Tag: Virginia Tech

Wide Receiver Preview: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech

Jarrett Boykin (#81)

MICHIGAN
Starters: The leading receiver is fifth year senior Junior Hemingway, who has caught 32 passes for 636 yards (19.9 yards per catch) and 2 touchdowns.  Redshirt junior Roy Roundtree started all 12 games but finished fourth on the team in receptions, with just 18 for 342 yards (19.2 yards per catch) and 2 scores. 
Backups: Redshirt sophomore Jeremy Gallon popped out of nowhere to grab 30 passes for 450 yards (15.0 yards per catch) and 3 touchdowns; many of his receptions came on tunnel screens, although he made a few big catches downfield.  Sophomore Drew Dileo made 9 receptions for 121 yards (13.2 yards per catch) and 2 touchdowns; he’s a dependable receiver but rarely targeted.  Senior Martavious Odoms’ production dwindled once again to 7 receptions for 131 yards (18.7 yards per catch) and 3 touchdowns; he missed some time early in the year recovering from a broken wrist, but has still made some humongous catches for the Wolverines.  Fifth year senior Kelvin Grady and sophomore Jeremy Jackson have combined for 7 catches, 100 yards, and 0 touchdowns.

VIRGINIA TECH
Starters: Senior Jarrett Boykin caught 57 passes for 731 yards (12.8 yards per catch) and 5 touchdowns.  Boykin is 6’2″, 218 lbs. and is Virginia Tech’s career leader in receptions and receiving yards.  Fellow receiver and fifth year senior Danny Coale grabbed 52 receptions for 787 yards (15.2 yards per catch) and 3 scores.  Redshirt junior Marcus Davis started 7 games on the year and finished with 29 receptions for 499 yards (17.2 yards per catch) and 2 touchdowns.
Backups: Junior D.J. Coles was the third leading receiver despite starting only 2 games; he caught 34 passes for 449 yards (13.2 yards per catch) and 3 touchdowns.  Senior Dyrell Roberts, redshirt junior Corey Fuller, and redshirt freshman Willie Byrn combined for 6 receptions, 79 yards, and 0 touchdowns.

THE TAKEAWAY
Boykin and Coale offer a less explosive but more consistent pairing than do Hemingway and Roundtree.  Michigan’s early struggles in the passing game meant that the receivers didn’t get much of a chance to catch the ball, because it was either horribly thrown or Robinson was running the ball.  Hemingway, Roundtree, and even the 5’8″ Jeremy Gallon were thrown plenty of jump balls and came down with their fair share, leading to the former two’s averages of 19+ yards per catch.  All three have shown the ability to run after the catch, but they don’t get many chances to do so.  Meanwhile, Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas has been more consistent this season and has thrown the ball 389 times (compared to Denard Robinson’s 237 attempts).  That’s why Boykin and Coale have caught more passes (109 total) than Michigan’s entire wide receiver group (103).
Advantage: Virginia Tech

Running Back Preview: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech

David Wilson

MICHIGAN
Starter: Redshirt sophomore Fitzgerald Toussaint began the season alternating with junior Vincent Smith, but Toussaint quickly took the lead in the race to be the lead back.  Toussaint finished the season with 174 carries for 1,011 yards (5.8 yards per carry) and 9 touchdowns.  Toussaint has the toughness to break tackles, the stop-and-go moves to make people miss, and enough speed to be a breakaway threat.  Sophomore fullback Stephen Hopkins has carried 11 times for 43 yards (3.9 yards per carry).
Backups: Smith is the third down and change-of-pace back.  He rushed the ball 49 times for 296 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 2 touchdowns.  Despite being only 5’6″ and 172 lbs., he’s the superior blocker.  Smith has also caught 10 passes for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Senior Michael Shaw is the next guy in; he finished the regular season with 31 carries for 199 yards (6.4 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns.

VIRGINIA TECH
Starter: Junior David Wilson has started all 13 games and finished the season with 266 carries for 1,627 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 9 touchdowns.  Wilson has also caught 21 passes for 126 yards (6.0 yards per catch) and 1 touchdown.  Redshirt junior fullback Joey Phillips has 3 carries for 2 yards on the season with zero touchdowns; he has yet to catch a pass.
Backups: Fifth year senior Josh Oglesby has 90 carries for 336 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and 6 touchdowns.  Redshirt sophomore Tony Gregory has the next most carries with 16 for just 27 yards (1.7 yards per carry).

THE TAKEAWAY
Wilson is the more accomplished back.  He leads Toussaint in yardage and yards per carry.  Wilson has at least one explosive play (20+ yards) in 10 out of his 13 games, and his only sub-80-yard rushing effort of the season came against Clemson in the ACC Championship.  Toussaint is also less effective and almost non-existent in the passing game (5 catches, 14 yards, 1 touchdown) than Wilson.  Fortunately for Michigan the Wolverines have significantly more depth at the position with two backups who have starting experience and a fullback who can run a little bit, too.  If there’s an injury to either running back, Michigan is more able to withstand the blow.

Running back play is largely dependent on the offensive line (which we’ll discuss another day), but this is a near wash when both teams are at full strength.  Wilson is not only the First Team All-ACC running back, but has also been voted the conference’s top overall player and was recently voted to the All-America team.  Toussaint would very likely have been All-Big Ten if not for the early-season platoon and missing one game due to injury.  With a superior fullback and experienced, potentially explosive backups, I have to give the advantage to . . .
Advantage: Michigan

Quarterback Preview: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech

Logan Thomas

MICHIGAN
Starter: Junior Denard Robinson (6’0″, 195 lbs.) is 133/237 (56.1%) passing for 2,056 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.  He has also rushed 208 times for 1,137 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns.
Backups: Sophomore Devin Gardner has played in 9 games, sometimes in a package with Robinson on the field.  Gardner is 11/23 (47.8%) passing for 176 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.  He also rushed 25 times for 53 yards and 1 touchdown.  The next guy on the depth chart is true freshman Russell Bellomy, who has yet to play this season but has traveled to road games.

VIRGINIA TECH
Starter: Redshirt sophomore Logan Thomas (6’6″, 254 lbs.) has started all 13 games this season, going 215/363 (59.2%) for 2,799 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.  He has also rushed 137 times for 416 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns.
Backups: Redshirt freshman Mark Leal has played a backup role in 3 games this year.  He is 9/13 (69.2%) for 153 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.  Redshirt junior Ju-Ju Clayton is the third quarterback but has yet to play this season.

THE TAKEAWAY
Thomas is capable of excellent play; against Miami he went 23/25 (92%) for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, plus 2 more rushing scores.  He played some great football throughout the year.  But he’s coming off a game against Clemson in which he completed 50% of his passes, threw 2 interceptions, and rushed 12 times for only 2 yards.  Meanwhile, Robinson is one of the most dynamic players in the country, capable of taking over a game at any given time.  While he has been prone to interceptions and erratic passing, he’s coming off a three-game winning streak in which he completed 60% or more of his passes, scored 11 total touchdowns (5 passing with only 2 interceptions), and played arguably the best game of his career against Ohio State (14/17 for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus 170 yards on the ground and 2 more touchdowns).  Thomas is good, but Robinson has the ability to be unstoppable.
Advantage: Michigan

A Peek at Virginia Tech’s Roster

David Wilson was one of ten Hokies recruited by Michigan.

Here’s a brief look at the players on Virginia Tech’s roster that Michigan recruited when they were in high school:

Nick Acree – OT – Redshirt freshman
Acree (Fork Union/King William, VA) is a 6’5″, 278 lb. position changer from defensive tackle, the position for which Michigan recruited him.  He has yet to see game action.

Detrick Bonner – CB – Redshirt freshman
Bonner (Luelia/McDonough, GA) is a 6′, 189 lb. cornerback who has played in 12 games and started 3 of them.  In those 12 contests he has made 26 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 pass breakups.

Kris Harley – DT – Freshman
Harley (Warren Central/Indianapolis, IN) is a 6′, 287 lb. defensive tackle who is taking a redshirt during his freshman season.

Cris Hill – CB – Fifth year senior
Hill (Highland Springs/Richmond, VA) is a 5’11”, 180 lb. cornerback who has made 7 career starts, including 5 this season.  On the season he has 33 tackles, 1 interception, and 6 pass breakups.

Jayron Hosley – CB – Junior
Hosley (Atlantic/Delray Beach, FL) is a 5’10”, 171 lb. cornerback.  Much was expected of him after last season when he made 9 interceptions, but he has had a slightly disappointing year in 2011.  This year he has 59 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 3 interceptions, 8 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 forced fumbles.  That’s a pretty good year for most corners.  Hosley is also a dangerous punt returner with 2 career punt returns for touchdowns, although this season he has zero, despite averaging 12.0 yards on 17 returns.

Kyshoen Jarrett – CB – Freshman
Jarrett (East Stroudsburg South/Tannersville, PA) was recruited by Michigan as a part of the class of 2011.  He has played in all 13 games this season as a special teamer and backup cornerback, picking up 7 total tackles.  He has also returned 2 punts for 12 yards.

Corey Marshall – DT – Freshman
Marshall (Dinwiddie/Petersburg, VA) is a 6’1″, 253 lb. defensive tackle who played in all 13 games and started 1 game against Miami.  He has made 12 tackles and 2 sacks on the season.

Barquell Rivers – LB – Fifth year senior
Rivers (Anson County/Wadesboro, NC) is a 6′, 250 lb. inside linebacker with 2 starts on the season.  He has made 16 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 interception on the year.

Matt Roth – DE – Freshman
Roth (Nease/St. Augustine, FL) is a 6’2″, 223 lb. defensive end who is currently redshirting.

David Wilson – RB – Junior
Wilson (George Washington/Danville, VA) was recruited by Michigan as a part of the class of 2009.  After playing a backup role his first two seasons, he has started all 13 games for the Hokies this season.  Wilson has carried the ball 266 times for 1,627 yards and 9 touchdowns.  He has also caught 21 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown.  Wilson is also an effective kick returner, or at least he was last season when he returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns; this year he is averaging only 18.8 yards on 20 returns.

Michigan to play Virginia Tech in Sugar Bowl

Weird fact: Virginia Tech cheerleaders don’t wear shoes.

On January 3, 2012, Michigan will play the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Sugar Bowl at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Michigan has played in the Sugar Bowl just one other time, back in 1984.  Bo Jackson and the Auburn Tigers beat Michigan by a score of 9-7.

Meanwhile, the Hokies are 1-2 in Sugar Bowl appearances.  They beat Texas in 1995 by a score of 28-10.  Then they lost to Florida State in 2000 and Auburn in 2005 by scores of 46-29 and 16-13, respectively.

Michigan and Virginia Tech have never played each other.

I will be spitting out random preview materials over the next several weeks.