Caleb Violette didn't have to look far to find an upper-level football program with a vacancy at place-kicker.

Violette, a two-time, All-Group AA selection for Blacksburg High School, has accepted an invitation to join Virginia Tech's football team as a walk-on.

"Had he been offered a scholarship elsewhere, I think he would have considered it," Blacksburg coach Dave Crist said earlier this week, "but this is a good situation for him. Tech has a history of using walk-on kickers."

Senior Jud Dunlevy handled place-kicking duties for Tech last season, even stepping in for injured classmate Jared Develli on kickoffs down the stretch. Dustin Keys, entering his fifth year at Tech, is the senior member of a group of four walk-on kickers on Tech's spring roster.

Violette, who was 13-of-18 on field goals this past season, was one of two first-team All-Timesland choices for the Bruins. Crist said the other, 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman Daniel Overstreet, plans to take a postgraduate year at Fork Union Military Academy.

Overstreet is fully qualified academically but hopes that a year in prep school might enhance his visibility to recruiters.

"I think his best football is ahead of him, once he grows into that big ol' body," Crist said. "I think he's going to be a good college player because he wants to be."

Other 2007 Bruins with collegiate football plans include running back Latrell Keys (Ferrum), defensive back Eric Howard (Averett) and defensive back Josh Reynolds (Averett). Crist said that Glenville (W.Va.) State is the likely destination for wide receiver Greg Keys.

Prospects in Crist's junior class include quarterback Trey Gresh (6-1, 195) and offensive lineman Dale Davis (6-4, 280).

Gresh has received substantial interest "but nothing firm yet," Crist said. "I don't know that he would accept anything right away. So many people offer these kids as sophomores and juniors and they take them and then somebody like [Gresh] comes along and it's like, 'Well, we're only going to take one quarterback.' "

As to whether senior-year performance is becoming less of a factor in recruiting, "we're finding that out," Crist said.

FUMA-bound

Fork Union coach John Shuman is excited about the arrival of both Overstreet and Cave Spring's Adam Dyer, last seen scoring on touchdown runs of 71 and 68 yards in the Knights' season finale against Salem.

Dyer also played cornerback, returned kicks and served as Cave Spring's place-kicker. Shuman envisions a similar all-purpose role for him at Fork Union. Like Overstreet, Dyer is a capable student who was attractive to Division III coaches but wants to play at a scholarship level.

Dyer never topped his 1,400-yard season as a sophomore at North Cross, but frequently flashed big-play ability for the Knights and had a monster night against Patrick Henry, when he had 217 all-purpose yards.

n One-time Virginia Tech football recruit Bobby Massie is headed to Hargrave Military Academy, coach Robert Prunty said. Massie, a 6-8, 335-pound offensive lineman from Liberty Christian in Lynchburg, was rated the No. 12 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times. After committing to the Hokies, he reopened his recruiting when it did not appear that he would meet NCAA eligibility standards.

On the move

Coaches involved in the pursuit of former Virginia football signee J'Courtney Williams are being told that the Williams family has settled on Division I-AA Hampton. Williams, rated the No. 3 linebacker in the country by SuperPrep before he signed with UVa in 2007, was redshirted this past season. He subsequently was released from his scholarship after being charged with marijuana possession and, later, larceny.

n Cave Spring graduate Robbie Powell, a three-year starter for Purdue at center, already is on the move after signing a free-agent contract with Cleveland. Powell was headed to New Orleans after Cleveland decided it had enough centers and picked up another offensive lineman, family spokesman Steve Whitney said.

Local update

Lord Botetourt graduate Lauren Snead struck out more than 100 batters for the second year in a row at UVa-Wise and was named first-team All-Appalachian Athletic Conference in softball. Snead, a sophomore, has an 11-9 record and a 2.16 ERA.

n Another Botetourt product, Noah States, started 25 of 30 games for the men's basketball team at Furman and was fourth on the team in scoring, with 7 points per game. He also had a team-high 20 blocked shots.

n Matt Nowlin from Roanoke Catholic averaged 10.5 points for Division II Elizabeth City State (20-7). He led the team in 3-point field goals (71), steals (40) and free-throw percentage (89.7). Nowlin, a sophomore guard, began his college career at Elon.