Ryan Williams runs in the open field during Saturday's spring game at Lane Stadium.
A current blew through the mountains on April 25, 2009 and made its way to Blacksburg. It was the smell of spring football. You know it - it's the combination of luscious tailgating food, spilled cheap beer and those first 81-degree fuming sweat drops of that obese man who just happened to sit in front of you. Some looked forward to the annual spring game, while others simply dismissed it as meaningless, and for some, legitimate reasons.
After all, it is just what it is: a gigantic football tease, luring in your interest and getting you pumped up during the tailgate, until you realize after the game is over that we are still 19 weeks away from that colossal opening game match-up with Alabama. You might recall it, as you and all of your friends recently lost the student ticket lottery and now have to donate a kidney for a seat in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.
And sure, the game is sloppy, as evident by Brent Bowden having three punts partially blocked in the first half. It's also restricted when the defense can only play man coverage while rushing five, and while junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor jogs on the field in his yellow "don't hit me" jersey. But, man, can that Ryan Williams run with the football.
This year, 41,000 rabid Hokie fanatics showed up to Lane Stadium to see the highly-touted running back that has received almost all of the publicity coverage this spring coming off of his redshirt freshman season, and by the looks of it now, deservedly so.
Sure, his 56-yard touchdown reception from Ju-Ju Clayton, where he patiently followed his blockers and then broke away, juking three hopeless defenders before taking it to the house was impressive. And his 36-yard rush where he bounced it outside and showed off his quickness was pretty stellar as well.
However, I was much more impressed by the way he ran between the tackles. The great tailbacks keep their legs churning, even when it looks like they are stood up and about to be taken down. And that's just what Williams showed on Saturday.
"Even when Williams first got here, he was running the ball hard," said sophomore wide receiver Dyrell Roberts. "Now, that he has a year in the weight room under the belt, he's stronger and faster. We're really excited to get the ball in his hands."
"I run hard naturally," Williams said. "And I think a lot of people don't see that, because all they hear is the explosive and the exciting Ryan Williams... a lot of people don't realize that I can run between the tackles, and I can break tackles when I need to."
Taylor, who received a leadership and a most valuable performer award at halftime, finished the game 16-for-33 with 188 yards and one touchdown. He looked like a well-rounded quarterback ready to fuel this team through the dog days of summer workouts.
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