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2008 Receivers Will be Young, Just like 2004
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

Last summer we ran a TSLMail that covered the production of Tech's four rising senior receivers. Eddie Royal, Justin Harper, Josh Morgan and Josh Hyman were all set to have the most productive season of any wide receiver corps in school history. They were supposed to be the strength of the offense. The Hokies won't have that luxury this year.

First, let's look at the productions of Tech's wide receivers heading into 2007.

That's a lot of experience and a lot of catches than Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor had to work with.

However, they won't have that luxury this year. Here are Tech's top returning receiving targets for 2008, regardless of position.

Tech's top eight returning receivers have caught a total of 62 passes in their careers. That's not as many as Eddie Royal and Josh Morgan had caught as individuals heading into 2007, and it's barely ahead of Josh Hyman. I think it's safe to say that the passing game won't be Tech's strength this year, at least not at first.

There is one name that is conspicuously absent from the list above. Tech's top receiver of the spring was Brandon Dillard. At this point he looks like the Hokies' top playmaking threat at wide receiver in 2008. He has blazing speed, having been electronically clocked at 4.29 in the 40. However, the rising junior has never caught a pass in his 2-year career.

That last example alone is enough to show how bare the wide receiver cupboard is following the departures of Royal, Morgan, Harper and Hyman. When the guy who appears to be your most dependable receiver at this point has never caught a pass in a college game, then there's going to be a learning curve.

Despite all that, things aren't all that different right now than they were heading into the 2004 season. Here is a look at Tech's top returning pass catchers in 2004, based on their 2003 stats.

The Hokies lost all-time leading receiver Ernest Wilford, second leading receiver Justin Hamilton moved to tailback, Doug Easlick finished his career, Kevin Jones declared for the NFL Draft and Chris Shreve completed his eligibility.

Heading into 2004, we were all every bit as concerned about wide receiver as we are heading into 2008. With the knowledge of 2004 in mind, the best bet for 2008 is that this group will start out slow.

There will be at least one true freshman in the lineup. In 2004, Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan and Justin Harper all played as true freshmen. Dyrell Roberts is expected to fill that role this year, and he could get help from Randall Dunn and Jarrett Boykin as well.

If you'll recall, Tech opened the 2004 season against USC. Tech's most experienced wide receivers, such as Chris Clifton, let the offense down in that game. (Clifton had two drops, one deep in USC territory.) At that point, Frank Beamer decided his freshmen needed to be the primary targets, and they were for the remainder of the season. They had their struggles, and they weren't consistent, but by the end of the season they were a legit threat.

If Tech's receiving corps isn't up to par in the early part of this season, don't get worried. They aren't supposed to be. There is talent in the group, just not experience, so they should get better as the year goes on.