School, his team suffered through a 1-9 record in his senior season.
Upon graduation from high school in 2006, Vega failed to receive a scholarship from a Division I program. He did get offers from the University of Charleston, a Division II school in West Virginia, and Allegheny College, a Division III institution.
Vega, however, turned them both down. Instead, he decided to attend Virginia Tech with the hope of playing for a Division I football team.
After three months of training, he was prepared to try out as a walk-on last fall. Unfortunately, he dislocated his right shoulder one week before tryouts.
"I was ready," Vega said. "I was at the peak performance of my athletic ability. I knew this was going to be a tough school to play for. It only made me even more determined."
With his shoulder healed and spring practice now in full bloom, Vega faces his latest challenge. He is not only trying to regain his form and bounce back from a physical ailment, but is also vying for a spot as a defensive end on the Virginia Tech football roster.
Ever since his injury, Vega has worked tirelessly in the gym. He ran and did sprints three days a week. He lifted weights five times a week. Saturday and Sunday were his only days of rest.
"I was always taught to not stop pursuing what I want to do," Vega said.
Early on in spring practices, Vega has already made a favorable impression on his coaches. Defensive line coach Charley Wiles has been pleased by his work ethic.
"Bruno is a try-hard guy," Wiles said. "He puts in a lot of effort and I appreciate him from that standpoint. Since this is his first spring practice, he really has not gotten an opportunity yet. Right now, his role is to help us function better in practice."
Although he played four years of high school football as both an offensive and defensive lineman, Vega does not have the Division I exposure as most of his contemporaries do.
"This is the highest level of college football," Wiles said. "Bruno is definitely lacking in experience. Being in the program and just getting bigger and stronger will help him."
From the few weeks he's been in practice, Vega has noticed a tremendous difference from his days in high school. Aside from the additional plays and schemes on defense, he feels that the speed of major college football is a jump up from high school.
"It's a lot faster," he said. "I'm still trying to get used to the speed and the way Division I football plays. I'm just trying to learn from all the other players."
Although it is difficult to go from being a walk-on to a regular starting player, there have been occasional success stories.
Defensive end Orion Martin, who will be a redshirt junior next year, transferred to Tech just prior to the fall semester in 2004. Like Vega, Martin did not receive much interest from Division I recruiters. In fact, Martin was not offered a single football scholarship.
After honing his skills at Hargrave Military Academy and Norfolk State University for one semester each, Martin made the transition to Blacksburg.
He sat out the entire 2004 season and then joined the football team as a walk-on during spring practice in 2005.
"I didn't have anything to lose," he said. "I came out with confidence that I could play. That confidence helped me get over the hump."
His performance quickly earned him a scholarship. That fall, Martin played in all 13 games and registered 23 tackles. Now, he is competing for the starting defensive end spot previously occupied by the now-graduated Noland Burchette.
Martin has simple advice to any walk-on, such as Vega.
"Just come out, whether it's in the weight room or at practice, and give it your all," Martin said. "If you don't make it, you don't make it. But, while you're out here, you should give it everything you've got."
Vega, like Martin before him, is striving to earn a football scholarship of his own. He is competing for one of seven available spots at the defensive end position. Vega knows that if he is not retained, he will continue to pursue his passion.
"I've always wanted to play for a Division I school," he said. "This is a great program and it has a defense with a great reputation. It would motivate me even more if I got cut."
If Vega does claim one of the seven available roster spots, it will mark the fulfillment of a life-long goal.
"It would be incredibly gratifying. It would be just ·amazing."