BLACKSBURG -- David Clowney was working on the script for his college football career long before he showed up at Virginia Tech.

The opening chapters of the fleet wide receiver's playbook was dominated by a pair of soon-to-be co-stars who would eventually become known as "The Connection."

"I can't wait to come to Tech and hook up with Marcus Vick," Clowney said, speaking from his south Florida home, a month after he signed with the Hokies in February 2003.

"I'm excited about being the guy who can run right past people ... being the guy who can go deep and catch all those Marcus Vick bombs. It's going to be fun being partners with Vick."

It didn't take long. In Tech's first preseason scrimmage, Vick hooked up with Clowney on a 70-yard slant for touchdown. In each's college debut, Tech's 2003 season-opening 49-28 rout of UCF, Vick collaborated with Clowney on a 27-yard TD strike.

Little did they know, but that would be it for the Clowney-Vick reception party for a while. First, neither could win a starting job in 2003. Then last season, their connection went dead when Vick was suspended from school for a run of off-the-field problems.

Now, two years later, Clowney and Vick are back in business. Talk about hooking up.

It was Clowney's diving catch of a Vick pass to the left corner of the end zone that resulted in a 19-yard score and lifted Tech to a 20-16 victory at North Carolina State in the season opener. In Tech's 45-0 romp at Duke last Saturday, Clowney got loose deep and hauled in a 35-yard TD pass from Vick.

"Marcus is back now, and we did it at N.C. State, and we did it again at Duke. Hopefully, it will just keep going," said Clowney, who has six receptions for 92 yards in fourth-ranked Tech's first two games.

"I love playing with Marcus. Not just 'cause we have a little connection. Marcus is an incredible athlete and an incredible quarterback. When he's back there, you never know what can happen."

Clowney, a former all-state sprinter at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, Fla., said he and Vick can make defenses sick with their long-distance capabilities. Clowney, who was clocked at 4.31 in the 40 in spring testing, said he has the jets to get past anybody deep.

"It's not all about speed, though. It's a lot about technique, getting around the guy, faking 'em out so he doesn't know which way you're going so you can get in front of 'em," he said. "And once you get the ball in your hands it's a whole another story. As long as you don't get caught ... and I don't think anybody can catch me if I get a step on 'em ... if I do, I'm going to be highly upset."

Like many of the great athletes that come out of south Florida, Clowney is not a guy who is afraid to talk about his abilities. He has complete faith that he can beat anybody, anywhere and anytime.

"A lot of the guys thought I was a bit cocky when I first came in here," he said. "But I look at it more as confidence. Honestly, I believe I can be the best receiver anytime. As an athlete, you should believe in your heart that you are the best. And that's just confidence."

Vick has no problem understanding Clowney.

"He's a fun guy and I love his attitude," Vick said. "He's the kind of guy who says he's going to beat somebody on a play, and then he does it. I'm always looking for Clowney because I know he's going to get open, plus I know what he can do with the ball when I get it in his hands. He's a big play waiting to happen."

As a junior, Clowney is the high-ranking upperclassman of Tech's young receiving corps. A quartet of sophomores -- Josh Hyman, Eddie Royal, Justin Harper and Josh Morgan -- join Clowney in a five-man rotation that coach Frank Beamer calls "the best group of receivers" he's had at Tech.

"Hyman is older than me," Clowney said. "But I look at myself as the leader of this group."

Clowney said he doesn't mind sharing playing time.

"I have no problem with the rotating we do. I kind of enjoy it. We need our break as receivers with all the amount of running that we do. So it feels good when you come out of the game that you've got somebody in there that you know can make a play."

The Tech wideout corps call themselves the "Big-Timers."

"We say big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games," Clowney said. "We're all brothers and we're all pulling for each to succeed. There's no jealousy at all."

Sounds like a winning connection.