Macho Harris Draft Status

Here's an update on the Macho man from Darryl Slater at the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He's cut his hair, trying to become more professional. Here's an exerpt:

Even if it doesn't, Harris' position coach at Tech, Torrian Gray, thinks Harris' value as a player is best measured not by a stopwatch but by video highlights of his accomplishments as a Hokie -- 15 interceptions, third-most in school history, including four returned for touchdowns.

"When it comes down to it and you go back and you look at the film, I think they overvalue the 40 time," said Gray, a former NFL safety and defensive backs coach. "If a guy's gonna continuously show you he can make plays in college, it's not gonna change that he's a playmaker in the pros."

For more on Macho, look to the Collegiate Times.

Orion Martin

Like I've mentioned before, a lot of teams are looking at Martin from the 5th to 7th round of the NFL Draft as a 3-4 LB or 4-3 DE. Randy King has a nice piece on him this morning. Here is an exerpt:

"I don't know how much it hurts him because you have teams like the [Indianapolis] Colts who are very interested in Orion and have sorta used that smaller defensive end, a kind of a one-gap guy who can get upfield and get after the quarterback," said Drew Lewis, an agent for RAA Goal Line, a Bay Harbor, Fla., firm that's representing Martin.

"We've heard from a few teams like that, and I know that the [Miami] Dolphins have talked to him about playing linebacker as well in the 3-4 defense. We asked Orion to stay around 260 pounds because ... what we want to do is have them mold him in what they want him to be. The [San Francisco] 49ers love him at outside linebacker, the [Atlanta] Falcons like him a lot at defensive end, and the [Jacksonville] Jaguars like him at outside linebacker."

Orion Martin

I've heard some rumblings surrounding Martin that many NFL teams are looking at him as early has the fifth round, and many mocks have him going in the sixth. His special team experience is really looking good to NFL teams, and he would provide that non-stop motor that NFL teams covet.

Macho Harris

Macho's draft status has been up in the air, and from what I've seen he could go as early as the top of the second round to the middle of the third. Whatever you think of him, you know he is a playmaker on film. The Washington Post thinks so too, as does Brandon Flowers. Check it out.

10 Best Individual Performances in VT Football History

The Bleacher Report has a new update on the 10 best individual performances in VT Football History. Their rundown:

Non-Players
(1) The Coaches in the '99 Syracuse game (63-0)
(2) The Lane Stadium Crowd v. Miami (Nov. 1, 2003)

Players
(3) Sean Glennon in GT Uni
(4) DE v. MD
(5) Brandon Ore's back-to-back 200 yd games
(6) Mike Imoh v. UNC
(7) Bryan Randall v. GT
(8) Druck v. UVa
(9) Andre Davis v. WVU
(10) Bryan Still v. UT
(11) Corey Moore v. Clemson
(12) Vick v. FSU

David Clowney

A good update on Clowney's attempt to win the 2nd WR spot on the Jets, from The Star-Ledger. An exerpt:

"I've been itching to get back out there and go against a couple of defensive backs," said the 6-0, 188-pound Clowney. "We have a guy like Darrelle Revis here. He went to the Pro Bowl last year. I think that's going to help all of us."

Clowney, a second-year pro from Virginia Tech, also plans to help himself. He says he and Ratliff have something special brewing.

"Yeah, we definitely had some chemistry going there," said Clowney. "And we kind of took that through practice during the year after I came back from my injury. Hopefully, we can do that same thing this year coming into training camp and the preseason."

Macho Harris

An interesting new article about NFL speed vs. quickness came out from ProFootballWeekly.com. Here is the crux of their study: "By subtracting the 20-yard shuttle time from the straight-line 40-time, as many teams tend to do as a gauge of lateral agility, evaluators can even better gauge a player's lateral agility than they can simply with short shuttle times, as the differential puts into perspective both long speed and short-area quickness."

In any event, they posit that the further away the quickness is from the straight-line speed the better player they will be. Good thing for Macho- he tops the DB list this year.

Sean Glennon

The Redskins had Glennon in camp for a pre-draft workout this weekend, and I'm sure that he's done well for himself. Glennon has an above average arm and, given protection, can be a solid backup in the NFL. Here is the Richmond Times-Dispatch's version, along with the Washington Times' recount. Enjoy.

Michael Vick's Bankruptcy Status

Here is a link to the goings-on in the Vick saga.... sad I know, but still Hokie news.

David Clowney

Here is a great article by NewYorkJets.com, interviewing David Clowney. I know that he's got a lot of potential and I hope that the new Jets coaches recognize it and give him a shot at the number two position.

Pierson Prioleau

The Bleacher Report is reporting that the Saints have signed former VT safety Prioleau. He is playing for Saints new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for the up-teenth time (Redskins, Bills, et al.).

Here is more coverage from another site.

Macho Harris Draft Status

Here is a new NFL Mock that has the Macho Man back at the end of the second round to the Pats. I've heard his name from more than a few sources around that slot, and some have him going as early as the 49ers second round pick.

Pro Day Video

Here is some more Pro Day content, this time in the form of a video from WSLS in Roanoke.

Tony Sparano's Thoughts on Jake Grove

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has a good new article on Tony Sparano's thoughts on the Dolphins in general, with some specific quotes and thoughts on Jake Grove. Here is a quote:

"When you talk to people about Jake and his strength totals, and the way he works in the weight room, you certainly get the picture," Sparano said.

Spring Practice, Sean Glennon, and Visits

Another shout out to vt.fanfoc.us, this time for publishing some excellent info on who's out for spring practice, Sean Glennon on his interaction with Bill Parcells and not making the combine, and where the coaches have been getting their secrets from this offseason. Enjoy.

Two Hokies Sign with the Dolphins

Eric Green and Jake Grove have both recently signed with the Dolphins as free agents. Here is a breakdown of their contracts, per the Bleacher Report:

Jake Grove
2009: $2 million
2010: $2.66 million
2011: $3.32 million
2012: $3.94 million
2013: $3.08 million
Total: $15 million

Eric Green
2009: $1.2 million
2010: $1.65 million
Total: $2.85 million

UPDATE: The Dolphins have cut former starting center Samson Satele, which makes Grove the default starter for the moment.

Dustin Keys

Keys might have some interest from NFL teams, according to the Stafford County Sun. Here is an exerpt from the article:

“He gets into the ball quickly and he gets it up quickly and he’s got a good consistent flight on the ball,” Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer told a West Virginia newspaper this past season. “…with a good kicker that’s exactly what happens, and I think he’s a good kicker.”

Josh Morgan

I hadn't heard too much out of Josh Morgan this year at SF, but apparently he was doing big things. A new article out from the Official Site of the San Francisco 49ers really proves that Morgan is doing pretty well for himself. He overcame some injuries and I think he'll be a good second receiver for the 49ers.

Not only that, but Morgan is a poet. I don't know about you, but I think he's got into the California lifestyle (read: bong hits) a little too much. J/k.

VT Pro Day

VT's Pro Day apparently went well for all involved, especially one Macho Harris. RotoWorld.com is reporting that the Macho man ran a 4.4 flat. Very nice, and it may have earned him a good 200k more in salary. Not bad. While the scouts are discounting the time to a 4.51 due to a "fast track" (WTF), it certainly bodes well for Harris. I like that scouts are noticing that he is a quick-twitch athlete who might have the best ball-skills in the entire draft. His short shuttle time is especially impressive.

I've heard from some Packer fans that they are looking closely at Orion Martin, due to their recent switch to the base 3-4 defense. I like that fit, and I really wish the best for the former walk-on. Martin is working hard to try to improve his 40 time, and I think that he gets drafted.

Here is a good round-up of VT's Pro Day and the results of the participating seniors.