■ 28 August 2008 | 6:52 PM
OK, so here’s the official word from Virginia Tech on injuries heading into this weekend:
Punter Brent Bowden (lower back), back-up RT Richard Graham (ankle) and DE Bruce Taylor (knee) will all play this weekend. Repeat: They’re banged up but WILL PLAY.
CB Victor “Macho” Harris is listed as doubtful with his sprained left foot. FB Devin Perez is out with his foot injury.
And that’s it on the injury front.
Now, on with the interviews. Staying with today’s theme of freshmen who’ll play Saturday against East Carolina, I caught up with CB Eddie Whitley and WR Dyrell Roberts after yesterday’s practice.
Those two are probably the smoothest cats in the freshman class. Whitley is a great talker and, while fairly slender, I’m pretty sure he could cut glass with his biceps.
And for his part, Roberts doesn’t SEEM to be the slightest bit nervous about starting the first game of his college career. Both rookies are oozing confidence, bordering on cocky, which is maybe the most important personality trait for the two positions they play.
More than any other spot on the field, corners and receivers are one-on-one and need to believe they can beat the guy across from them. These two guys think they can hang with anybody.
Saturday, we’ll see …
CB EDDIE WHITLEY
ON DRESSING FOR HIS FIRST GAME THIS WEEKEND: “I’m definitely ready to play.”
ON TECH’S COACHES WANTING HIM TO REDSHIRT, BUT HIM PLAYING HIS WAY OUT OF IT: “I came in telling my parents and coaches from high school that I had to play, because I sat out my senior season with a knee injury. I was thinking, ‘I have to play. I have to play.’ I got here and Coach Gray was saying, ‘I need killers. I need killers.’ In high school, I can tell you I wasn’t a hitter. I was the person to get the interception, do all the highlight stuff like that. But I came in here and changed my whole mindset and started hitting seriously hard. Whoever was coming across the middle was going to feel something.”
ON HOW HE MADE THE CHANGE: “Well, when I was younger I was a hitter. But I started playing safety, making calls and getting interceptions. I still had that dog in me, though. It just came back out when I got to college.”
ON LIKING HIS NEW STYLE: “I definitely like it. Coach Gentry had told me I needed to get strong to play that way, so this summer I was lifting seriously hard, training to get ready. I wanted to be 100 percent with my injury. I worked hard and it’s paying off now. My bench is up about 20 pounds. I was pretty focused on my lower body, too. I never cheated during squats and lunges. I just lifted hard.”
ON HIS EXPECTED ROLE IN THE SEASON OPENER: “Right now, my mentality is to prepare like I’m a starter, so if anybody goes down, I’m ready to step up and get in there and make plays for us. I’m probably going to play mostly on special teams, but if they call my number on defense, I’ll be ready.”
ON WHETHER THERE’S ANY CHANCE STILL THAT HE REDSHIRTS: “No, I’m playing. Coach Gray said I have a good IQ in the game and I’m progressing fast, so they’re going to give me the chance to play and show my talent.”
ON HOW GOOD THE SECONDARY COULD BE IN THE FUTURE WITH HIM, FELLOW FRESHMAN FS LORENZO WILLIAMS AND OTHER YOUNG DBs: “Oh, man, the sky’s the limit. We’re going to be stacked. We predict that we’re going to be the best secondary, the best defense for the next three or four years. Our mentality is where it needs to be. We’re just going to put in the work in the offseason, put in the work on the field, and come out here and perform.”
ON BEING HAPPY TYROD TAYLOR REDSHIRTED: “Oh, definitely. Some people were saying this is not a good move. But I’m like, look, if he can get three years with us, that’s going to be crazy. Him, Darren Evans and Ryan Williams in the backfield? We’re going to have to play against them every day in practice? Man, that’s going to be hard. But on the other team, that’s going to be scary for them.”
WR DYRELL ROBERTS
ON WHETHER THE BUTTERFLIES HAVE STARTED YET, AS HE GETS READY TO START AGAINST ECU: “No, not officially. I’m good right now, just focusing on getting this game plan down pat.”
ON DANNY COALE SAYING HE WATCHED YOUTUBE CLIPS TO GET A FEEL FOR THE ATMOSPHERE. ANY TRICKS FOR ROBERTS? “Nothing like that. Studying the plan, studying the film. But I probably will end up doing the same-type things, looking at YouTube videos.”
ON PREGAME RITUALS: “I always say prayers and things like that. Thank God for everything he’s given me, look out for the whole team, keep everybody safe. Pretty much the same ritual I’ve had since I started playing football.”
ON GETTING LAST-MINUTE ADVICE: “I’ve talked to all the receivers that were here last year. Talking to Sean, talking to Tyrod. They’re letting me know how the game’s going to be, what to look for. They’re telling me just to relax and do what I do best.”
ON HOPING TO HAVE AN EDDIE ROYAL-TYPE FRESHMAN SEASON: “He had an awesome freshman year. I wouldn’t argue with having a repeat of that. I’m going to try my best.”
ON PUNTER BRENT BOWDEN: “Oh, man, he can punt. He can switch up. He can do anything he wants to with that ball. He can go left, right, short long. He puts it in different spots. He keeps us guessing. Football is a game of field position, so when it comes down to it, he will be one of our key players.”
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