Tech receivers prepare for next year
With the large void left by former receivers Josh Hyman, Justin Harper, Josh Morgan and Eddie Royal, all eyes will be focused on the Hokies' young receiving corps this fall.
In April, the fans watched rising redshirt junior Brandon Dillard display his talent on the gridiron. During the annual Maroon-White spring game, Dillard helped lead the White team to a 24-3 victory.
Competing for a starting role this coming season, the 5' 11", 180-pound Dillard from Bassett High School in Martinsville completed two major plays in the White team's April victory.
In the second quarter he went 49 yards on a reverse to set up a one-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman Darren Evans, putting up a 7-0 lead. Dillard's final show of ability to become a starter occurred in the last seconds of the second quarter.
On a drive that lasted only 42 seconds led by rising redshirt senior Sean Glennon, Dillard caught a 25-yard reception for a touchdown, pushing the White team to a 14-3 lead.
Dillard will be one of four younger receivers to replace Tech's loss of experience; however, these younger athletes had the opportunity to learn from Royal, Harper, Hyman and Morgan, and it shows on the practice field.
When asked how his personal game has grown over the past two years with the Hokies, Dillard said, "work ethic, route running, speed," — an answered echoed by wide receiving coach Kevin Sherman.
"He is correct in saying that he has improved on his work ethic, watching those four seniors that we had pushed him," Sherman said. "I think he's gotten a lot better with his ball skills, when I first got here he struggled with that. By being challenged and pushing himself and wanting to get better he's done that, he's come a long way."
A tough away schedule including Nebraska, Boston College, Florida State and Miami presents another obstacle for the inexperienced wide receivers.
"That's part of the challenge," Sherman said.
Dillard seems to be confident on their ability to succeed, though.
"We just take one game at a time," he said. "When the game comes we get ready for that team. We're playing good teams on the road, and we're just going to be prepared well."
"I think that there's not a whole lot of video out there for teams to evaluate a lot of our guys because they haven't played a lot," Sherman said.
This lack of available video may give the Hokies an edge over the competition this fall.
"Those young guys who have been around the older guys have watched and learned and saw what it takes, but we just don't know until we put them in the situation," Sherman said.
Dillard received playing time on special teams early in the 2007 season against LSU, Duke, William and Mary as well as Ohio. Fans should expect him to play a major role at the receiving slot this fall.
There seems to be an emerging "four" to replace the four former experienced receivers.
Besides Dillard, the "four" consists of redshirt sophomore Zach Luckett, redshirt junior Ike Whitaker and sophomore Danny Coale.
"As of right now yes, we got Dillard, Luckett, Whitaker, and Coale, and then there's some other guys that redshirted last season like Patrick Terry and (Ervin) Garner that those guys can step in and be role players and help us out on special teams," Sherman said.
Sherman also added that Cory Holt, a redshirt senior form Lexington, N.C., moved from quarterback to receiver.
Sherman said they will likely add the 227-pound Holt to the rotation as well to provide depth and experience.
Of the "four," Ike Whitaker has the most experience with the Hokies. Whitaker took 44 snaps in the 2006 season, and was 10 of 16 in his passing attempts.
Standing tall at 6' 4", he has moved from quarterback to receiver and fans should look for Whitaker to become a major leader on the field.
Hokie fans and coaches will be watching to see which of the "four" will step up as the dominant playmaker.
"That's something I've said to the whole group," Sherman said. "We're going to find out whose going to separate themselves within the group and step up and be a leader."
Unfortunately, it is too early in the year to have a definite answer. Spring practices and the Maroon-White game just does not compare to actual playing time.
"Right now it's still a work in progress," Sherman said. "I like what they're all about, they give good effort, they work hard, and now we just have to catch up with the speed of the game and make plays on a consistent basis."
Along with the wide receivers, the driving force behind passing yards for the Hokies' offensive is the quarterback, an aspect of a Tech's offense that has undergone a lot of tinkering this past season.
Redshirt senior Sean Glennon had a positive response toward the receiving situation for this fall season.
"We have a lot of guys that have been trying to become the playmakers we need. Luckett, Dillard, Ike, and Danny Coale are all guys that rose to the occasion this spring and we need them to continue to get better going into August," Glennon said.
When asked if he felt the tougher away schedule would put stress on the young receivers Glennon said, "I don't think so."
"We at Virginia Tech have always had the mentality that home or away, we should win every game, and we've actually done very well on the road. I expect these guys to continue that tradition," he said.
A productive offensive line is the unspoken hero of a successful passing team. Last year Tech's offensive line struggled and allowed the pocket to collapse on Glennon and Taylor multiple times during the season.
Glennon's thoughts on his upcoming offensive line are optimistic.
"It hurt to lose Duane Brown, but fortunately he's the only one we've lost, so everyone else should be a year better, and I think Blake DeChristopher will be a good player once he gets some experience under his belt," he said.
Tech fans can only speculate on the success of the receivers this fall; however, Sherman is looking forward to the season.
