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The Hokies' Greg Boone poses a matchup nightmare for defensive coordinators: He's too big for defensive backs, too fast for linebackers. |
BY JIM McCONNELL
BLACKSBURG--
Is he a tight end? A fullback? A wide receiver? Or is he merely a quarterback masquerading as something else?When it comes to Greg Boone, Virginia Tech intends to keep opponents guessing.
"I think he's the most versatile guy we've ever recruited here, and I think we need to use that versatility," coach Frank Beamer said recently. "I think he needs to be at different places on the field and given the ball."
Boone's emergence as a playmaker comes at a perfect time for the Hokies, who must replace their top four receivers and top rusher from last year's Atlantic Coast Conference championship squad.
The situation grew even more desperate last week when sophomore flanker Zach Luckett was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.
Even with Luckett, Virginia Tech's receiving corps was greener than the grass inside Lane Stadium. Without him, only one of the Hokies' top six receivers--converted quarterback Ike Whitaker--has caught a pass in a college game.
By contrast, Tech's four tight ends (Boone, Sam Wheeler, Andre Smith and Chris Drager) have a combined 52 career receptions.
"[The receivers] are going to be good, but it takes time to mature," Boone said. "Since the tight ends have been here the longest, they're putting us in matchups to succeed."
Defensive coordinators won't have much fun trying to figure out how to match up with Boone, who was blessed with a freakish combination of size, speed and agility.
At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, the redshirt junior is too big and strong for opposing safeties to cover man-to-man. He's also been clocked between 4.6 and 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which means he can outrun most of the bigger linebackers.
Boone signed with the Hokies after a remarkable senior season at Chesapeake's Oscar Smith High School. A first-team all-Group AAA selection at quarterback, Boone amassed 2,234 yards of total offense and 35 touchdowns in leading his team to a 10-0 regular season.
He also was voted to the all-Southeastern District team at three positions: quarterback, defensive back and punter.
But Boone suffered a knee injury during the summer before his freshman year and he reported at a less-than-optimal 280 pounds.
After he learned the offense as the fourth-string quarterback during his redshirt season, Tech's coaches told Boone he could best help the team by switching to tight end.
Boone had never played anything other than quarterback or safety. He'd never even lined up in a three-point stance. Plus, Virginia Tech wasn't known for throwing to the tight end.
It wasn't an easy decision. But with Sean Glennon and Whitaker already ahead of him and Tech courting Tyrod Taylor out of Hampton High School to be the quarterback of the future, Boone reasoned that his path to more playing time was much clearer at tight end.
"It's a hard adjustment to change any position. You have to get the techniques down, the different terminology, then you have to make your reads," Boone said. "I had some growing pains for the first two years, but that gave me experience about what I have to do in the offense."
Boone's role increased dramatically last season after Wheeler suffered a torn ACL during Virginia Tech's Nov. 1 victory at Georgia Tech. He finished with 11 catches for 167 yards--more than doubling his production from his redshirt freshman season.
Boone was named Virginia Tech's most valuable offensive player during spring practice, then dropped 15 pounds in the offseason and came to camp earlier this month in the best shape of his life.
"They're putting a lot of weight on my shoulders," Boone said. "I wouldn't say it's pressure. It's just time for me to step [up] my game and mature as a student-athlete."
Offensive coordinator Brian Stinespring is excited to see Boone's increased commitment and eager to explore the many ways he can make life miserable for opposing defenses.
During the first week of camp, Boone split out wide on one play, then blew past a cornerback to haul in a 40-yard completion from Glennon.
During the Hokies' second scrimmage, Boone scored three touchdowns --two on short, punishing runs as the fullback in Tech's goal-line "King" set.
During the team's final scrimmage last Friday, Boone had four catches for 28 yards and carried the ball twice for 31 more--including a 30-yard touchdown run in which he juked hard-hitting freshman safety Lorenzo Williams out of his shoes.
"You've got a 280-pound guy who can run and I don't know how many defensive guys want to tackle him," running backs coach Billy Hite said.
Even fewer 275-pound men truly believe they can play quarterback in major Division I football. Boone insists he can throw the ball between 80 and 85 yards on the fly--which, if true, would be farther than any of the other QBs on the Tech roster.
So, if Virginia Tech really is committed to deploying Boone in a variety of situations, does that mean there's room in the playbook for a tight end option pass?
"They recruited me as a man with many talents," Boone said. "I guess the possibilities are endless."
Jim McConnell: 540/374-5444
Email: jmcconnell@freelancestar.com
This week, The Free Lance-Star profiles area college football teams Here is the schedule: TUESDAY: Maryland YESTERDAY: Virginia TODAY: Virginia Tech TOMORROW: State colleges |
