Head To Head Matchup: Receivers

Three of the top four receivers for the Hokies are freshmen. In addition, Virginia Tech is only ranked 110 nationally in total offense out of 120 schools. This is a team in transition and hopefully the Noles will catch them where they want them. Last week in their loss to Boston College, the receivers also had some key drops.

The leader in receptions and passing yards is 6-0/203 pound freshman Danny Coale. On the season, Coale has 16 receptions for 160 yards and 0 TDs. Behind him is 6-2/190 pound freshman Dyrell Roberts with 9 catches, 145 yards and 0 TDs. Besides the two receivers, there are three other Hokie receivers that have 8 or more catches on the season.

Coale is described as a smart player with good ball skills and deceiving speed. Dyrell Roberts is the more gifted of the two as he was ranked the No. 3 player in the state of Virginia by The Roanoke Times and was ranked the No. 27 athlete in the country and the No. 10 player in the state of Virginia by a major recruiting service.

On the season, the Hokies have only scored 2 TDs though the air. Tight end Greg Boone has scored one of those TDs and running back Kenny Lewis the other. The Virginia Tech receivers on paper have thin numbers and is indicative of an anemic offense so far in the season.

Virginia Tech is at the bottom of the ACC in passing offense averaging only 114 yards per game. However, as we know from the NC State game, numbers don't matter as much as the preparation and execution for that particular week.

Defensive matchup: The Hokie receivers will be facing an FSU defense and secondary that is ranked #3 in pass defense allowing an average of 168 yards per game. The Noles have allowed 7 TDs through the air and have 4 interceptions for the season.

The Noles are also ranked #1 in the ACC in passes broken up. Myron Rolle and Tony Carter will need to step up and have a good game. Against NC State the secondary was not that impressive and had a blown coverage for a TD. Tony Carter leads the Noles in interceptions with 2 on the season.

For the Noles, we still have not seen a receiver that has taken charge yet this season. It is difficult to say who will be the playmaker against Va. Tech. However, it looks as if redshirt freshman Bert Reed could be a candidate among the receivers. Reed has 12 catches for the season and 208 receiving yards and is only 4 yards behind the leader in reception yards, Greg Carr.
(Now that it has been reported that Reed is suspended for the Virginia Tech game, someone else will have to step up for the Noles.)

Against NC State, Reed was the only receiver to score a TD. He also is tied with Corey Surrency for the most TDs with 3. Three Nole receivers have 200 yards or more receiving yards-Greg Carr, Taiwan Easterling, and Reed. Preston Parker is getting more balls also and look for him to be more involved in the offense. In the NC State game, Parker and Easterling were tied in receptions with 5 each. On the season, the Noles have scored 10 TDs through the air.

Defensive matchup: The Nole receivers will be facing a Hokie defense and secondary that is ranked #7 in pass defense allowing an average of 190 yards a game. The Hokies have allowed 8 TDs through the air but also have 9 interceptions for the season. They also rank #6 in passes broken up. Virginia Tech's defensive back Victor Harris leads the Hokies with 3 interceptions so far this season. Ponder will need to make the proper reads to his receivers in order to avoid any picks from the Hokie defense.