2005 will be a season of great expectations for Virginia Tech’s coaches, players and fans. Several years of quality recruiting classes, along with the restoration of VT’s lunch pail approach during last year’s magical ACC championship run, has many thinking that the Hokies have a chance to compete for national honors this fall. As with all college teams, the foundation for future success will be laid this spring.

In this article, I will preview the VT offense going into spring practice by highlighting the players that in my opinion are likely to be on the two deep, providing an analysis of the position, highlighting a player to watch at each position during the spring, and then mentioning a key question heading into the fall. I’ll also be doing a companion article on the defense. Without further ado, here’s my view of the Hokie offense going into the spring.

Eligibility noted will be as of fall 2005.

Depth Chart:

• Marcus Vick, R-JR
• Sean Glennon, T-SO or Cory Holt, R-FR

Analysis: It is impossible to quantify Bryan Randall’s contributions to the Virginia Tech football team last year. He was the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Year, but his leadership, determination and focus helped galvanize a program that had lost its “team first” identity. He will be missed.

The leading candidate to replace Randall is, of course, Marcus Vick. Vick’s physical attributes are matched by only a select few in college football as he has a strong and accurate arm, good quickness and blazing speed. Vick needs to work hard and stay focused on and off the field to maximize his potential and earn the respect of his fellow players and coaches.

Both of the quarterbacks in last year’s recruiting class are talented players who have bright futures. Sean Glennon has done a tremendous job in both the weight room and the film room, and he is expected to push Vick for the starting position. Glennon reads defenses very well, has a better arm than many gave him credit for coming out of high school, and he shows good timing in the passing game. He needs to continue to improve his pocket presence. Many fans have discussed the possibility of Glennon starting. It certainly is within the realm of possibility that Glennon wins the job, but I expect Vick to earn the nod this spring.

Cory Holt is probably the most accurate of all the quarterbacks in Blacksburg and he has a strong arm as well. Holt will need to continue to work on the mental aspects of the position, and the additional spring repetitions should be helpful to him. (Holt participated in Spring 2004 football, as well.) While neither Holt nor Glennon possess the mobility Marcus has, they both have prototype size and enough quickness to keep defenses honest.

Player to Watch: Cory Holt. If Holt emerges this spring and proves he can be a capable backup, then the VT coaches may have the luxury of redshirting Glennon. Assuming Marcus wins the job this spring, redshirting Glennon would be ideal as it would set up a scenario in 2007 where two redshirt juniors (Glennon and Holt) and two redshirt sophomores (Ike Whitaker and Greg Boone) with prodigious talent are all competing for the starting quarterback job.

Key Question heading into the fall: Will Marcus Vick (or Sean Glennon) be able to provide the same type of intangibles that Bryan Randall did? Randall at times struggled throwing the ball last year, but because of his focus, determination and commitment his teammates believed he would be at his best in the fourth quarter of a close game, and he was. That question really can’t be answered until next fall’s starting quarterback is in a tight spot in the fourth quarter, but with a conference as talented as the ACC the starting VT quarterback will have to make some key plays for the Hokies to repeat as conference champions.

• Cedric Humes, R-SR and Mike Imoh, T-SR
• Brandon Ore, R-FR or George Bell, R-FR

Analysis: Because of their experience and talent, Humes and Imoh will reside atop the depth chart this spring. Each brings something different to the table. Humes, a full year removed from his leg injury, is a physical 230-pound back with some shiftiness. His spring testing times suggest his acceleration is back.

Imoh is a darting, elusive and tough runner who also has good enough hands to have seen time at wide receiver. I think he’ll be even more effective this year than he was last year, because VT has the depth to give him 15 touches a game, rather than pound him into the line 25-30 times per game.

Both redshirt freshmen are intriguing. Ore has been getting raves from the staff and existing players, with Lee Suggs comparisons commonplace. He has speed and runs with good strength and body lean. Bell has worked very hard during his redshirt year to add speed and further define his body. He might end up being the best short yardage back for the Hokies.

Player to Watch: Brandon Ore. Humes and Imoh are known commodities, but Ore may have more big play potential than either. In order to get time, Ore has to improve his game without the ball in his hands.

Key Question heading into the fall: How will carries be distributed with this much talent? Humes was expected to be the headliner last fall, but the injury really impacted his game. He possesses the size, speed and strength to get the bulk of the carries, but there is too much competition for this job for him to be hesitant with the ball in his hands. Imoh has proven he can handle a 30 carry plus workload, but I don’t think he’ll need to this year, with the depth at the position. I expect to see a running back by committee approach with both freshmen also receiving carries.

• Jesse Allen, R-JR
• George Bell, R-FR or Carlton Weatherford, R-SO

Analysis: I will preface my comments by saying that I don’t know anything about either George Bell or John Kinzer’s ultimate destination, but for the time being I will consider Bell at fullback and Kinzer at tight end. Overall, much like quarterback and tailback, I think this position will be improved this fall.

Jesse Allen continues to get bigger, stronger and faster in the VT weight program. Allen is north of 240 pounds right now and is a true lead fullback who relishes the idea of hitting a middle linebacker on an isolation play. He also has good hands, one notable Sugar Bowl play notwithstanding, and should be an asset in the passing game. Allen appears poised to move from rising prospect to quality ACC starter.

Bell may stay at tailback, but I doubt he’ll get more carries there than either of the seniors (and perhaps Ore) so it may make sense to give him some snaps at fullback as well. He could add a Marcus Parker or Cullen Hawkins dimension at fullback, as he has very good running skills and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Bell is about 220, so he wouldn’t have typical fullback size, but his strength is impressive. If Bell stays at tailback and Kinzer plays tight end, look for Weatherford to get a lot of snaps. He’s a tough, competitive kid who has a great initial “pop” when he gets into a defender. Incoming freshman Kenny Jefferson is expected to figure into the two deep this fall.

Player to watch this spring: George Bell. With the fullback depth chart seemingly being thinned out by the potential move of Kinzer and the conditioning of Michael Green, Bell may have a chance to get some quality snaps this year if he can pick up the position.

Key question for the fall: Who will be taking snaps at the position in the fall? Allen is a certainty at this position, but the other candidates may be at another position (Bell and Kinzer) or will be unproven (Weatherford, Green or Jefferson).

• Jeff King, R-SR
• Duane Brown, R-SO
• John Kinzer, R-SO

Analysis: Jeff King had a great junior season, earning second team All ACC honors, and he may end up first team in 2005, now that Heath Miller has moved on to the NFL. King has great hands and is a tough, dependable receiver. He may miss some time this spring, depending on when the basketball season ends for the Hokies.

Duane Brown has the look of a big time athlete. He has an enormous frame and was carrying more than 280 pounds at times last year. Despite his size, he has terrific hands and enough speed to get open. He and King will be on the field together in some two tight end sets.

John Kinzer’s ultimate position hasn’t been determined, but he was listed as a tight end in spring conditioning so I’ll evaluate him here. Kinzer is a terrific all around athlete, but he struggled at times with his health and consistency during his stint last year at fullback. Although he has less than ideal tight end height, he may benefit from being an in-line blocker. Kinzer’s ultimate destination may impact the redshirt decision of incoming TE prospect Ed Wang. Wang has great potential as a blocker, but will still need to develop his speed.

Player to watch this spring: Duane Brown. We know what King provides, but Brown has NFL type ability and unparalleled size (for VT) at the position. The biggest question mark may well be whether he is destined to outgrow the position.

Key question for the fall: Will VT use as many two and even three tight end sets next year as they did last year? My suspicion is that the staff will not play with as many multiple tight end sets given the available talent at wide receiver and the fact that Jesse Allen is establishing himself as a solid lead blocker out of I formation sets. Still, I think the staff will make sure both King and Brown play a lot.

• Josh Hyman, R-SO
• Josh Morgan, T-SO

• David Clowney, T-JR
• Justin Harper, T-SO

(Eddie Royal, T-SO, is questionable for the spring)

Analysis: This is an impressive array of young talent, and they each bring something slightly different to the table. VT has never had this much talent and playmaking ability in one receiving corps. Further coaching should help alleviate some of last year’s inconsistency.

Hyman doesn’t necessarily stand out in any one area, but he’s very good in all of them. He is very competitive with the ball in the air, he runs solid routes and he practices with an attention to detail. Morgan is still learning the particulars of the position, but he’s got all the tools to be the jumbo physical receiver that every team needs. His athleticism is fantastic, and he showed improved route running skills late in the year. His two Sugar Bowl touchdowns could portend great things to come.

Eddie Royal is the most dangerous of all the wide receivers with the ball in his hands. He is blazing fast, shifty and elusive. Although he may not get time this spring while recovering from surgery, rest assured he’ll see the field this fall.

David Clowney is the true speed merchant in this year’s corps. He is the best pure deep threat for the Hokies, and he and Marcus seemed to have a good on-field rapport two years ago. Justin Harper got less playing time than anyone else mentioned here, but he may be the best down the road prospect. He has great size at 6’4” and was described when recruited as “a more athletic Ernest Wilford”. He struggled some with the nuances of the position, but he should benefit from more reps this spring.

Player to watch this spring: Justin Harper. The absence, or limited participation, of Royal should allow Harper to show his stuff for the staff. He can make the great play, but he needs to work hard to do the little things right.

Key question for the fall: Is this group collectively ready to go from promising to dominating? With a year to work on route running, avoiding the jam at the line, sight adjustments and other techniques, the possibility is there for a much more consistent passing game this fall.

• Jimmy Martin, T-SR
• Brandon Frye, R-JR

• Reggie Butler, T-SR
• Nick Marshman, R-FR

Analysis: Jimmy Martin has the experience and talent to be an anchor protecting the blind side for whichever quarterback wins the job. He has very good footwork and is a solid technician in the run game.

Brandon Frye has impressive strength and conditioning numbers, but he switched over to the offensive line last year and has very little game experience. He will need to step his game up a notch because VT simply does not have a lot of tackle depth.

Reggie Butler has a lot of experience, although a significant amount of it has come at guard. He will need to work on his footwork and his concentration because pass blocking at tackle is far more demanding than inside. The staff would like to use three and four wide sets this fall to maximize the talent on the field, but that plan is predicated on Butler (or whomever is at right tackle) being able to pass block without tight end help.

Nick Marshman is a very promising young player. After enrolling midyear, he made significant strides in the weight room and if that improvement translates to the field he will challenge Butler for the starting position. As of now, however, he still hasn’t played a snap in a college game, so his inexperience is a major concern.

The other potential tackle backup is JR Brandon Gore. Gore was very highly recruited, but he has not established himself. If he doesn’t make a move this spring, he may never see significant time for VT.

If you want to pinpoint a big question mark on offense this spring, take a look at right tackle.

Player to watch this spring: Nick Marshman. The consensus is that he probably needs to ease into playing time, but if he can play well this spring that would give the coaches the option of using Butler in a utility role up front, much like they did with Jacob Gibson.

Key question heading into the fall: Are Frye and Marshman ready for prime time? Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear like the coaches have a lot of options if they aren’t ready. Gore doesn’t seem viable, and the three incoming tackle prospects (Robert Norris, Eric Davis and Richard Graham) are not being touted as ready made. Norris is the one that would appear most likely to play early, but even that is a stretch.

• Will Montgomery, R-SR
• Tripp Carroll, R-SO or Mike Parham, R-JR

• Jason Murphy, R-SR
• Matt Welsh, R-FR or Mike Parham, R-JR

Montgomery had a good year last year despite playing at center rather than his natural position. With his return back to left guard, he should emerge as an all league candidate. He is the most physical of the VT starters in the running game, and his competitiveness and leadership will be key to the line.

Jason Murphy moved into the starting lineup during the season last year, and thereafter the VT running game seemed to take it up a notch. While Murphy still has technical things to improve – remember he was a defensive tackle for his first two years – he should be a solid starter.

As for the backups, much like tackle there are question marks. Carroll was very highly recruited. After initially struggled with the transition to college, Carroll was starting to play well before concussions sidelined him. He has the potential to be on the two deep if he continues to work hard and is able to stay injury free. Welsh was also well regarded, but he may not have the disposition to really excel in the interior line. He’s a very young player, however, so it is far to early to draw any conclusions.

Parham is a player that Coach Stinespring has praised on more than one occasion. A walk-on, Parham is a determined player who plays within the scheme and does what it asked. He could back up any of the interior positions, but my guess is that he settles as a backup at guard this spring.

Player to watch this spring: Tripp Carroll. The Hokies need to have depth emerge, and Tripp has a full year more in the system than Welsh does. If he doesn’t step it up this year, he will find himself battling for time with incoming freshmen Brandon Holland or Tony North. Either of those two may be capable of playing in the fall.

Key question heading into the fall: Will a freshman be needed to play this fall? The coaches would probably prefer to redshirt both guard candidates (Norris could also project here), but if the backups struggle, Holland or North could find the field. Holland benefited greatly from his prep year, and North has an aggressive demeanor that can’t be coached. However, playing true freshmen, especially without the benefit of spring practice, is a tough business on the offensive line.

• Danny McGrath, R-JR or Ryan Shuman, R-FR

Analysis: Although admittedly neither player has any significant experience, I feel okay about the center position. McGrath has very good strength numbers and has been a part of the program for a while. Based on the buzz around him, I think he is capable of being a solid contributor this fall and I would give him a slight edge in the race to start.

Shuman has received a significant amount of praise from the coaches, and he put his redshirt season to use gaining a lot of good weight. While not as strong as McGrath, he understands leverage well and is pretty athletic. He projects as a big time player down the line.

Mike Parham or Tripp Carroll could see backup snaps here if one of McGrath or Shuman got injured.

Player to watch this spring: Ryan Shuman. He may not be ready to play every down yet, but he sounds like at least a three year starter somewhere on the offensive line. VT has a history of NFL quality centers since Jim Pyne, and he may be the next one.