HD: Wilson is a man of many talents

BY NATHAN WARTERS

(434) 385-5540

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain said Saturday that the backup quarterback job is still open for competition.

From the looks of it, Brookville grad Logan Thomas is Ju-Ju Clayton’s biggest challenger for the spot.

“Yes, the position is open, but Ju-Ju definitely has an advantage just because of the knowledge standpoint,” O’Cain said of Clayton, who ran the scout team last year while redshirting and was the No. 2 quarterback coming out of spring practice.

“I’ve been very pleased with Logan’s progress so far. He throws the ball well. He’s got some little things he’s got to work on. He’s a little bit raw. Prior to coming here, he had never taken a snap from center. He’s always been a shotgun quarterback, so he had to learn to take a snap from center and do all the things you have to do there, but I’ve been very pleased with what he’s done in two practices.”

Thomas said he knows how to take different drops from directly behind center. The challenge is getting comfortable doing it while still processing all the new information that’s being introduced in every practice.

“I’m sure I’ll get used to it,” Thomas said.

When asked if the prospect of earning the No. 2 quarterback job motivated him, Thomas said, “I’ve always been motivated to be the best player I can. What I want to do is just push who is in front of me and who is behind me just to make them better. I’m here for the team and making the team better. Our ultimate goal is to win a national championship and bring one back to Blacksburg and the Hokie Nation.”

Wilson man of many talents
Offensive tackle Ed Wang was asked by a reporter Saturday why there was such optimism surrounding Virginia Tech’s offense this season. The question was barely out of the interviewer’s mouth when Wang said, “Hold on. … Oh my gosh.”

He was mesmerized by Hokies freshman running back David Wilson, who was in the middle of a tumbling run of eight straight backflips without the aid of his hands.

“That’s probably why,” Wang said with a laugh.

Yep, Wilson, a George Washington High grad, is a unique young man. He runs a 4.33 40 and sheds tackles with ease. He does backflips like an Olympic gymnast. He wore a shirt and tie to GW every day of his senior year and plans to do the same this year at Tech.

And he has helped build and repair houses in devastated or impoverished areas during his last two spring breaks.

“He’s a special young man,” Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said.

Wilson wanted to provide aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, so he went to Mississippi to help them rebuild their houses. He wanted to help the poor, so he made a trip to South Carolina last spring to build Habitat for Humanity homes.

There’s not much he can’t do if he sets his mind to it. He was 4 when he wanted to impress his father with his gymnastics moves. He went into his backyard and learned how to tumble in a matter of hours. Now he can do 24 straight backflips with ease.

Wilson wanted to earn the respect of his teachers and classmates at GW, so he wore a shirt and tie to school every day. He says he has about 60 ties and plans to sport the dressed-up look in college, too.

“People treat you a lot different when you’re dressed that way, especially grownups. They respect you more and treat you differently, more maturely,” he said.

It looks like Wilson won’t have trouble earning the respect of his coaches and teammates, or anybody else he encounters for that matter.

Pass the turkey
Greg Boone may not be the only one taking snaps in the Wild Turkey formation this season. Redshirt freshman tailback Ryan Williams could be in the rotation as well.

Williams, who had a sensational spring but started preseason third on the tailback depth chart for showing up out of shape, was included in some of the Wild Turkey huddles during the spring and could see some time in the package this year.

He said he may not have the arm power of Boone – who says he can throw a ball 55 yards from his knees – but Williams played some quarterback at Stonewall Jackson High and said he has the ability to be an effective passer if needed.

First, he has to move back up the depth chart at tailback. He was the star of the spring, but he didn’t meet the team’s requirement in the 110 sprints when he reported to camp and he also showed up under his expected playing weight. He weighed 216 in the spring and reported at 203. He’s up to 210 now, he said.

So what does he have to do to move up to the depth chart to No. 2, where he was expected to be behind starter Darren Evans?

“(Coach Billy Hite) has a plan for everybody. I think it’s just going to all boil down to who can perform the best. Josh (Oglesby, who is currently second on the depth chart) is a great running back also,” Williams said. “If him and Darren are going to continue to perform the way that they do, then they’re going to be one and two.”

Williams thought he had earned the No. 2 spot after rushing for 253 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in three scrimmages during spring practice. He accounted for 151 all-purpose yards and scored a touchdown on a 55-yard shovel pass in the spring game.

“What I was told was that spring was going to be our tryouts for the summer,” said Williams, who was the scout team running back last year while redshirting. “I guess I didn’t wow the staff enough to earn that spot, but hey, at least I’m not redshirting this year, so I’m happy.”