Wilson not opposed to Redshirt

BLACKSBURG — David Wilson doesn’t want to only return kicks and get the occasional late-game carry at tailback this season, so the Virginia Tech sophomore is open to the idea of redshirting in 2010.
The Danville native and former George Washington High School standout approached the Hokies coaches about that possibility near the end of last season.
Tech coach Frank Beamer said Saturday during the Hokies’ media day that he’s not ready to make a decision about Wilson’s playing time.
“I think we just go full speed ahead. In the end, we’ve got to sit down and make the best decision for him and the best decision for our football team,” Beamer said. “And what that is this very day, I’m not sure, because things happen and situations change.”
Wilson, who rushed for 334 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman last season, approached spring practice and the summer with winning a starting job on his mind. And he has the same attitude now, even though he has two superstar
tailbacks ahead of him on the depth chart in Ryan Williams and Darren Evans.
If Williams and Evans remain healthy this preseason and Wilson is the odd man out, he will likely redshirt. He’s OK with that.
“Yeah, I’d take that off year and go in the weight room and work on my speed, and I would just come back stronger, faster and more powerful and more mature,” Wilson said.
Locker room
almost ready
The Hokies will be able to move into their spacious and sparkling new locker room soon, maybe as soon as next week, said Tom Gabbard, Virginia Tech’s associate athletic director for internal affairs.
The new locker room facility, which is three stories and is connected to the Jamerson Athletic Center behind Cassell Coliseum, is as luxurious as college football locker rooms come.
The ground floor includes a 14,800 square foot locker room, up from around 6,000 square feet for the current locker room. The lockers are spacious — their 42-inch width is bigger than any other football program’s, said Gabbard — and there are going to be flat screen televisions virtually everywhere.
A 12,900 square foot player’s lounge will be on the second floor. The lounge will have six 65-inch televisions, several smaller TVs, video game systems and pool tables, among other amenities. There’s also a player’s study lounge with Internet hook ups.
Tech’s wrestling team will occupy the top floor.
“I think the new locker room will be a place for the team as a whole to just hang out all the time,” Williams said. “I think the only times we’re really together, all of us as a whole, is during practice. After practice we go our separate ways and things like that.
“I’m pretty sure with the things the new locker room has, we won’t want to leave. … Some people might spend the night there.”
Thomas a
physical specimen
Redshirt freshman quarterback Logan Thomas continues to impress his coaches and teammates with his physical exploits.
The former Brookville High standout, who continues to battle Ju-Ju Clayton for the Hokies’ backup quarterback job, is 6-foot-6 and is listed at 242 pounds on the Hokies’ current roster. He also wears a size 18 shoe.
That’s not all. During fall weight testing, he set a school quarterback record with a 321-pound power clean and had the third best vertical jump on the team at 39.5 inches. The two players with better jumps weigh 210 and 200 pounds, respectively.
“It’s been a while (since I’ve seen someone as big and athletic as Thomas). Not since I looked in the mirror and saw myself,” Hokies offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring joked. “I could jump five times and not get a 40-inch vertical jump. … He amazes me.”
w Warters is a staff writer for The News & Advance in Lynchburg.