The Virginia Tech JV football team downed Fork Union 37-7 on Thursday afternoon in Lane Stadium. The Tech defense was dominant, and the running game was able to wear down the FUMA defense as the game progressed. Once again, a number of young scholarship players took the field for the Hokies, and we also have a report on Virginia Tech recruit Todd Nolen and recruit Jacoby Ford.

Kent Hicks did not get much playing time on defense, despite the blowout. I noticed Hicks in the game on defense for two plays, and on each play Jake Patten and Chad Grimm had to show him where to lineup. Things aren’t looking good for Hicks, who was a four star safety prospect coming out of high school and one of the top recruits in the state of Virginia. He looks like a good football player physically, but it doesn’t appear that he has the ability to pick the game up from a mental standpoint.

Speaking of players that never panned out, cornerback Brian McPherson is back on the Virginia Tech roster. He played in the JV game against Hargrave earlier in the season, and was starting at cornerback again against Fork Union. The Tech coaching staff liked McPherson’s hip movement when he came out of Amherst County High School, but he has never developed at the college level. He did play a good game against Fork Union, snagging an interception and locking down the wide receivers for the most part.

Andrew Bowman started at mike linebacker for the Hokies. He got a lot of playing time, but didn’t do much to distinguish himself. Bowman looks slow and has poor change of direction speed. He always seems to be a step slow in reacting to plays. He also didn’t tackle especially well today, surprising considering he was known for his big hits in high school. Bowman still has a chance, but he must use the offseason to change his body. To be perfectly blunt, he’s got a bit of a gut. He needs to shed that over the winter if he wants a chance to crack the two-deep next fall.

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