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Helping hands: look for three young receivers to make Vick's return from exile a success

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005 by Matt Hayes

Marcus Vick was standing in the plush training room at Lane Stadium, trying to describe his year of misery when he was away from the Virginia Tech team. But the player known as much for his selfish off-field behavior as his famous last name stopped in midsentence when Josh Morgan walked by. "See this dude?" Vick said. "Everybody will want to know about him real soon."

How fitting. The guy everyone wants to talk about was passing off to the guy no one knows but who is as important as anyone to Tech's Rose Bow] aspirations. For Vick to complete his turnaround from suspended pariah, he needs Morgan, Josh Hyman and Eddie Royal.

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Morgan, Hyman and Royal. Sounds like a fancy law firm instead of three sophomore receivers who could make Vick's transition much easier. A year ago, they were freshmen in over their heads playing against defending national champion Southern California in the season opener. By the end of the season. they were vital to Tech's offensive balance. Now with Vick--a considerably more polished passer than 2004 quarterback Bryan Randall--the possibilities are heightened.

Marcus is just as elusive and dynamic as brother Michael, but he has a better grasp of the passing game than Michael did at the same point in his career at Tech. Simply put, Marcus makes throws that Michael couldn't. Tech has a strong running game with tailbacks Mike Imoh and Cedric Humes, and the defense has the potential to be the best since coach Frank Beamer arrived in 1987. All that's missing is a consistent passing game.

Remember, this is essentially the same Tech team that USC quarterback Matt Leinart said matched up with the Trojans better than anyone last season, and now you're adding one of the most dangerous players in the game.

"Marcus is going to have to feel his way around early on," says Tech quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers. "And those three receivers are going to make it easier on him." Then everyone will know them.

VIRGINIA TECH

LAST CONFERENCE TITLE: 2004

LAST NATIONAL TITLE: none

STARTERS RETURNING: 15 (eight offense, six defense, kicker)

ALL-AMERICAN CANDIDATES: LB Xavier Adibi, DE Darryl Tapp, QB Marcus Vick, CB Jimmy Williams

STICK AND MOVE: Meet the talented Mr. Vick. Yeah, little brother Marcus has very little experience. And yeah, the last time we saw him on the field, he was playing wideout in a useless bowl game. But there's a reason Tech quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers has compared him with Donovan McNabb. Vick is that good and will make a nondescript Tech offense that much better.

CASING THE RING: After a two-year regression, the Tech defense returned last year to its attacking, tempo-dictating ways. The front seven isn't particularly big, but USC quarterback Matt Leinart says Tech had the most athletic defense the Trojans faced last season. That's an understatement--this is the fastest defense in college football.

GLASS JAW: OK, so Vick made it through the summer without finding trouble. But does he have the respect of his teammates, and can he galvanize the team to reach its potential the way Bryan Randall did?

Helping hands: look for three young receivers to make Vick's return from exile a success

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005 by Matt Hayes

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