VIRGINIA TECH REPORT: Pregame from UNC and a Q&A with Logan Thomas

Greetings from Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.
Kickoff is coming in ... 15 minutes. Here are some pregame thoughts. Make sure to scroll down to see a Q&A with Brookville recruit Logan Thomas.

NEEDS ANSWERS
A Virginia Tech win depends on these questions. How will the Hokies answer them?
1. Will the Hokies win the kicking battle again? Field position was the big difference maker last week against Georgia Tech. It could be just as important today.
2. Can Tech’s receivers get open? UNC’s front seven is stout, and the Hokies won’t get away with running on every down.
3. What about the Hokies’ secondary? We know Stephan Virgil can make the big return, but how good is he in coverage. Tech’s passing defense hasn’t been tested much, but it will today.

FEARLESS PREDICTIONS
1. The Hokies will attempt more than 15 passes this week. They have to, right? There’s no way they can get away from running on almost every down. Tyrod Taylor will still pull it down and run a bunch of times, but he’ll need to stretch out UNC’s defense for Tech’s offense to be effective.
2. John Graves will not block a kick in the fourth straight game, but Tech will still get its hands on one. I’m predicting a blocked punt and a touchdown return.
3. Final score: Virginia Tech 24, North Carolina 21 … Most of the Hokies’ wins this year are going to be close affairs, just like this one.

Q&A WITH LOGAN THOMAS
I talked with Brookville quarterback Logan Thomas after his five-touchdown performance against William Byrd Friday night. He was in the crowd last week at Virginia Tech for the Hokies’ 20-17 win over Georgia Tech, and he said he expected to be in the Kenan Stadium crowd today in Chapel Hill. Looks like there will be more than ACC Coastal Division implications in this game.

Here’s a brief Q&A with Thomas, widely considered Virginia’s No. 1 senior college prospect.

SO YOU’RE GOING TO BE AT NORTH CAROLINA TOMORROW? Yeah, I’m going on an unofficial visit. (Brookville teammates) Zack McCray and Devin Bolling are going too?

IS YOUR LIST THE SAME? YOU STILL HAVE SEVEN ON YOUR LIST (Clemson, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest): Yeah.

HAVE YOU MADE ANY OFFICIAL VISITS YET? No officials. I won’t be making any officials until later.

AS FAR AS VIRGINIA AND VIRGINIA TECH GO, WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS? I like both of the schools. They’re in my top seven. Both schools bring two completely different qualities and some of the same. It’s a good mix.

YOU’RE LISTED ON RECRUITING SITES AS A TIGHT END, BUT YOU DON’T PLAY THE POSITION. DO YOU WANT TO PLAY TIGHT END? They’re classifying me as a tight end, but I’ll be moved all over the field, from the backfield to the slot to wide receiver to the tight end position. So I’ll be a hybrid.

HAS ANY OF YOUR TOP SEVEN SAID THEY’LL PLAY YOU EXCLUSIVELY AT TIGHT END? Nobody is really saying that right now.

HAS ANYBODY IN YOUR SEVEN TOLD YOU YOU CAN PLAY QUARTERBACK? They say if I wanted to, they’d let me try it out. But I’m not taking a chance of playing quarterback, though. I’d rather catch the ball than throw it.

DO YOU HAVE A TIMETABLE? ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL FEBRUARY TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE? I’m not sure what it’s going to be right now. I’m just going to take these unofficials and just see what I want to do.

I SAW YOU AT TECH LAST WEEK. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT GAME AND THE ENVIRONMENT? It was a great environment. The fans just really stayed behind the team and pushed them when they really needed it. The team never gave up. They kept fighting. That triple option of Georgia Tech’s just took a wear and tear on them, and they ended up winning.

HAVE YOU STARTED PLANNING YOUR OFFICIAL VISITS YET? I have planned any official visits yet.