Blacksburg’s Cole Beck picks up yardage against Cave Spring on Friday, gaining 70 yards on 12 carries, and scoring two touchdowns in a 49-7 win.
By Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Four months ago, Virginia Tech had not even made a scholarship offer to Blacksburg standout runningback Cole Beck, and his final five choices did not include the neighboring university. In June, the Hokies entered the “Beck sweepstakes” and quickly moved into his top choices.
After Blacksburg’s Friday night win over Patrick Henry, Beck came out of the locker room wearing a Hokie jersey and hat. He chose them over Pitt and North Carolina.
“I feel Virginia Tech is the perfect place for me to play football and run track,” he said.
Beck said he has been told by the Hokie coaching staff he will be given a chance to play running back.
So far, this season, he has rushed for 852 yards and 12 touchdowns. Last year, he almost doubled his regular season output in five state playoff games, rushing for a total of 2,156 yards with 35 touchdowns.
In track, Beck gives the Hokies a sprinter they have missed in two ACC championships. He has been clocked with the nation’s elite runners in both the 100 and 200 meters. That included helping the Bruins to a state indoor title with a first place in the 55 meters. He would then win both the 100 and 200 in the Group 3A outdoor championships. Then later in the month, he finished second in a national event in Greensboro with 10.41 seconds in the 100 meters.
Beck received offers from 22 colleges including most of the schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference before choosing Virginia Tech.
