Position Changes, Freshman Status Update, and Player Attrition

Virginia Tech began practice yesterday, and there were a few guys who were
playing different positions than expected. Also, we have the status of Virginia
Tech’s 2008 football recruits who are not enrolled for this semester, and
information on a couple of players who have left the program.

Here is a list of the players who are at different positions than originally
expected.

Vinston Painter was projected as an offensive tackle, but he prefers to play on
the defensive side of the ball. The coaching staff has granted his request, and
he’ll get a chance on defense. Nick Becton, who was supposed to start out on
defense, has been working at offensive tackle.

Marcus Davis was originally being recruited as a WR/athlete for Virginia
Tech. After his senior season, the plan was to play him at quarterback when he
arrived. Those plans changed recently, and he’s been working at wideout. At 6-3,
228, he makes quite a target. It’s obvious the Tech coaches want to see all
their options at wideout, because they have played Xavier Boyce there as well.

Finally, Alonzo Tweedy is working at rover. He played free safety in the
spring.

Status of Freshmen Not Enrolled

A lot of true freshmen are on the roster for Virginia Tech, but seven are
not. Their status is listed in the table below.

Derrick McCoy is attending junior college at Georgia Military Academy. The
Hokies aren’t known for taking JUCO players, so his future at Virginia Tech is
to be determined.

Tony Gregory will attend prep school at Fork Union, with the goal of
enrolling in January 2009. The last report on wide receiver D.J. Coles was that
he was trying to decide between Hargrave and Fork Union, according to a July 10
article by Doug Doughty.

Ben Barber and Eric Martin are definite greyshirts who will enroll in
January. Hopefully Leon Mackey can join them. Mackey has transcript issues from
Hargrave and thus isn’t enrolling for this semester. Mackey had to take summer
courses, which he just finished in late July.

Kendrick Pressley was originally a 2007 recruit, but did not qualify. He
spent the last year at Hargrave. His status at this point is unclear, however it
looks unlikely that he’ll ever make it to Blacksburg.

All other players from the 2008
recruiting class are currently in camp for the Hokies, with the exception of
Peter Rose, whose scholarship
offer was pulled in May when he was arrested and charged with selling drugs.

Holland and Crum Leave Team

Offensive linemen Brandon Holland and Clark Crum have given up football at
Virginia Tech. Holland was a backup guard who started one game last season. He
was third string heading into the start of the season, but with a chance to
compete for a backup job. Holland would have been a junior this season.

Crum, a rising r-sophomore from Ohio, was a third string offensive tackle. He
never played in a game for Virginia Tech.