Friday, December 18, 2009
Roanoke Times All-State Teams: Pair of Hokies honored
Tech RB Ryan Williams and LB Cody Grimm are named the top Division I football players by The Roanoke Times.
Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times
Virginia Tech senior linebacker Cody Grimm also made the All-ACC first team and the Associated Press All-America third team.
Photo courtesy of Hampden-Sydney
Hampden-Sydney's Will Riggenbach (49) recorded 14\u20091\u20442 sacks for the Tigers this season.
Photo courtesy of Emory & Henry
Emory & Henry's Caleb Jennings (7) ran for 1,371 yards this year.
Ryan Williams is a tailback and Cody Grimm is a linebacker, but they share a common trait.
Confidence.
Williams gained confidence by playing in Virginia Tech's season opener against Alabama. Grimm gained confidence from all the playing time he got with the Hokies last year.
That confidence helped them excel this season. Williams has been named the state Division I offensive player of the year by The Roanoke Times sports writers who cover college football.
Grimm edged out James Madison defensive end Arthur Moats as The Roanoke Times' state Division I defensive player of the year.
Emory & Henry running back Caleb Jennings is the small-college offensive player of the year for Divisions II and III and the NAIA. Hampden-Sydney defensive end Will Riggenbach is the small-college defensive player of the year.
Williams, a redshirt freshman, was plenty nervous when he made his college debut against the Crimson Tide.
"I had to start the game, so there wasn't really a time where I could ease into the game," he said. "After the first couple carries, just realizing that I'm capable of playing with these guys, ... everything just kind of went away and I started playing my type of football.
"With the confidence that I gained over the Alabama game, everything just fell into place after that."
Williams, the ACC rookie of the year, has rushed for 1,538 yards -- the fourth-highest total in ACC history. Only seven freshmen in Division I-A history have rushed for more yards. He has rushed for 19 touchdowns, tying an ACC record.
Not bad, considering Williams began the summer tied for third on the depth chart. But when Darren Evans suffered a torn ACL in August, and when Josh Oglesby and David Wilson missed practice time with injuries, Williams rose to No. 1.
"I really kind of got the starting running back spot by default," said Williams, an All-ACC first-team pick. "I was the last running back standing.
"When the opportunity is given, you've got to take it full blast and you've got to take full advantage of it. That describes my season."
Williams has been a workhorse, carrying the ball 268 times.
"Everybody's goal is to make it to the NFL. That's my goal also, but ... I play football because I love football," he said. "Even if Darren wasn't hurt this year and I was getting not that many carries, I still would be happy and it still would've been a fun year just because I'm playing football. Last year football was taken away from me, ... being redshirted."
Grimm, who made the All-ACC first team and the Associated Press All-America third team, has also made an impact for the 12th-ranked Hokies (9-3).
"I thought I was going to be a solid player [this year], but I never expected to be like first-team All-ACC or get some of the accolades I've gotten," he said.
Grimm has a team-high 99 tackles, including 9-1/2
The former walk-on reaped a scholarship two years ago. He got a lot of playing time off the bench as a junior last season, when he had 71 tackles.
"Last year helped me a lot with this year -- getting confidence in myself," he said. "You rep everything in practice, but game speed is a lot different. Getting out there on the field and getting those reps under me last year helped me to feel more comfortable out there [this year] and have a better season.
"You're just less hesitant out there. If you hesitate for a second, or you're nervous of messing up, it can be the difference between making the play and not making it."
The 5-foot-11, 202-pound Grimm isn't as physically imposing as some linebackers, so he relies upon his "quickness and smarts" to make tackles.
"I try getting myself in good position where size doesn't matter so much," he said. "Once you get confidence, ... you're confident about what you're seeing and you're able to read it faster, and that puts you in a better position to make the play."
Grimm tied a Division I-A single-game record by forcing three fumbles against North Carolina State. He shares the I-A lead with an ACC-record seven forced fumbles on the season.
He will be graduating from Tech today, although he plans to skip the ceremony because he doesn't "feel like sitting in a gym all day,"
Jennings has been named a Division III All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. The junior rushed for 1,371 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Wasps (7-3), earning ODAC offensive player of the year honors.
Despite suffering a torn labrum and turf toe, Jennings did not miss a game. He ranks eighth in Division III in rushing (137.1 ypg) and third in all-purpose yards (191.9 ypg).
"He played hurt most of the year. The kid's a major competitor," Wasps coach Don Montgomery said. "He's explosive. He can get to top speed real quick."
Riggenbach, the ODAC defensive player of the year, helped the Tigers (10-1) win the league crown. The junior had a school-record 14 12 sacks, and shares the Division III lead with an average of 1.3 sacks per game. He had 51 tackles, including 18 12 for loss.
"He's that rare combination we get at this level of strength and speed," Tigers coach Marty Favret said. "He's very hard to block with just one guy."
DIVISIONS I-A, I-AA
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Player School Year
QB Eric Ward Richmond Sr.
RB Jonathan Grimes W&M So.
RB Ryan Williams Va. Tech Fr.
WR Chris Bell Norfolk St. Jr.
WR Mike Brown Liberty So.
TE Rob Varno W&M Sr.
G Matt McCracken Richmond Sr.
G Sergio Render Va, Tech Sr.
C C.J. Muse W&M Sr.
T Theo Sherman JMU Jr.
T Michael Silva Richmond Sr.
PK Matt Bevins Liberty So.
RS Dyrell Roberts Va. Tech So.
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Player School Year
QB Tyrod Taylor Va. Tech Jr.
RB Howard Abegesah VMI Sr.
RB LaMarcus Coker Hampton Sr.
WR Jarrett Boykin Va. Tech So.
WR Tre Gray Richmond So.
TE Mike Caussin JMU Sr.
G Dorian Brooks JMU Sr.
G Bryan Mosier Liberty Sr.
C William Falakiseni Norfolk St. Jr.
T Ed Wang Va. Tech Sr.
T Josh Weaver Liberty Sr.
PK Brian Pate W&M Sr.
RS Tim Maypray VMI Sr.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech
FIRST-TEAM defense
Player School Year
DL Nate Collins Virginia Sr.
DL Arthur Moats JMU Sr.
DL Adrian Tracy W&M Sr.
DL Jason Worilds Va. Tech Jr.
LB Steve Greer Virginia Fr.
LB Cody Grimm Va. Tech Sr.
LB Collin McConaghy Richmond Sr.
DB Rashad Carmichael Va. Tech Jr.
DB Kam Chancellor Va. Tech Sr.
DB Justin Rogers Richmond Jr.
DB Terrell Whitehead Norfolk St. Sr.
P Jonathan Plisco ODU Fr.
SECOND-TEAM defense
Player School Year
DL Matt Conrath Virginia So.
DL Trey Jacobs Liberty Sr.
DL Sean Lissemore W&M Sr.
DL Martin Parker Richmond Jr.
LB Eric McBride Richmond Jr.
LB Julio Sanchez Hampton Jr.
LB Jake Trantin W&M So.
DB David Caldwell W&M Sr.
DB Chris Cook Virginia Sr.
DB Scotty McGee JMU Sr.
DB B.W. Webb W&M Fr.
P Jahmal Blanchard Hampton Sr.
P Brent Bowden Va. Tech Sr.
DIVISIONS II, III AND NAIA
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Caleb Jennings, Emory & Henry
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Player School Year
QB Corey Sedlar Hamp.-Syd. Sr.
RB Caleb Jennings E&H Jr.
RB Thomas Tate Bridgewater Jr.
WR Jason Lovett UVa-Wise Sr.
WR Earl Peoples Rand.-Mac. Jr.
TE Andrew Bruckner Hamp.-Syd. Jr.
G James Hairston E&H Sr.
G Mike Kinder Apprentice Sr.
C Louis Sanchez Bridgewater Sr.
T Kenneth Hall C. Newport Jr.
T David Mims Va. Union Jr.
PK Josh Storm Rand.-Mac. Fr.
RS Jeremy Dixon Averett Jr.
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
Player School Year
QB Brad Robbins UVa-Wise Sr.
RB Keone Kyle Shenandoah Jr.
RB Tunde Ogun C. Newport Sr.
WR Tyler Beiler Bridgewater Jr.
WR Anthony Squillini Averett Sr.
TE Corey Shepherd E&H Sr.
G Ryan Elliot E&H Sr.
G Greg Kurkis W&L Jr.
C Tyler Card So. Virginia Sr.
C Chauncy Perry Va. Union Sr.
T Markus Copeland Va. State Jr.
T Dexter Hinds Ferrum Sr.
PK Justin Parker Va. State Jr.
RS John Kavanagh W&L So.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Will Riggenbach, Hampden-Sydney
FIRST-TEAM defense
Player School Year
DL Matt Cassilly W&L Sr.
DL Brandon Fortune Va. State Sr.
DL Will Riggenbach Hamp.-Syd. Jr.
DL Willie Taylor Ferrum Jr.
LB Tre Hemphill Va. Union Sr.
LB Mario Huffman Averett Sr.
LB Andrew Sellers Hamp.-Syd. Sr.
DB Billy Doody Hamp.-Syd. Jr.
DB Jahmal Potter UVa-Wise So.
DB Donavon Sawyer W&L Sr.
DB Dominic Tolson St. Paul’s So.
P T.J. Frazier E&H So.
SECOND-TEAM defense
Player School Year
DL Gamal Alwan Rand.-Mac. Sr.
DL Jaryd Grimsley Rand.-Mac. Jr.
DL Trevor Wagner C. Newport Sr.
DL Josh Weaver UVa-Wise Jr.
LB Jeremy Bowry Rand.-Mac. Jr.
LB Adrin Diggs C. Newport Jr.
LB Trevor Ikwild Hamp.-Syd. Jr.
DB Darius Burrus Bridgewater Jr.
DB Aubry Dicks Bridgewater Sr.
DB Larry Gibbs Shenandoah So.
DB Dennis Hardy Ferrum Sr.
P T.J. Grzesikowski Ferrum Jr.
