2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football
ACC champion ACC Coastal Division champion
ACC Championship Game, W 30–16 vs. Boston College
Orange Bowl, L 21–24 vs. Kansas
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Coastal Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 9
AP	No. 9
2007 record	11–3 (7–1 ACC)
Head coach	Frank Beamer (21st season)
Offensive coordinator	Bryan Stinespring (6th season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Bud Foster (13th season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Lane Stadium (c. 66,233, grass)
Seasons

2007 ACC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic
#10 Boston College x		6	–	2					11	–	3
#21 Clemson		5	–	3					9	–	4
Wake Forest		5	–	3					9	–	4
Florida State		4	–	4					7	–	6
Maryland		3	–	5					6	–	7
NC State		3	–	5					5	–	7
Coastal
#9 Virginia Tech x†		7	–	1					11	–	3
Virginia		6	–	2					9	–	4
Georgia Tech		4	–	4					7	–	6
North Carolina		3	–	5					4	–	8
Miami		2	–	6					5	–	7
Duke		0	–	8					1	–	11
Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 16
† – BCS representative as champion ‡ – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer.

The Hokies entered the season returning nine starters on offense and eight on defense, including All-American cornerback Brandon Flowers, from a 2006 team that went 10-3 and finished second in the ACC's Coastal Division behind Georgia Tech.

After the Virginia Tech massacre claimed the lives of 32 students and faculty members on Monday, April 16, 2007, the remainder of spring practice was canceled. The Hokies had been scheduled to hold two more practices in addition to a spring game on Saturday. As a special tribute, ESPN's College GameDay program broadcast from Blacksburg for the Hokies' opening game against East Carolina.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	12:00 p.m.	East Carolina*	No. 9	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (College GameDay)	ESPN	W 17–7	66,233
September 8	9:15 p.m.	at No. 2 LSU*	No. 9	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (College GameDay)	ESPN	L 7–48	92,739
September 15	1:30 p.m.	Ohio*	No. 18	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	ESPN360	W 28–7	66,233
September 22	1:30 pm	William & Mary*	No. 17	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	ACC Select	W 44–3	66,233
September 29	12:00 p.m.	North Carolina	No. 17	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	LFS	W 17–10	66,233
October 6	6:00 p.m.	at No. 22 Clemson	No. 15	Memorial Stadium Clemson, SC	ESPN	W 41–23	82,047
October 13	12:00 pm	at Duke	No. 12	Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC	LFS	W 43–14	23,691
October 25	7:45 p.m.	No. 2 Boston College	No. 8	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)	ESPN	L 10–14	66,233
November 1	7:45 p.m.	at Georgia Tech	No. 11	Bobby Dodd Stadium Atlanta, GA (Battle of the Techs)	ESPN	W 27–3	52,202
November 10	3:30 p.m.	Florida State	No. 11	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	ABC	W 40–21	66,233
November 17	3:30 p.m.	Miami (FL)	No. 10	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)	ABC	W 44–14	66,233
November 24	12:00 p.m.	at No. 16 Virginia	No. 8	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (Commonwealth Cup)	ESPN	W 33–21	61,711
December 1	1:00 p.m.	vs. No. 12 Boston College	No. 6	Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville, FL (ACC Championship Game / rivalry)	ABC	W 30–16	53,212
January 3, 2008	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 8 Kansas	No. 5	Dolphin Stadium Miami Gardens, FL (Orange Bowl)	FOX	L 21–24	74,111
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Personnel

Coaching staff

Position	Name	First year at VT	First year in current position
Head Coach	Frank Beamer	1987	1987
Associate Head Coach and Running Backs Coach	Billy Hite	1978	2001
Offensive Coordinator and Tight Ends	Bryan Stinespring	1990	2006 (Offensive coordinator since 2002)
Defensive Coordinator and Inside linebackers	Bud Foster	1987	1995
Offensive Line	Curt Newsome	2006	2006
Wide Receivers	Kevin Sherman	2006	2006
Strong Safety, Outside Linebackers, and Recruiting Coordinator	Jim Cavanaugh	1996	2002
Quarterbacks	Mike O'Cain	2006	2006
Defensive backs	Torrian Gray	2006	2006
Defensive Line	Charley Wiles	1996	1996
Source: hokiesports.com

Roster

Flanker    Paul Debnam – Sophomore    Matt Finnegan – RS Sophomore  4 Eddie Royal – Senior 19 Josh Hyman – RS Senior 34 Danny Coale – Redshirting 48 Jacob Sykes – Freshman 80 Brandon Dillard – RS Sophomore Split End    Michael Reid – Junior  2 Josh Morgan – Senior  3 Ike Whitaker – RS Sophomore 16 Zach Luckett – RS Freshman 37 Patrick Terry – Freshman 81 Justin Harper – Senior 87 Prince Parker – RS Freshman Center    Barrett Mears – RS Freshman 58 Ryan Shuman – RS Junior 60 Beau Warren – RS Freshman 69 Michael Cassidy – RS Freshman Offensive Guard 51 Matt Welsh – RS Junior 64 Richard Graham – RS Sophomore 66 Brandon Holland – Sophomore 68 Jaymes Brooks – Freshman 69 Hivera Green – RS Sophomore 70 Sergio Render – Sophomore 74 Khalil Latif – Freshman 79 Eric Davis – RS Sophomore Offensive Tackle 57 Clark Crum – RS Freshman 62 Blake DeChristopher – Freshman 63 Will Alvarez – Freshman 67 Nick Marshman – RS Junior 71 Aaron Brown – RS Freshman 76 Duane Brown – RS Senior 77 Ed Wang – RS Sophomore Tight End    Andrew Lanier – Freshman  8 Greg Boone – RS Sophomore 83 Sam Wheeler – RS Sophomore 86 Chris Drager – Freshman 88 Andre Smith – RS Freshman 94 Greg Nosal – Freshman		Quarterback    3 Jeff Beyer – Sophomore  5 Tyrod Taylor – Freshman  7 Sean Glennon – RS Junior 12 Cory Holt – RS Junior 14 Grant Throckmorton – RS Senior Tailback    D.J. Thomas – Freshman 20 Kenny Lewis, Jr. – Sophomore 32 DuVall Gibson-"Freshman" 27 Jahre Cheeseman – RS Sophomore 28 Brandon Ore – RS Junior 29 Devin Radford – RS Freshman 30 Josh Oglesby – Freshman 35 Dustin Pickle – Junior 38 Elan Lewis – RS Sophomore 40 Darren Evans – Freshman Fullback    Kenny Younger – Sophomore 39 Carlton Weatherford – RS Senior 40 Billy Gorham – Senior 42 Kenny Jefferson – RS Sophomore 44 Devin Perez – RS Junior Defensive tackle    Courtney Prince – Freshman 55 Daryl Robertson – RS Freshman 59 Barry Booker – RS Senior 75 Kory Robertson – RS Senior 91 John Graves – RS Freshman 93 Kwamaine Battle – Freshman 95 Cordarrow Thompson – RS Sophomore 99 Carlton Powell – RS Senior Defensive End    Chad Carlson – RS Sophomore    Miles Sanchez – RS Sophomore    Jacob Gardner – RS Sophomore    Dylan McGreevy – Junior 43 Jason Worilds – RS Freshman 47 Nekos Brown – Sophomore 49 Chris Ellis – RS Senior 56 Demetrius Taylor – RS Sophomore 90 Orion Martin – RS Junior 96 Justin Young – RS Freshman		Cornerback    Ron Cooper – Sophomore  1 Victor Harris – Junior 15 Roland Minor – RS Senior 18 Brandon Flowers – RS Junior 21 Rashad Carmichael – RS Freshman 22 Stephan Virgil – Sophomore 36 Cris Hill – Freshman Linebacker    Mark Muncey – RS Freshman    Quillie Odom – Freshman    Tim Richardson – RS Freshman    Alonzo Tweedy – Freshman  6 Andrew Bowman – RS Junior  9 Vince Hall – RS Senior 11 Xavier Adibi – RS Senior 13 Corey Gordon – RS Senior 26 Cody Grimm – RS Sophomore 33 Brett Warren – RS Junior 41 Cam Martin – RS Sophomore 45 Purnell Sturdivant – RS Junior 46 Hunter Ovens – Freshman 52 Barquell Rivers – Freshman 82 Steven Friday – RS Freshman 89 Jonas Houseright – RS Junior Free Safety 23 Mario Edwards – RS Freshman 25 D.J. Parker – Senior 31 Davon Morgan – Freshman Rover 17 Kam Chancellor – Sophomore 24 Dorian Porch – RS Sophomore 86 Matt Reidy – Sophomore Snapper 63 Matt Tuttle – Junior 54 Bart McMillin – RS Senior 61 Scott King – Senior Punter    Brian Saunders – RS Freshman 97 Brent Bowden – RS Sophomore Place Kicker    Dustin Keys – RS Sophomore    Matt Waldron – RS Freshman 92 Jud Dunlevy – RS Senior 98 Jared Develli – Senior Athlete    Kendrick Pressley – Freshman
Source: hokiesports.com Starters are in bold, based on pre-season depth chart from the 2007 media guide

Recruiting

National Signing Day was on 2007-02-07. The Hokies' recruiting class was highlighted by Tyrod Taylor, who was rated the #1 dual threat quarterback in the country. Taylor was announced as the Hokies' #2 quarterback on August 21.

Below is a list of the recruits that signed their letter of intent with Virginia Tech:

Recruits

Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40‡ Commit date Will Alvarez OL Woodbridge, Virginia C. D. Hylton 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) 315 lb (143 kg) 5.6 Jun 15, 2006  Scout:File:4 stars.svg.png   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 77 Brandon Barden TE Lincolnton, Georgia Lincoln County 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) 211 lb (96 kg) 4.6 Jan 1, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 71 Kwamaine Battle DT Bailey, North Carolina Southern Nash 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 260 lb (120 kg) 4.9 Jul 8, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 71 Jaymes Brooks OL Newport News, Virginia Denbigh 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 290 lb (130 kg) 4.93 Jul 28, 2007  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40 Collin Carroll LS/C Hopkins, Minnesota Edina 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) 260 lb (120 kg) - Jan 29, 2007  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40 Danny Coale WR Lexington, Virginia Episcopal 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) 195 lb (88 kg) 4.42 Jun 14, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 69 Blake DeChristopher OL Midlothian, Virginia Clover Hill 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) 310 lb (140 kg) 5 Jul 5, 2005  Scout:   Rivals:File:4 stars.svg.png   ESPN grade: 79 Chris Drager TE Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania Thomas Jefferson 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) 234 lb (106 kg) 4.8 Jul 9, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 74 Darren Evans RB Indianapolis Warren Central 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 217 lb (98 kg) 4.71 Jul 15, 2006  Scout:File:4 stars.svg.png   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 79 Cris Hill DB Highland Springs, Virginia Highland Springs 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) 190 lb (86 kg) 4.4 Dec 14, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:File:4 stars.svg.png   ESPN grade: 78 Andrew Lanier TE Spartanburg, South Carolina Dorman 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) 250 lb (110 kg) 4.7 Jul 6, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40 Ibn Latif OL Midlothian, Virginia Manchester 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 290 lb (130 kg) 4.92 Jul 31, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 74 Davon Morgan ATH Richmond, Virginia Varina 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) 186 lb (84 kg) 4.58 Jul 26, 2006  Scout:File:4 stars.svg.png   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 77 Greg Nosal TE Virginia Beach, Virginia Kellam 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) 255 lb (116 kg) 5 Jul 25, 2007  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40 Quillie Odom LB Potomac, Virginia Osbourn Park 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) 200 lb (91 kg) 4.6 May 31, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 71 Josh Oglesby RB Garner, North Carolina Garner 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) 205 lb (93 kg) 4.43 Jul 15, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 77 Hunter Ovens LB Sarasota, Florida Cardinal Mooney 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) 220 lb (100 kg) 4.5 Aug 21, 2006  Scout:File:4 stars.svg.png   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 74 Kendrick Pressley ATH Sumter, South Carolina Sumter 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) 168 lb (76 kg) 4.62 Oct 20, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40 Courtney Prince DT Brandywine, Maryland Gwynn Park 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) 253 lb (115 kg) 5 Jul 31, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 69 Barquell Rivers LB Wadesboro, North Carolina Anson 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) 208 lb (94 kg) 4.5 Aug 1, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 78 Tyrod Taylor QB Hampton, Virginia Hampton 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 200 lb (91 kg) 4.55 Jul 21, 2006  Scout:File:5 stars.svg.png   Rivals:File:5 stars.svg.png   ESPN grade: 84 Patrick Terry WR South Boston, Virginia Halifax County 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) 180 lb (82 kg) 4.5 Jul 8, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40 D.J. Thomas ATH Ashland, Virginia Patrick Henry 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) 170 lb (77 kg) 4.56 Aug 15, 2006  Scout:File:4 stars.svg.png   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 78 Alonzo Tweedy ATH Richmond, Virginia Hermitage 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 173 lb (78 kg) 4.5 Jul 31, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 74 Justin Young DE Germantown, Maryland Northwest 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) 255 lb (116 kg) 4.8 Jul 25, 2006  Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40 Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 24   Rivals: 29 ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout and Rivals may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, an average of the two was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Virginia Tech 2007 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/commitments/2007/alabama-virginiatech. Retrieved 2007-03-05. "2007 Virginia Tech Commits". Scout.com. http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=191&p=9&c=8&yr=2007. Retrieved 2007-03-05. "2007 Player Commitments – Virginia Tech". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/college-football/recruiting/school/_/id/259/class/2007. Retrieved 2007-03-05. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=191&p=9&c=14&yr=2007. Retrieved 2007-03-05. "2007 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. http://www.rivals.com/TeamRank.asp?type=0&sort=0&year=2007. Retrieved 2007-03-05.

Post-season awards

Following the Hokies' victory over Virginia, which clinched the division title, Xavier Adibi, Chris Ellis, Victor Harris, and Eddie Royal were honored as first team all-ACC, while Barry Booker, Duane Brown and Brandon Flowers were recognized on the second team.

References

Template:Atlantic Coast Conference football champions