Collegiate Times

Since the turn of the century, the Virginia Tech football team has had the divine fortune of being blessed with a plethora of talent at every position, most notably on defense.

In that timeframe, however, when it has come to the collective additions of new recruits, the football gods seem to have been a bit more rewarding toward the Hokies on the offensive side of the ball, particularly at quarterback.

Ranging from the recruitments of Michael Vick, Bryan Randall and Michael's younger brother Marcus, Tech has seen its recent string of top quarterback recruits go onto enjoy success as leaders of the program, inspiring those around them and serving as miracle workers on the field.

Case and point, in the six seasons under the talented trio of play-callers, the Hokies finished a combined 69-20, capped off by a Marcus Vick-led 11-2 campaign in 2005 that ended with a 35-24 Gator Bowl win over the Louisville Cardinals.

In maintaining Tech's winning trends at quarterback, 2007 Virginia Tech five-star recruit Tyrod Taylor looks to be heaven-sent.

Already being deemed as a future savior to Tech's current struggles in the passing game (there is an actual Facebook group titled, "Tyrod is God"), Taylor will be greeted this fall not only with open arms from the Hokie faithful, but with tremendous expectations as well, an issue he is adamantly aware of.

"I'm really looking forward to coming to Tech, but it's going to be a new thing for me in adjusting to all the hype, all the fans and all the media," Taylor said. "I've had pressure on me before, but not as much as it will be up there (in Blacksburg)."

Hailing from tidewater football powerhouse Hampton High, where he played under Virginia's infamous football coach Mike Smith, Taylor comes to Tech as the nation's top dual-threat quarterback, as ranked by Rivals.com.

Taylor accredited the familiarity he achieved with Tech's coaching staff as the biggest overall factor in influencing his decision to attend back in July.

"Before I gave my verbal commitment to Tech, I went up there for several senior camps, and I felt very comfortable with the coaches and the players," Taylor said. "Overall, I just had a very good feeling about the school when I went up there, and that's what really influenced my choice in the end."

Not forgotten by Taylor was the impact of the two most influential advisors in his decision—his parents.

"My parents really put the decision in my hands," Taylor said. "But my mom really pushed for me to pick a school like Tech that was good academically, and I really liked staying in-state because it meant that my family could come watch me play. So in the end, Tech was a solid choice that we were all satisfied with."

Coincidentally, Taylor arrives in Blacksburg as a solid choice that practically everyone is satisfied with, especially those that will be working him on a consistent daily basis.

Just ask the man most responsible for bringing the exceptional prospect to Blacksburg, Virginia Tech's offensive line coach Curt Newsome.

"Tyrod is an absolute phenomenal talent," Newsome said. "He's a great passer, and with him being a dual-threat quarterback, he can also move around in the pocket and get himself out of trouble extremely well. The biggest positive about him though is the fact that he's tremendously mature for his age. At just 17, he's so level-headed, on and off the field, so what you've got there with him is the complete package."

Newsome, who arrived from James Madison last year, was quick to offer his keen recruiting services to help catch the eye of the coveted Hampton recruit.

Throughout the recruiting process, an added source of motivation existed for Newsome in attracting Taylor to Tech — the fact that the Hokie coach hails from Hampton himself.

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