Marty Gordon
This was the first year for the Appalachian Prep Combine high school football event held May 2 at Princeton, West Virginia, High School, and at least two players from Blacksburg were invited to the event.
Linebacker Cole Epperley and Quarterback Grant Johnston participated in combine that included 100 players from North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. The activities also drew Division I, II and III coaches from around the country.
Both Bruins are rising seniors and are starting to attract a lot attention from college scouts, who called Epperly “athletic with the size to play safety or linebacker at the next level.”
Johnston was named the combine’s MVP quarterback. The Combine also included former Christiansburg QB Xavier Kane who is now at the Blue Ridge School.
Former Virginia Tech linebacker Dadi Nicolas (6-3, 235) has been traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Cleveland Browns where he will join former-Tech Quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Nicolas had been drafted by the chiefs in 2016 and did not play last season because of an injury.
He finished with 166 tackles and 17 1/2 sacks during his time in Blacksburg.
Eight NFL clubs jumpstarted mini-camps for rookies and first-year players this past Friday, with the league’s remaining 24 teams opening their rookie camps on May 11. Tight end Bucky Hodges, who recently signed with the New York Jets, was the only Tech alum scheduled to be in action, while a host of other Hokies will hit the fields next weekend.
Buffalo currently owns the distinction of having the most Hokies on its roster with four – LB Tremaine Edmunds, G Wyatt Teller, TE Logan Thomas and WR Cam Phillips.
While no longer serving as an NFL head coach, former Tech QB Bruce Arians will be joining the CBS Sports team, calling NFL games with Greg Gumbel and Trent Green
CB Kendall Fuller’s trade from Washington to Kansas City as part of the Quarterback Alex Smith deal became official on March 14, as did the trade of Quarterback Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland from Buffalo.
“Fuller Fest” will take place on August 25 in Chicago when Kyle Fuller (Bears) and Kendall Fuller (Chiefs) will both be on an NFL field together for the first time as Kansas City visits Soldier Field for a preseason contest.
Edmunds Bowl I could potentially happen on December 23 in New Orleans when Pittsburgh visits the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. That contest has the potential to pit Running back Trey Edmunds (Saints) against Safety Terrell Edmunds (Steelers).
Terrell Edmunds won’t have long to face a fellow Virginia Tech alums.
The Steelers visit Cleveland on Sept. 9 to open the regular season, where Taylor is anticipated to make his debut as the Browns’ starting signal caller.
The following week, the Steelers host Kansas City and CB Kendall Fuller on Sept. 16.
Pittsburgh’s fourth home game will also feature another alum of The Real #DBU, when Safety Chuck Clark and the Ravens visit Heinz Field on Sept. 30.
There will be several changes to the way college teams look this coming season as the NCAA has handed down new uniform requirements. Under the plan, the following will be enforced: The entire knee must now be covered. Jerseys can’t be rolled up to reveal stomach, and t-shirts cannot show below the jersey itself.
Radford University has made a basketball offer to Cameron Brown (6-4, guard) of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland. He has averaged in double-figures the past two seasons and is the son of former Blacksburg High School standout athlete Debbie Wade.
Brandon Crawford, a Christiansburg body building who was featured in a recent story, placed first in the Novice and light heavyweight men’s open in Harrisonburg last week. He also finished second overall, qualifying for nationals.
USA Today has released its preseason college football poll, and Virginia Tech is number 18. Clemson is Number 1 and Alabama 2 in the “too early”, post-spring poll. Wisconsin is three, followed by Washington, Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, TCU, Penn State and Miami.
Another defensive tackle is leaving Virginia Tech. J’Bril Glaze (6-1, 289 freshman) from Tampa, Florida, has announced his departure.
Radford University and the city of Radford will host this year’s collegiate Big South Conference softball championships May 9-12. The opening bracket will have the #4 seed vs. #5, and #3 seed vs. #6 seed. Currently, host-Radford is third and could finish no lower than the fourth seed. I expect them to finish third, thus playing Charleston Southern in the opener.
The Lady Highlanders are currently 11-8 and are coming off a loss to Charleston Southern who they will likely face in that opening round game.
The Christiansburg Recreation Department has announced winners from its recent “Pitch, Hit and Run” competition. Ali Taylor was tops in the girls’ 7-8 year-olds, while Addison Linkous was first in the 11-12 year old girls division. Finley Elam took the boys’ 7-8 year old division with Landon Usher first in the 9-10 age group. Lukas Graley finished first in the 11-12 year-old age group, and Eli Foutz took first n the 13-14 age group.
Several area athletes are tops in the state in their respective track and field events. They include: Cole Beck, Blacksburg, 10.37 in 100 meters and 21.28 in the 200 meters; Blacksburg’s boys’ 4X200 relay team with a time of 1:20.59; Kaitlynn Wolfe, Blacksburg, 3200 meters, 10:45.39; Blacksburg’s girls’ 4X200 relay team, 1:30.59; Nolan Harris, Auburn, boys’ 2-mile, 9:37.19; and Sophia Link, Blacksburg, 2-mile, 11:45.18.
The PGA of America has announced the current Official Standings for the 2018 United States Junior Ryder Cup Team, as of May 3. Chris Zhang of Blacksburg is tied for 19th overall in the standings.
The U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team will feature six boys and six girls who are U.S. citizens and members of the high school graduating class of 2019, or younger.
The 11th Junior Ryder Cup will be contested between the U.S. and Europe at Disneyland Paris, Sept. 24-25. The American team is vying for its sixth straight victory in the biennial competition.
