All-Beamer Team: Special Teams

The concept for the All-Beamer Team was blatantly stolen from MGoBlog.com. It is the best players at each position since Beamer took over in 1987. Three weeks ago, we announced the nominees for the All-Beamer Team on special teams. Now, here are our picks:

K: Shayne Graham
Other Nominees: Brandon Pace, Mickey Thomas, Chris Kinzer
- Would probably win because of the Miracle in Morgantown alone. However, that kick in 1999 was just the icing on top of a great career.

P: Nic Schmitt
Other Nominees: Vinnie Burns, Jimmy Kibble, Robbie Colley
- Just once I wish Schmitt had the chance to deck a punt returner. He was a big dude. The Hokies have had a history of good punters and the current one, Brent Bowden, may end up being the best.

PR: Andre Davis
Other Nominees: Eddie Royal, DeAngelo Hall, Antonio Freeman
- Hall was probably better, but I like Davis more and felt he was more reliable. Hall scored more touchdowns, but your were more likely to get good field position from Davis.

KR: Eddie Royal
KR: Jon Jeffries
Other Nominees: Mike Imoh, Bryan Still
- Royal and Jeffries both led the Hokies in kick return yards in three separate seasons. Both were naturals at returning kickoffs.

All-Beamer Team: Defense

The concept for the All-Beamer Team was blatantly stolen from MGoBlog.com. It is the best players at each position since Beamer took over in 1987. Three weeks ago, we announced the nominees for the All-Beamer Team on defense. Now, here are our picks:

DE: Corey Moore
DE: Darryl Tapp
Other Nominees: Chris Ellis, Jim Davis, John Engelberger
- It was a tough choice between Tapp and Engelberger, but Tapp had the leadership intangibles that made him a great player on Bud Foster's defense. Moore was an easy choice.

DT: J.C. Price
DT: Chad Beasley
Other Nominees: Carlton Powell, David Pugh, Carl Bradley
- Price was an anchor of the mid-90s teams that first started appearing in bowls. Beasley was a beast on the teams that followed the Vick era.

LB: Cornell Brown
LB: Vince Hall
LB: Xavier Adibi
Other Nominees: Ben Taylor, Michael Hawkes, Jock Jones
- The easiest choices to make.

CB: Tyrone Drakeford
CB: Brandon Flowers
Other Nominees: Jimmy Williams, DeAngelo Hall, Ike Carlton, Antonio Banks
- You could make arguments for all seven guys. However, I think Drakeford is the best cornerback to play for Virginia Tech and Flowers is a personal favorite, so he gets the nod over Hall.

S/ROV: Aaron Rouse
S/ROB: Keion Carpenter
Other Nominees: Willie Pile, Pierson Prioleau, Torrian Gray
- Rouse might be my favorite Hokie. Tremendous football mind and leadership ability. Carpenter had a knack for being in the right place at the right time and always seemed to have an impact on key plays.

All-Beamer Team: Offense

The concept for the All-Beamer Team was blatantly stolen from MGoBlog.com. It is the best players at each position since Beamer took over in 1987. Three weeks ago, we announced the nominees for the All-Beamer Team on offense. Now, here are our picks:

QB: Michael Vick
Other Nominees: Bryan Randall, Jim Druckenmiller, Maurice DeShazo, Will Furrer
- This was the easiest selection to make. Vick was electrifying and lost only one game as a starter in two years with the Hokies.

RB: Kevin Jones
RB: Lee Suggs
Other Nominees: Branden Ore, Shyrone Stith, Ken Oxendine, Dwayne Thomas, Vaughn Hebron
- Both members of The Untouchables get the nod. Jones was the best running back the Hokies have seen. Suggs was a consistent workhorse for Beamer during his career.

WR: Ernest Wilford
WR: Antonio Freeman
Other Nominees: Eddie Royal, David Clowney, Bryan Still, Myron Richardson
- Wilford was prolific on average teams. He put up big numbers, but will unfortunately be remembered for dropping a two-point conversion against Miami in 2001. Freeman was the first big-time player the Hokies have had in recent NFL history.

TE: Jeff King
Other Nominees: Keith Willis, Bob Slowikowski, John Burke
King was a go-to guy for the offense and developing into a go-to guy for the Carolina Panthers.

T: Eugene Chung
G: Gennaro DiNapoli
C: Jim Pyne
G: Will Montgomery
T: Duane Brown
Other Nominees: Jon Dunn (T), Dave Kadela (T), Anthony Lambo (G), Jake Grove (C), Keith Short (C), Matt Lehr (C)
Chung and Pyne were no-brainers. DiNapoli and Montgomery helped open holes for some of the best runners the Hokies have seen. Brown was a solid protector of Glennon's blind side last year and looks to have a bright future in the NFL.

All-Beamer Team: Special Teams Nominees

The idea for the All-Beamer Team was blatantly stolen from MGoBlog.com. Simply, it's the best players at Tech since Frank Beamer became head coach in 1987. Here are the nominees on special teams. If you have an opinion on who should be named to the All-Beamer Team, fire away in the comments or E-mail me.

Kicker (1)
The two most clutch kickers in Hokie history (Kinzer and Graham) lead this group of nominees.
- Brandon Pace
- Shayne Graham
- Mickey Thomas
- Chris Kinzer

Punter (1)
For almost a decade, the Hokies featured a left-footed punter as Kibble beget
Burns, who beget Schmitt.
- Nic Schmitt
- Vinnie Burns
- Jimmy Kibble
- Robbie Colley

Punt Return (1)
Beamerball has produced some spectacular and game-changing punt returns. This will be a tough call.
- Eddie Royal
- DeAngelo Hall
- Andre Davis
- Antonio Freeman

Kickoff Return (2)
Some often over-looked players on this list. Imoh was a solid running back who was an excellent kickoff return man. Bryan Still is better known for his punt return for touchdown against Texas in the 1995 Sugar Bowl, but was better returning kickoffs.
- Eddie Royal
- Mike Imoh
- Bryan Still
- Jon Jeffries

All-Beamer Team: Defense Nominees

The idea for the All-Beamer Team was blatantly stolen from MGoBlog.com. Simply, it's the best players at Tech since Frank Beamer became head coach in 1987. Here are the nominees on defense. If you have an opinion on who should be named to the All-Beamer Team, fire away in the comments or E-mail me.

Defensive End (2)
The Hokies have always had good defensive ends. However, only recently have they had success in the NFL. Corey Moore was beast as a defensive end in college, but was undersized in the NFL. Moore is almost assured of one of the two spots on our All-Beamer Team.
- Chris Ellis
- Darryl Tapp
- Jim Davis
- Corey Moore
- John Engelberger

Defensive Tackle (2)
It's an often over-looked position on the football field, but defensive tackle is especially important to the Hokies, who focus on taking away the oppositions ability to run the ball.
- Carlton Powell
- David Pugh
- Chad Beasley
- Carl Bradley
- J.C. Price

Linebacker (3)
No shortage of great Hokies to choose from at the linebacker spot. This will be the hardest call to make on the defensive side.
- Xavier Adibi
- Vince Hall
- Ben Taylor
- Michael Hawkes
- Cornell Brown
- Jock Jones

Cornerback (2)
Another tough call. There's a lot of NFL experience on this list and a lot of great shut-down corners. And if this list were being compiled next year, you could probably add Macho Harris to it.
- Brandon Flowers
- Jimmy Williams
- DeAngelo Hall
- Ike Charlton
- Antonio Banks
- Tyrone Drakeford

Safety and Rover (2)
The most important position on Bud Foster's defense. The guys who call the formations and audibles and are an extension of Foster on the field. These guys were not just important on defense, but also on special teams.
- Aaron Rouse
- Willie Pile
- Keion Carpenter
- Pierson Prioleau
- Torrian Gray

All-Beamer Team: Offense Nominees

The idea for the All-Beamer Team was blatantly stolen from MGoBlog.com. Simply, it's the best players at Tech since Frank Beamer became head coach in 1987. Here are the nominees on offense. If you have an opinion on who should be named to the All-Beamer Team, fire away in the comments or E-mail me.

Quarterback (1)
This may be the easiest pick to make, but they players below not named Vick all played key roles in Tech's success under Beamer. While Furrer never led the Hokies to a bowl, he was a prolific passer. Druckenmiller and Randall were skilled passers who led the Hokies to conference titles. DeShazo was a precursor to Vick and led the Hokies to their first bowl appearance under Beamer.
- Bryan Randall
- Michael Vick
- Jim Druckenmiller
- Maurice DeShazo
- Will Furrer

Running Back (2)
A solid running back is key to Virginia Tech's offense, so this will be the toughest decision to make. Most Tech running backs haven't had great NFL careers, but the names below all had outstanding college careers.
- Branden Ore
- Kevin Jones
- Lee Suggs
- Shyrone Stith
- Ken Oxendine
- Dwayne Thomas
- Vaughn Hebron

Wide Receiver (2)
Three of the players below (Royal, Davis, Still) were known more for their special teams prowess, but were also skilled receivers.
- Eddie Royal
- David Clowney
- Ernest Wilford
- Andre Davis
- Bryan Still
- Antonio Freeman
- Myron Richardson

Tight End (1)
Tight ends aren't always featured as pass catchers in Beamers offense, but the four below were noted exceptions. King looks like he will have a solid NFL career as well.
- Jeff King
- Keith Willis
- Bob Slowikowski
- John Burke

Offensive Line (5)
The Hokies have had a history of having offensive linemen taken in the NFL Draft since Beamer became head coach. Eugene Chung started the tradition by having a long career with the New England Patriots. Duane Brown is the latest, taken in the first round of the 2008 draft by Houston.
- Duane Brown (T)
- Will Montgomery (G)
- Jon Dunn (T)
- Jake Grove (C)
- Dave Kadela (T)
- Keith Short (C)
- Anthony Lambo (G)
- Matt Lehr (C)
- Gennaro DiNapoli (G)
- Jim Pyne (C)
- Eugene Chung (T)