Virginia Tech has always been known for their reputation for producing top notch defensive backs, particularly cornerbacks. This week, Jayron Hosley became the latest Tech cornerback to be named an All-American.

Seven Tech cornerbacks have earned All-American honors during the Beamer Bowl Era, including four different players since the Hokies joined the ACC.

That's quite a lot of talent, particularly since conference realignment. The only years of ACC play during which Tech didn't have an All-American cornerback were 2004 and 2009, and they arguably should have had one in each season. Jimmy Williams was better in 2004 than he was in 2005, yet he was a Unanimous All-American in 2005. In 2009, Rashad Carmichael had six interceptions and was easily good enough to make one of the All-American teams.

Hosley was named a First Team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation earlier this week. As a true sophomore, he is the youngest of all of Tech's cornerbacks to earn All-American honors.

Hosley hails from Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, FL. That's the same high school that produced former First Team All-American Brandon Flowers. Flowers was one of the big reasons that Hosley gave Virginia Tech a chance during the recruiting process. Flowers has gone on to develop into one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL.

Flowers is also the only cornerback to be named to an All-American team in two different seasons. He was a Third Team All-American in 2006, while he earned First Team honors in 2007.  Hosley will have a chance to repeat the feat next season.

Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray is starting to earn quite a reputation for developing defensive backs. First Team All-Americans Brandon Flowers, Macho Harris and Jayron Hosley all played for Gray, as does Rashad Carmichael, who is currently projected to go as high as the third round in April's NFL Draft.

The Virginia Tech tradition looks like it is going to continue for at least a few more years. Jayron Hosley will be back in 2011 for his junior season, and Kyle Fuller looked very good in 2010 as a true freshman. Detrick Bonner, who is currently redshirting as a cornerback, has also drawn good reviews from the coaching staff.

Besides cornerbacks, Tech has many other defensive backs play in the NFL, including Vincent Fuller, Kam Chancellor, Cody Grimm (a whip at Tech, and a safety in the NFL), Nick Sorensen, Pierson Prioleau, Aaron Rouse, Keion Carpenter, among others.

This is a major calling card for recruits. Virginia Tech has a proven ability to identify excellent defensive back prospects, and then fully develop them into NFL players. High school defensive back recruits can't do any better than Virginia Tech when it comes to getting good coaching. That's a proven fact.