Hokie Football Outlook, Part IV
Headlines
* Key loss: Fullback Jesse Allen
* Key returnee: Tailback Branden Ore - His 2006 totals of 17 touchdowns and 1,137 yards rank fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Tech record books, and he became the first-ever Hokie to register a pair of 200-yard performances. He accomplished the feat in back-to-back games, and was the only player in the nation last year to do so.
* Battle to watch: Second TB - Billy Hite would like to give Branden Ore more of a rest during games this season, and wants to settle on a No. 2 between Kenny Lewis, Jr., Jahre Cheeseman and Elan Lewis who can fill in for 15-20 plays.
* Spring standout: Sean Glennon was said to have had a different air about him in the spring. The game has slowed down for him, and he stepped in and had complete control and command of the offense.
The Players
Tailback
Branden Ore (R-Jr.) - Is coming off a first-team All-ACC season ... Coaches are proud of the way he's grown up on and off the field ... A great competitor and outstanding player with a great shot at playing at the next level if he continues to perform.
KENNY LEWIS, JR. (So.) - Has gotten better every time he's been on the field ... Made outstanding progress last year after being away from the game as a baseball player ... Coach Hite said he's never coached a kid who has worked as hard as him.
JAHRE CHEESEMAN (R-So.) - Hurt his foot in a jayvee game and had surgery not long after moving from CB last year ... Had an eye-opening spring and made great progress ... A special talent who could help out in the fall after getting more reps.
ELAN LEWIS (R-So.) - Was hampered by a knee injury last year but has shown promise ... Has great vision and strength ... Has good speed and can break tackles ... Is working hard to be more consistent and to keep extra weight off.
DUSTIN PICKLE (Jr.) - A walk-on who played special teams last year ... Coaches like what he's all about, and he is working hard in the weight room.
Fullback
CARLTON WEATHERFORD (R-Sr.) - Has gotten bigger, stronger and faster since walking on, and coaches can't say enough about him ... An outstanding blocker who also does a good job of catching the football.
KENNY JEFFERSON (R-So.) - Coming out of high school, coaches thought he was the best blocking fullback they'd seen in a long time ... Has made great improvement mentally and is everything the coaches want in an I-formation fullback.
DEVIN PEREZ (R-Jr.) - A bowling ball-like blocker with great strength and a mean streak ... Played on the goal-line offense last year.
BILLY GORHAM (Sr.) - A walk-on who has done well on special teams, but nagging injuries have kept him from playing more.
Quarterback
SEAN GLENNON (R-Jr.) - Coaches thought he did a good job running the offense and managing the game last fall ... They like his competitiveness, determination, work ethic and consistency ... Needs to work on ball-carrying and delivering the ball more quickly when he's on the move ... Had a great spring, and demonstrated leadership, confidence and a complete control of the game.
IKE WHITAKER (R-So.) - Missed the bowl game after leaving the team to undergo rehab for alcohol abuse last December ... Coaches think he's doing what he needs to do and has changed for the better ... A tremendous athlete who can make things happen, but needs to learn the offense better and be more consistent ... Has a better knowledge of how the system works after spring, where he was very productive in scrimmage situations.
CORY HOLT (R-Jr.) - Coaches like his temperament and the way he competes, and is much improved with his consistency throwing the football following the spring ... Understands the offense, but didn't get a chance to display it in limited action.
Coach Hite on the Running Backs
"I feel so much better coming out of this spring than I did last year at this time. I feel very comfortable with both the fullbacks and the tailbacks, and I'm looking forward to all of them having a great year for us. More specifically, I've always played two tailbacks and I like doing that. Last year, I played Branden Ore a lot more than I wanted to, but I think we're at a point right now where the other guys are closing the gap a little bit, and I think that's important to us because now I am more comfortable inserting someone else in there to give Branden a breather. In addition, I have 3-4 good fullbacks who are all pretty even with each other. The depth that we have at these positions this coming season, as compared to last year, is remarkable."
Coach O'Cain on the Quarterbacks
"I was really pleased with the spring, and I felt that our top three guys all improved from the fall. Not only are my players improved, but so am I. I feel more comfortable coaching them. Last spring, I had just come in and I was learning a new system. In some ways, they knew the system better than I did. Now we are all comfortable with each other, and Sean Glennon in particular exuded confidence, which in turn has made the entire team more confident in him."
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