Friday, September 04, 2009
Timing of Payne’s departure may reduce transfer options
Ex-coach praises Tech’s Grimm
Doug Doughty
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I’m hearing Temple as a possible destination for Keith Payne, the former Group AAA football player of the year, who reportedly is leaving Virginia on the verge of his redshirt junior season.
My source reminds me that Payne’s original recruiter for Virginia was Al Golden, who was the Cavaliers’ defensive coordinator and also had recruiting responsibility for northern Virginia.
Maybe Payne-to-Temple makes sense but this isn’t like Peter Lalich enrolling at Orgeon State in late September last year. Most schools already are in session; UVa and Virginia Tech, for example, have been in class for two weeks.
That was part of the reason why ex-Michigan linebacker Marell Evans from Varina could not transfer to Virginia, despite mutual interest from both parties. The UVa admissions office wasn’t wild about accepting a student 10 days after the start of classes.
I’m reminded of the situation three years ago, when offensive lineman Eddie Pinigis transferred to Liberty on the eve of the 2006 season. Roanoke Times archives indicate that Pinigis made his decision Aug. 22, 2006, and, if he had waited three or four days later, Liberty would have been unable to take him.
If he wants to play in 2010, which would be his fifth – and final – season of college eligibility, Payne needs to get enrolled somewhere as soon as possible. And, it might not be his first choice, depending on admissions practices.
Pinigis was able to play for Liberty in 2006 after playing for Virginia in 2005, but I’m not sure those rules are still in place for transfers from I-A to I-AA programs and, at 5:30 on a Friday afternoon in September, confirmation isn’t readily available.
VIRGINIA STILL HASN’T confirmed Payne departure and it would be interesting to know if head coach Al Groh would accept a change of heart. I can say that it has been two years since Groh has been as complimentary toward Payne as he has been this preseason.
Payne had lost weight and was in the best shape of his career, but he was stuck in a logjam at tailback, where the competition has included two fifth-year seniors, Mikell Simpson and Rashawn Jackson, as well as redshirt freshman Torrey Mack.
Jackson is listed as the Cavaliers’ No. 1 fullback on a depth chart distributed this week, but it’s hard to visualize UVa in any traditional two-back sets. Groh joked at his news conference this week that Jackson was listed as the No. 1 fullback because his mother would be happy about it.
Groh said there would be instances when Virginia would use two running backs in its new spread offense, but, in all likelihood, a second running back would be in the slot. Jackson said as much at UVa’s preseason Meet the Team Day.
Some Virginia fans are always going to wonder what would have happened if Payne had gotten in shape earlier, been given more of an opportunity or been moved to defense. Remember, he was the guy who shut down Percy Harvin in Oakton’s stunning state-championship win over Landstown.
AN EARLIER REFERENCE was made to ex-Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich and a call to Oregon State revealed that the Beavers are still waiting to hear from the NCAA on Lalich’s eligibility status.
In the Oregon State media guide, it is written that Lalich essentially was redshirted in 2008, when he started Virginia’s first two games, then suspended and ultimately dismissed from the team, only to arrive at Oregon State for the start of classes in late September.
I’m not sure that Oregon State or the Lalichs couldn’t find a physician and make a case for a medical hardship based on Lalich’s emotional state at the time of his departure from UVa. But, I can’t see the NCAA not making an issue of those two games he played in ’08.
Lalich currently is not listed on the Beavers’ two-deep quarterback depth chart.
IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG to hear back from Mike Bolin, the football coach at James Wood High School in Winchester, concerning the whereabouts of 2008 Washington Post All-Metro place-kicker Andrew Lloyd.
Lloyd, who was 7-of-13 on field goals last year and converted three field goals of 40 yards or longer, committed to the Hokies as an invited walk-on around the time of signing day in February. However, he was not listed on Tech’s preseason roster and did not appear on a roster that was updated after the start of classes.
It turns out, Lloyd still plans to enroll at Tech but is sitting out the first semester as a grayshirt, Bolin said. By that time, fifth-year Hokies’ place-kicker Matt Waldron will have exhausted his eligibility and Lloyd will join a group of kicking candidates that currently would include Justin Myer, Chris Hosley, Cody Journell and Zack Pickard.
THE EARLIER NOTE on Keith Payne reminds me of a preseason conversation I had with his coach at Oakton High School, Joe Thompson.
Thompson, commenting on the surprising difficulty he has in getting recruiters interested in his players, said that Cody Grimm was the best player he has ever coached. Grimm, now listed at 5 foot 11 and 210 pounds, is starting at Virginia Tech for the first time as a fifth-year senior.
You would have thought that the Grimm name would have been enough for some recruiters. Grimm’s father, Russ, was a legendary offensive lineman for the Washington Redskins’ Hogs, but it was hard for Cody even to break into Tech’s lineup until he got two starts at linebacker late last season.
IN PREPARING A LIST of NFL players from the state of Virginia, I counted 30 ex-Hokies on NFL rosters as of Friday and 29 ex-Cavaliers still in camp. I could be off by one or two players, but you can assume that the totals are almost even.
Some of the ex-Hokies and ‘Hoos who have dropped by the wayside since last season include offensive lineman Matt Lehr (Tech), offensive lineman Patrick Estes (UVa), defensive lineman John Engleberger (Tech), offensive lineman Jon Dunn (Tech) and wide receiver Marques Hagans (UVa).
