2009.01.26
Tech-bound place-kicker
Head coach Mike Bolin from James Wood High School in Winchester says that Virginia Tech got a stud in place-kicker Andrew Lloyd.
Lloyd, named first-team All-Metro by The Washington Post, has committed to the Hokies as a "preferred walk-on."
"He's pretty good," Bolin said Monday. "I'll be honest with you, there's some kids in the country that are ranked higher than him, but he's got to be at the top. He's one of the top guys."
Lloyd kicked seven field goals this past season, three from 40 yards or beyond, and then had field goals from 42 and 39 yards Friday in the Offense-Defense All-Star Battle in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Tech earlier had received a commitment from Giles County place-kicker Cody Journell, who will be on scholarship. Lloyd's status as a preferred walk-ons means he will have a spot on Tech's 105-player roster when the Hokies begin camp in August.
Thirty of Lloyd's 45 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks and he punted for a 41.5-yard average.
"[The Hokies] told him he could compete for the starting job," Bolin said. "I would believe, if he could win the starting job, that they would offer him a scholarship."
Bolin said Lloyd was leaning toward Michigan State before the Spartans committed a scholarship to another kicker.
Will be interesting to see if Class of 2010 placekicker Ryan Trotman of Oscar Smith HS is invited to try out as a walk-on at a Division 1-A school, if only because of his 6-6 frame.
Comment by Nelson — January 27, 2009 @ 12:20 am