1.  Who is our best NFL prospect in 2013, besides Logan Thomas ?  Why?

GMSA: I always think questions like this one are fun.  Obviously, a lot can change between now and April, 2013, but it’s never too early to take a look at the VT roster and consider who the likely NFL draftees are during the coming season.  First and foremost, I will say that I agree with what many have said already about Logan Thomas and his NFL upside.  I was always high on Thomas as a quarterback prospect and I told anyone who would listen that I thought it was a great move to start him at QB early on instead of TE.

I was told by a member of the coaching staff during the fall of Logan’s redshirt year that Beamer and Stinespring were big believers in Thomas’ potential as a QB.  They staff (especially O’Cain) have done a great job with Logan’s development and put him in a position where his enormous talent, physical ability, football intelligence and natural leadership skills would shine.  If Logan Thomas has a great year, I would be surprised to see him stay around for the 2013 season because I see him as a Top 10 pick.  I have no inside knowledge about that, it’s just my guess.

On to the question – the other likely NFL candidates on the roster for this coming season include physical freaks/workout warriors who have yet to break out and show it on the field like Vinston Painter and Marcus Davis .  I would also include guys with NFL size and talent who have played consistently well for the Hokies, but not been superstars yet like Antoine Hopkins , Nick Becton and D.J. Coles .  Then, there are guys with tremendous athleticism and burst who lack ideal size and have been hampered by injuries like Dyrell Roberts and Alonzo Tweedy .  All seven of the players I just mentioned will be in the mix for NFL careers at the end of the 2012 football season, barring injury. Some will certainly be drafted while others may be free agents, but all have some combination of speed, skill, size and athleticism that will afford them an opportunity somewhere.

...