MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Tech kicker Chris Hazley kicks a field goal during an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday.

BLACKSBURG -- Chris Hazley will never forget the first day. The first afternoon he walked on the Virginia Tech football practice field in the spring of 2007 and saw all his new teammates.

''I felt a little out of place, but that was to be understood,'' Hazley recalled. ''I kind of kept to myself. I didn't know anybody. I didn't know where to go. So I just put my head down and kicked.''

And kicked, and kicked, and kicked.

Three-and-a-half years later, Hazley has successfully booted his way to leading leg man among the Hokies' long line of kickers.

Think the guy's Q rating hasn't suddenly skyrocketed?

When Hazley showed up in the fall of 2006 at Tech, the West Chester, Pa., native had no thoughts of playing football. He was an unknown on a campus of approximately 30,000 students. Now, come Sept. 6 in front of an expected 80,000 fans at FedEx Field, Hazley could be the deciding factor in the 10th-ranked Hokies' critical season-opening collision with No. 3 Boise State.

''I've got it marked on my calendar and I'm excited about it,'' a grinning Hazley said. "It's going to be fun.''

Pretty confident for a guy who's never kicked in a college game. Shoot, Hazley made only one field goal in his senior year at Henderson High School.

''I never played football until my senior year of high school. I had only played soccer,'' Hazley said.

Shortly after arriving at Tech, Hazley caught wind of a student football tryout camp, conducted annually by Tech director of football operations Dr. John Ballein. Hazley decided to check out the scene.

"It's sorta crazy, I guess,'' Hazley said. "I was bored during my first semester here. I just wanted to find some things to do. I thought it would be fun.

''So I just came out and thought I would give it a shot, and they kept me around, kept me around. Coach [Frank] Beamer told me, 'If you keep kicking well, and put your time in, it will work out.' And it seems to be going that way. I just hope that I can keep performing well.''

So far in Tech's preseason camp, the blonde has been almost a perfect-10. Hazley has nailed six of seven field-goal tries in the team's two full scrimmages, including four from 43 yards and farther. His only miss came on a 48-yarder that sailed wide left last Saturday. Hardly an unpardonable sin, too, since backup holder Danny Coale may have gotten the ball down a split second late.

''Not busting on Danny Coale because he's awesome,'' said Hazley, whose normal holder, punter Brian Saunders, was sidelined with a bruised foot. "It just takes something to get more comfortable with. I mean I've been working there with Saunders for three years. Danny did well, but I feel like I think I may have gotten jammed on that one.''

Hazley, 23, will be the fourth consecutive fifth-year senior to handle Tech's placement chores. Jud Dunleavy, Dustin Keys and Matt Waldron all won the job during spring practice in their last-chance year. All three were one-year wonders, too, combining to make 64 of 78 field-goal attempts (82 percent) and produce 317 points.

''There's definitely a little pressure following those guys,'' Hazley said. "I'm confident, though. This is what I've wanted. Now, it's time to go do the job.''

Beamer, who oversees the kickers, is sold that Hazley can provide the needed goods. So much so that he put Hazley on scholarship on Aug. 13.

''I think he's a John Ballein creation,'' quipped a grinning Beamer, referring to his right-man man who uncovered Hazley among the student population.

"Seriously, Chris has done about everything right since he's been out there. I have a lot of confidence in him, and he was deserving of a scholarship.''

Back in Pennsylvania, Hazley's father, John, unquestionably got a good kick out of that breaking news. Chris is the fifth of the family's seven children to go to college.

''I was relieved to call my dad and tell him that he didn't have to make first tuition payment,'' Chris said, laughing.

Now, if he can only be money for the Hokies this fall.

Notes

Fifteen days after being sidelined by a hyperextended right big toe, projected starting left offensive tackle Nick Becton was back on the practice field Monday.

"Oh, it hurts, but it's getting better definitely,'' the 6-foot-6, 313-pound redshirt sophomore said. "If I had to play today, I probably couldn't. I'm definitely feeling motivation for this game, though. I'm working as hard as I can to get back and be there. I never knew that something so small could keep me out this long.''

Sophomore Jayron Hosley, the projected started at field corner whose preseason practice time has severely limited by a hamstring injury, worked out with the first unit Monday. Plus, backup whip linebacker Alonzo Tweedy (groin) was back at full speed.