Decision day coming for Hokies underclassmen: Thomas, Exum, Gayle weighing their NFL options
Several Virginia Tech underclassmen — most notably quarterback Logan Thomas, defensive end James Gayle and cornerback Antone Exum — have NFL decisions to make in the upcoming weeks.
All of them have at least thought about what they’re going to do at this point, although none of the three was ready to make a definitive statement Thursday.
Thomas, who despite a down year statistically, remains in the first-round discussion because of his physical tools, making his decision all the harder. Does he think he’s NFL ready?
“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Thomas said. “There’s no doubt about it. Consistency is a big thing for me. I wasn’t consistent throughout the year and that’s where, when you go to the next level, you’ve got to be consistent at all times, and experience will be a lot as well.
“More time to be able to play some more games isn’t always a bad thing. I don’t think I could go in and start an NFL game right now and be fine and come out with a win, so I think I need some work to be done, but that comes with practice.”
But NFL teams don’t always draft finished products, frequently choosing players with potential to develop at the next level. That’s why draft analysts like ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. don’t close the door on Thomas being a first-rounder.
If he’s projected to go that high — and he’ll get an evaluation back from the NFL Draft Advisory Board soon — Thomas, who has said before that he’s coming back, would have a tough decision.
“I think it’d still be up in the air for me simply because I love the university, I love the people here, all my friends are still here,” he said, although it should be noted that he’s graduating with a degree in human development this semester. “I think I need some work to do. There’s a lot of things that will go into the decision for me, but as of right now, I’m still doing what I’ve said the entire year.”
Offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said he would have a tough time telling Thomas not to go to the draft if he was projected as a first-rounder.
“When you’re a first-round draft pick in that league, that’s a pretty good deal,” he said. “I think when you look at the future of what a first-round draft pick means — security, it brings that part to your life, and there are some other elements that comes into your life — I think that’s pretty difficult to encourage a guy not to take that opportunity.
“Because we’re all about what’s best for our players, what’s best for our team. Ultimately when you have that opportunity, I think it’s something that you’ve got to look at very seriously, weigh the pros and cons back and forth. But to sit here and tell a young man that that’s not your best option, that’s hard.”
Head coach Frank Beamer thinks Thomas can succeed at the next level, although he didn’t say when.
“I think he’s definitely an NFL quarterback,” Beamer said. “I think, again, you see where your status is with the NFL people and then make the best decision for yourself. But I think what he’s got, I definitely think he’s an NFL quarterback. And not just his physical skills, but how he is as a person and how his leadership is and how he is as a teammate and all those other things, too.”
Exum might have made the most definitive statement of the three, saying, “I’m coming back, as of now.” He too submitted his paperwork for the NFL Draft Advisory Board “just to see what was out there,” adding that he’ll think about it more after the bowl game.
Gayle, who wasn’t at the media availability Thursday but told the Daily Press he will weigh his options after getting his NFL evaluation back, and Exum are in the me boat. Naturally, they’ve bounced thoughts off of each other.
“We haven’t been through it before,” Exum said. “This isn’t our first time dealing with something like this. But like I said, we’re just kind of worried about the bowl game right now, and I think that will be more of a topic after we get this opportunity.”
Exum’s versatility would be a boost to his draft stock, but he noted that he’s never played the same position in consecutive years at Tech. He was a nickelback mostly his first year, a free safety/rover the next and a cornerback this season.
“That’s definitely something that’s on my mind and an advantage of coming back next year,” Exum said.
Defensive coordinator Bud Foster, for his part, thinks both would benefit from another year of college.
“I think both those kids need to grow in a lot of areas,” Foster said. “And I think it would benefit them to stay. But I’m sure they’re both going to check what their options are, what their draft status is, and if that’s what their decision is, then we’re going to support them 100 percent.
“But I think both of them have room to grow, and I’d like to see them become leaders of our defense. I think they can be outstanding leaders for us.”
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I’ll have plenty more over the next week from today’s media day. Here are a few extras today, though:
- Beamer said some of the early practices were set aside for the younger players to scrimmage. Once again, he singled out running back Trey Edmunds as catching his eye. He broke a long run and held his own in middle drill.
- You get the sense from the players that the Russell Athletic Bowl isn’t meaningless to them, like it seems to be to many fans. Linebacker Bruce Taylor, a senior who won’t be around next year, said this: “It’s very important, just looking forward to the future. We did have a disappointing year with our record-wise, but I just feel like it’s a chance to build and going to next year for the guys that are taking over for next year. … Because what we had this year was unacceptable in my eyes. We did finish strong, won three of our last four or whatever and got to the bowl, but we know what we’ve got to do better, so this bowl game, I feel like this can be the first step for the team.”
- A couple of injury notes from today: OG David Wang (knee/ankle) and C Caleb Farris (ankle) were in blue, limited contact jerseys. So was DT Antoine Hopkins. It sounds like all are finally getting a chance to get healthy. Stinespring said Michael Holmes (thigh) is finally healthy.
- Football Scoop is reporting that it expects Scott Satterfield to be named the head coach at Appalachian State soon. Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain‘s name had been mentioned for that job, although it’s unclear how serious his candidacy was.
- Is Orlando the bowl the players wanted? Taylor just wanted to go somewhere warm. He was OK with Orlando and El Paso (until reporters told him El Paso wasn’t warm this time of year). Exum wanted USC in the Sun Bowl, presumably because of the name recognition.
December 13, 2012 - 3:20 PM
Very well stated: “But NFL teams don’t always draft finished products, frequently choosing players with potential to develop at the next level.” That is LT. Can he be developed to the next level? This year for LT was not disappointing. Let us be honest. It was awful. Too many gimme picks and too many missed opportunities. Big-time accuracy problems. Can that be overcome? Can his accuracy and ability to read the field improve? That is the risk with which a pro team must deal. If he cannot improve, then it is a wasted draft and a dud. His ability to run the ball is not going to move the needle.
There have been a number of QBs with far more accuracy than Logan who are pro, but have not made huge impacts in the passing game. Tim Tebow and Jason Campbell come to mind.
My prediction: you will see only muted interest and much caution from pro teams. His accuracy has been so poor that most pros will see that and say: LT has to climb a steep hill, it is too risky, and there is a low probability of success he can get there.
It will be interesting!
So, once again, I think Logan should turn pro. He has plenty of upside to him. He admits he needs to be consistent, which is pretty much universally agreed, and he’s going to get his degree by the end of the month. What more does he want? I get that he want to spend one more year because his friends are still at the university and he want to spend his senior year with them. I get that. My biggest concern is the risk of further mediocrity if he continues to struggle with accuracy and hitting his intended receiver consistently, and then there’s always the big I, which is injury.
Even Frank Beamer admits that Logan can be a NFL quarterback, but not as a day 1 starter, and even Thomas said the same thing. So, once again, why not just go for it? The degree will be in hand. Your friends get to see you on the sideline sometime on HDTV when the camera pans.
I have to agree with the assessment about Gayle and Exum. It would not surprise me if some NFL teams, whoever drafts Exum, moves him back to safety, which is his strongest suit, like the Seahawks moved Kam Chancellor and he’s one of the most feared corners in the NFL.
Gayle is a bit undersized, but he is violent, he can get after the quarterback. I think with how deep the defensive end class are in the draft, he might get lost in the shuffle and go the free agent route.
It’s a shame that they can’t go through the Combine just to test the water, and if they don’t grade out, they can return to college without losing eligibility.
Players need to be careful about the NFL Draft Advisory Board…Several years ago, Darren Evans was projected, I believe, between a 4th and 5th round selection and was not drafted. Tech would have most likely had him another year if not for the bad info.
LT has another upside for the NFL. If whatever team that drafts him decides that he’s not a QB, he can move to end. It is his position and OCs love such a big target, especially since he’s a bear to bring down after he catches a pass.
TREVOR: Please allow me to correct you. Kam Chancellor has never played corner at VT nor Seattle. He is the Seahawks pro-bowl caliber Strong Safety.
I don’t see how anyone who saw LT’s game film from this year could draft him anywhere near the first round. Yeah he’s got the measurables and I love the guy, but jeez, he was about as inaccurate as a starting college quarterback could be this year. Some of the missed passes on screens and short patterns were embarrassing. Unless he thinks he’ll do worse next year (or that the line and WR’s won’t support him) he should stay.
Logan Thomas will not succeed in the NFL at the quarterback position. Just look at Tim Tebow, who has better passing skills. Logan’s future in the NFL is at tight end or receiver, which was his original goal. What comes to mind here is the pass play where Taylor connected with Thomas for a TD in the first game a couple years ago. If Thomas stepped aside for a new quarterback next year, they could run that play all day long and Tech would win every game.
Gayle will be a late first round pick, Thomas a late third round pick and Exhume probably 4th round. Then VT will be 3-9 next year. These guys have already determined VT is a sinking ship.
If VT had an above average head coach and offensive coaching staff, then Thomas would be well-advised to stay. But they don’t. Beamer’s humble, determined approach to coaching took VT to a high level in the mid-2000s, but his magic has turned into a narrow-minded arrogance. VT’s 2012 record and Thomas’s poor season are simply the most visible casualties of Beamer’s ego. Beamer has had several opportunities to hire rising coaching stars to take the offense to a higher level. But, instead, he brought in his son to take the reins when Frank retires. Until Beamer is gone, VT’s program will languish in the middle of the ACC pack.
Thomas should go to the NFL and get paid to develop his talent. And, btw, the naysayers out there are wrong. Thomas lost his confidence this year,not his incredible natural ability. Decent NFL coaches will restore it and NFL-caliber receivers will allow LT to throw the ball naturally.
If Exum stays, he’ll become a 1st or 2nd round pick next year. Gayle, too. They both have top-tier positions coaches and in 2013 Foster’s D will highlight their talent and competitiveness. Too bad Foster is not VT’s head coach.
Follow the money trail if it’s the smart thing to do-Exum played out of position all year but has upside. Gayle nees to play all downs, not just when rushing the QB. Enuff been said about LT to date.He can make it in the NFL.
Bud Foster is not head coach material, that should be obvious to you by now. He has been passed over for at least 15 years and he is not going anywhere. He has it made in the shade, making lots of $$$$$ and his defense has been averaging giving up around 30 points a game recently. He was pretty good several years back when he had the Adibi brothers but really hasn’t produced much lately except a lot of smoke blowing on the sidelines. And yes, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Shane Beamer is not the answer, that would be a disaster if that kid took over.
None are ready for the NFL period.
Agreed, Shane is on the staff because of his name and his daddy is the coach. If the boy was known by any other name he would not be a college coach, he would at best be coaching at the high school level.
This is another disaster waiting to happen to our team.
Bud Foster has the best coaching gig in the country,as long as Frank stays there.
Their will be major coaching changes in the next 1-2 months from good sources!
You guys are so blinded by Shane Beamer purpose on the Staff – He was hired for his ability to recruit – Check out Rivals and see which Coach was more successful with the 4 Star recruits 2012 and 2013 so far! Look what he did at USC. He will not replace hisDad as Head Coach no will Bud Foster!
What jerks. While some changes are long overdue, don’t throw the baby out with the dishwater!!!
Agree that the reason for Shane’s hiring was to recruit, but there’s also good reason–and good sources–to believe he is in line to become the next head coach. True, Foster has had trouble recently and the lack of depth at defensive back in 2011 raises questions about his foresight. At this point, however, I trust his judgment much more than Frank’s on OC selection.
As for the notion that “major coaching changes” are coming, I wish, but that’s highly unlikely.
The biggest delusion currently overwhelming many VT FB fans is that Beamer is still a good coach and a top-quality leader. He’s accomplished many great things and put VT on the ESPN map. But he’s shown a distinct lack of willingness to change with the times and VT’s competitiveness has suffered accordingly. Has anyone noticed how Beamer’s done against top-25 teams during his career? Big games? Bowl games? Or are you in denial about that, too? Change is difficult to accept but entirely necessary for VT’s FB program. I’ve already accepted it won’t happen so it will be a lot easier for me to accept than most when VT is batting around .500 through 2016. Call those of us “jerks” who reconize that VT’s on an accelerating downhill slide if you want; denial is a powerful force.
I am not calling those making reasonable critiques jerks. However, there are those that take the real issues and exaggerate until is seems as if the whole program is terrible, has always been terrible, and will always be terrible. It is a pure fact that over the past 20 years, we have been in the top 20 – 30 amongst the teams. Often, we have been higher than that. Less often, worse. You do realize that leaves some 80 teams to which we are superior. This year was one of the worst. Even so, I would still assert that we are in the top half. I agree that poor offense has often cost us dearly.
As for Bud Foster, he is good at what he does, loved where he is. If he is happy, let him be. We do not know what kind of head coach the man would be.
As for Frank Beamer being washed up, he has brought the program to the top. A bad year is not the end of the world. He is owed a couple more years to do as he will. I hope for changes on the offensive staff, but that is his choice. Now if 2014 comes along and things are no better or if they are worse, then yes, consideration must be given to getting a new head coach.
Geez, have a bit of perspective.
Barry from Ivy, what is your story? You seem to love Georgia Tech. Cool. So why do you bother to post here? Is your life so boring and mundane that the only way for you to enjoy life is to slam the Hokies on this blog? Is your life really that sad? I am on here because I care about my team. My team is the Virginia Tech Hokies. I am not on a GT, UVA, or Clemson blog poking sticks at the fans there. I am not on their blogs making ludicrous prediction about how the Hokies are going to do. Get a life and post on GT boards. Leave this one alone. Now I realize that you are too pathetic to heed this request. I also know that you are probably going to have some sad excuse. You cannot be kept from posting here. Do know that I see a figure that I think of with disgust and a bit of sympathy when I see your posts. I imagine others feel the same.
Crooked Road, while you make many good points, you focus on the negative to the exclusion of the positive. With you, the glass will always and forever, world without end, hallelujah, be half empty. Why? Are you so miserable?
Barry is on here because VT beats GT every year and this is his sad way of getting revenge. I don’t get it myself but it seems to do him some good because he keeps coming back. I can tell whether he’s trying to get responses or whether he actually believes the crap he’s saying. It’s pretty pathetic either way
Fair points, David in Salem, about Foster and Beamer. My perspective has developed over the past 5 years as I waited and waited for Beamer to make some changes on the offensive side of the ball. Tyrod and other high-level talent made the coaches look much better than they were. Losing to Kansas in the Orange Bowl signalled the need for change.
I have come to the conclusion, after looking for a number of other explanations, that Beamer’s magic is gone b/c he changed. VT’s success developed as a result of his humble, determined efforts. I believe, but don’t expect many to agree with me yet, that he’s become entrenched in his ways despite the need for change. His leadership style has become characterized by hubris rather than humility. It’s ridiculous for him to talk on the one hand about winning a national championship but be unwilling to make the cahnges necessary to get there. The history of companies and governments that decline is littered with “leaders” like Beamer; they fail to adapt.
By 2016, we’ll know either that your continued patience and faith were warranted or that Beamer’s record b/n now and then remind us of Bowden’s and Paterno’s last few years at FSU and PSU. I hope you’re right but I refuse to be hoodwinked by Beamer’s colloquialisms any more.
Jeff,
I understand your frustration with Beamer’s post game interviews. The blah blah blah gets old. However, he cannot come out and say some things too plainly or at all. Can you imagine if he said, “Well we would have won if Bryan would ……” or “I don’t know what the devil is going on with Logan. He can’t hit the broad side of a barn this year”. Say he said these things. How would he be able to deal with either individual going forward?
Maybe we cud find Kevin Rogers ……..possibly make him OC and QB Coach…..have Coach Stinespring back w/OL….possibly Coach O’Cain “retires” as well as Coach Newsome (think we can recruit 757 with Stinespring and Shane …now we need to be aware of ODU!) ……we also need to make sure that incoming QB’s have necessary training to be ready for 2013 just “in case”! These changes would not be made to embarrass anyone, but to possibly improve a sad situation!
Let’s Go Hokies,
Golden Hokie from Roanoke