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Mark Shuman, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive lineman from Fork Union Military Academy, has chosen to play his college football at Virginia Tech.

Shuman, younger brother of 2008 Tech senior Ryan Shuman, was rated the No. 3 junior in Virginia by The Roanoke Times.

The younger Shuman plays for the undergraduate team at Fork Union. His father, John, is the longtime FUMA postrgaduate coach.

John Shuman said the "major hurdle" was informing new Virginia assistant Latrell Scott of the decision. Scott began his coaching career at FUMA and would babysit Mark Shuman.

"Now, it's full speed ahead," said Shuman, reporting that Mark had 18 Division I-A scholarship offers.

--DOUG DOUGHTY

Ju-Ju Clayton has been named Virginia Tech's backup quarterback, Hokies coach Frank Beamer said in a news release issued by the school about an hour ago.

Clayton, a 6-foot, 215-pound Richmond native, beat out fellow redshirt freshman Marcus Davis of Virginia Beach in competition for the post during the first three weeks of spring practice.

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One man's observations from Tech's first full spring scrimmage held Friday at Lane Stadium:

-- First, where was everybody? Sure, it rained in Blacksburg until about 2 p.m. But by the time the scrimmage began around 4:30, the sun was out and it was a nice day. The best guess was there maybe 800 people in  attendance. And it was free! That was a shocker considering how revved up Hokie Nation is about the upcoming season.

-- Usually, Bud Foster's defense rules the roost for these kind of affairs. Not this time. While the No. 1 defense was fabulous, allowing only three first downs to the second- and third-team offenses, Bryan Stinespring's bunch amassed 447 total yards -- 237 passing and 210 rushing. Read more »

While the public perception of new Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett seems to rise by the minute, two questions will persist until the Cavaliers start playing games next season.

One concerns Bennett's ability to recruit, particularly in the state of Virginia, given his background in the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. And, that might not be answered for several years.

The other involves style of play.  Bennett's last team at Washington State finished first in Division I in scoring defense this season but the Cougars were 314th in total offense. Read more »

I don't know where else this is being reported and don't have the time to check, but a person in the know advises me that American University assistant Jason Williford has been in Charlottesville today to discuss a position on Tony Bennett's new Virginia basketball staff.

Williford, a former UVa player from the Richmond area, has more of a school and in-state connection than anybody on the Bennett staff, which will include associate head coach and former Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay and Bennett's former Washington State aide, Ron Sanchez.

As of 7:30 p.m., my source had not heard if an offer had been made to Williford.

BLACKSBURG -- Coming off a sophomore season in which he started every game and was an inside mainstay on Virginia Tech's defensive front, big John Graves has made the move to the periphery in the Hokies' spring workouts.

Yeah, the big fellow has changed addresses, shifting from tackle to end. No biggie. Fine with him. More space to operate and an opportunity to claim more additional victims to plant in his personal Graves yard.

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In lieu of a UVa Insider following a 12-hour training trip to Richmond, here is the address given by Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage at the introduction of Tony Bennett as new men's basketball coach:

This is a day of celebration at the University of Virginia because I am here to introduce you to the newest member of the University community, our new men’s basketball coach.  Before I introduce him, I would like to give you some background on the process that brought me to this point. Read more »

Today's UVa Insider column will be posted late. Doug Doughty is on a training trip.