Tag Archives: Virginia Tech Hokies

NBA Draft, 2020, 2020, Articles, Basketball

2020 NBA Draft Preview: Cole Anthony 6’3 190 PG- North Carolina

Leave a comment

What makes this player NASTY…(Strengths): Anthony is a well- conditioned athlete. The Tar Heels point guard missed six weeks with a torn meniscus in his right knee but never skipped a beat with his conditioning and he rarely looks tired. He averaged 34.9 minutes per game and the NBA workload shouldn’t be a problem for him.  A week after coming back from injury, he played 43 minutes against Duke.  Offensively, Anthony is best when asked to make plays off the high screen and roll, where he can drive, shoot the elbow jumper or make the correct pass (Boston College; 1st Half). An accurate barometer for if Anthony is playing well is if he is driving to the basket, he shot at least six free throws in 12 of 22 games played. In those games where he shot more than six free throws, Anthony averaged 21 points compared to 15 points when he did not. He also enjoys using the step back jumper and fade away. When asked to finish at the bucket, Anthony will shoot the ball high off the glass or go to a baseline reverse rather than dunks. 

Weaknesses: Not long and doesn’t possess a great wingspan. Duke point guard Tre Jones is also listed at 6’3” but his length was the difference as he overpowered Anthony to the rim on multiple occasions in their first matchup. Untimely turnovers are a problem as well (ACC Tournament: Virginia Tech; 1st Half). He averaged 3.5 turnovers per game. He was stripped with his team up two against Duke when he tried to split two defenders. Anthony also will need to tweak his shot selection, he is prone to settle for three pointers or fadeaways. The freshman has a fairly quick release but does start his shooting motion at his midsection, will this be effective at the next level?

Other Notes:

  • Attended Archbishop Molloy High School (NY) for three seasons before transferring to Oak Hill Academy (Va.) for his senior season. He was named the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game MVP after totaling 14 points, five rebounds and seven assists
  • Father, Greg, played 11 seasons in the NBA and won a championship in college at UNLV
  • Member of the U18 USA National Team and led team USA in scoring at the 2019 Nike Hoops Summit
  • Missed six weeks during his lone season at UNC with a torn meniscus in his right knee
  • 2019-2020 (22 games, 20 sts): 18.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4 APG, 38% FG, 34.8% FG3, 75% FT

Time to get NASTY (Our Summary): Cole Anthony plays with a competitiveness that many freshmen don’t possess. However, turnovers and shot selection will be a question mark for scouts. Can Anthony be trusted to make the smart play?  He would be best served playing for a team that has a veteran point guard who can show him the ropes. Look for him to be drafted around pick No. 7 like a Tar Heel point guard who came before him, Coby White. A pairing with the Detroit Pistons and Derrick Rose would be ideal. 

2018, Team previews, NCAA FB, 2018, Articles

2018 Season Preview: North Carolina Tar Heels

Leave a comment

 Season outlook

Larry Fedora will have to make do without 13 suspended players to begin the season. Nine of the 13 players including sophomore quarterback Chazz Surratt will miss four games. Since multiple players share the same positions, Fedora will have the option of staggering the suspensions. However, even with a fully equipped roster, it will be an uphill climb for the Tar Heels, who finished 3-9 overall and 1-7 in the ACC. The Tar Heels will be able to hang their hat offensively on their skilled positions. The trio of sophomore running back Michael Carter (5’9, 195), junior tight end Carl Tucker (6’2, 255) and junior wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams (6’1, 205) will be the core of the offense. Defensively, the position most hurt by the suspensions will be defensive end. Sophomore Tomon Fox (6’3, 250) and senior Malik Carney (6’3, 245) will both miss four games apiece. Junior defensive back Myles Dorn (6’2, 210) is one player Fedora will be able to count on. Dorn finished last season with two interceptions and 71 tackles. Dorn has the skill to join fellow former defensive back M.J. Stewart in the NFL one day.

Troy’s player to watch

17 Anthony Ratliff-Williams 6’1 205 WR-Junior

“Do it all” is the best way to describe junior wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams. Ratliff-Williams, a former quarterback, has made the transition to wide receiver and kick returner over the past two seasons.  In 2017, Ratliff-Williams averaged 26 yards per kick return and returned two kicks for scores.  He added 35 receptions for 630 yards and six touchdowns.  Look for Ratliff-Williams to once again be featured early and often on special teams and as a receiver in 2018.

Game of the season 

October 20th at Syracuse

The Tar Heels won just one game last season in the ACC. Games against Virginia Tech and Miami could be tough, but North Carolina has to be able to win games against teams that finished with similar records as them last year. Syracuse finished with two wins in the conference a year ago. Both teams will need every victory to become bowl-eligible. Their midseason matchup could decide the postseason fate of both teams.

DraftNasty’s Prospect Watch

36 Cole Holcomb 6’1 215 LB-Senior

Holcomb, pictured, posted a career-high 115 tackles in 2016.

Holcomb has always impressed in the weight room and he can notably squat nearly 600 pounds.  He has decent foot speed and has even been used off the edge to rush the quarterback.  In 2017, he turned in his second-best season and that produced 93 tackles and 2.5 tackles for losses.  Equally adept in coverage, he has gotten his hands on a number of balls.  While only adequate taking on lead blockers, he still needs to add slightly more mass.  He injured his right shoulder in 2017.

 Prediction: 5-7

DraftNasty’s Troy Jefferson is predicting a slim improvement over last season. Fedora’s team will win five games and narrowly miss out on bowl eligibility. The Tar Heels will fall to Miami, California, UCF, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Georgia Tech and Duke.

2018, Team previews, NCAA FB, 2018, Articles

2018 Season Preview: Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes

Leave a comment

Season outlook

In his third season as head coach, Mark Richt and the Miami Hurricanes are looking to take the next step forward in 2018.  Miami (Fla.) finished last season 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the ACC.  The Hurricanes return a wealth of experience from last year’s team.  In his first two seasons as Miami’s defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz has reshaped the Hurricanes defense.   Last year, Miami (Fla.) ranked 38th overall in total defense and 28th in points allowed.  The Hurricanes have NFL-caliber talent at each level of the defense, which includes defensive lineman Joe Jackson (6’5, 258, Jr.), linebacker Shaquille Quarterman (6’1, 250, Jr.) and defensive backs Jaquan Johnson (5’11, 190, Sr.) and Michael Jackson (6’2, 195, Sr.).  On offense, quarterback Malik Rosier (6’1, 216, Sr.) will have several weapons at his disposal including wide receiver Ahmmon Richards (6’1, 190, Jr.) and running back Travis Homer (5’11, 195, Jr.).  Miami (Fla.) has the talent to win the ACC and possibly accomplish more. Look for Rosier’s play at quarterback to determine how far the Hurricanes go in 2018.

Troy’s player to watch 

4 Jaquan Johnson 5’11 190 DB-Senior

Johnson (No. 4 pictured) has produced two and a half quarterback sacks, six tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, six interceptions (TD), four pass break-ups and one blocked kick entering his final season for the Hurricanes.

The city of Miami has produced some of the best athletes and receivers (i.e. Antonio Brown, T.Y. Hilton) to play in the NFL.  Johnson plays on the other side of the ball but is just as gifted. The Hurricanes safety won the ACC Defensive Back of the Week award three straight times last season and led the team with 96 tackles. The senior has a knack for causing turnovers, finishing the 2017 campaign with three forced fumbles and three interceptions. Look for Johnson to have the now infamous Hurricanes “turnover chain” around his neck multiple times in 2018.

Game of the season

November 17th  at Virginia Tech
The Hokies figure to be the Hurricanes stiffest competition in the ACC’s Coastal Division in 2018. Miami bested Virginia Tech 28-10 last season at Hard Rock Stadium. However, things could be more challenging in Blacksburg. This game could decide an ACC Championship appearance and possibly put Miami into the College Football Playoff discussion.

DraftNasty’s Prospect Watch

78 Tyree St. Louis 6’5 305 RT-Senior

St. Louis (No. 78 pictured) -a former four-star prospect from the IMG Academy (Fla.)- has started the last 21 games of his career.

St. Louis heads into his senior season with 21 consecutive starts and he has seen action in each of three years on campus.  His mobility and accuracy getting up to the second level (to block LBs, DBs) has been his best attribute up to this point.  For him to take his game to an All-ACC level, he needs to play with a lower base.  There are too many occasions where he engages in perimeter wrestling matches with a taller disposition.  This has caused him issues with pass rushers attacking the bottom of the pocket.  Overall, he’s been more consistent with his upper body posture.  If the former four-star recruit can connect his upper body with his base, he’ll have a chance to reach another level in his play.

Prediction: 12-0

The Hurricanes make their first appearance in the College Football Playoff after cruising through the regular season, according to DraftNasty’s Troy Jefferson. The Hurricanes may have caught LSU on a good year as their program transitions to head coach Ed Orgeron in his second full season. The two will open the season in Arlington, Texas.  Miami (Fla.) will also play their in-state rival Florida State at home.
—By: Troy Jefferson, DraftNasty Staff reports
NFL, Articles, 2018

2018 NFL Supplemental Draft: Virginia Tech CB Adonis Alexander

Leave a comment

36 Adonis Alexander 6’3 207 Virginia Tech CB-Senior

What makes this player NASTY…(Strengths): Confident. Easy mover at his size. Flips his hips for a big man. Has seen time at both CB and safety. Covers ground outside the numbers when aligned in the deep middle one-third post of the field. Contains positive hand-eye coordination. Reacts to tips and overthrows. He is satisfactory in run support on the edge (wrap is inconsistent-see Weaknesses). Long enough to throw around stalk-blocking WRs on the perimeter. Capable of cutting off the outside release in press-man (Jones, ECU ’16). Does a fine job of clueing the QB in his press-bail techniques. Gets his head around in the Red Zone or in the open field when defending fade routes. Dislodges balls when he connects as a hitter (PBU, 4th QTR, WVU ’17). Reacts quickly to the action in front of him. Exhibits plus effort in open field pursuit angles. Used as a jammer on the punt return unit. Has played the R1 position on the kickoff team.

Weaknesses: Shoulder-block tackling shows up on occasion. There are also times when he’s seen dropping his head as a tackler (MT, Jennings, WVU ’17, TD).   Can be a bit elongated breaking down to tackle in space. In his motor-press technique, he gives free access to slant routes (tends to get into a backpedal or opens his hips slightly towards the sidelines). As a bump-and-run CB, he needs to be careful with the second jam because it pushes him out of phase with the WR (TD allowed, ECU ’16). Pass interference penalties have shown up when defending shifty WRs (P.I., Scott, ACC Championship ’16). Loses some WRs in his blind spot when press-bailing. Accountability. Suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules in April of 2016 (https://virginiatech.sportswar.com/article/2016/07/13/adonis-alexander-houshun-gaines-reinstated-virginia-tech-football-will-miss-least-liberty-game/) and was suspended for the team’s opener vs. Liberty. Did not play vs. ECU in 2017 for not meeting the program’s standards (http://www.roanoke.com/hokies/cb-adonis-alexander-doesn-t-make-trip-to-ecu-for/article_d71afe5a-9a59-11e7-8ac0-4fa778d5ec6f.html). Forced to enter the 2018 supplemental draft after being ruled academically ineligible for the 2018 season (https://sports.yahoo.com/virginia-tech-db-adonis-alexander-ruled-academically-ineligible-214729074.html).

Other Notes:

  • Attended Independence HS (N.C.) and was ranked as one of the Top 30 players in the state by Rivals.com
  • 2015 (7 sts): 55 tackles, ½ TFL, 4 INTs, 6 PBUs
  • 2016 (5 sts): 44 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 INTs and 7 PBUs
  • 2017 (2 sts): 27 tackles, QB sack, 2 TFLs, FF, INT and 4 PBUs
  • Career Stats: 126 tackles, QB sack, 4.5 TFLs, FF, 7 INTs and 17 PBUs

Time to get NASTY (Our Summary): Alexander contains positive ball skills, outstanding size and above average body control. There are some accountability issues that NFL teams will have to digest, but he has generally been a productive spot starter in school. It is important to remember that Virginia Tech frequently rotated cornerbacks during his time in Blacksburg.  He was often seen sharing time with Washington Redskins 2018 seventh-round selection (241st overall) Greg Stroman.  Along with the accountability issues, the rotation is a big reason the 6-foot-3 cornerback started just 14 games in three years. As a special teams performer, he’s been a significant contributor on the punt return, punt and kickoff units. He’s a more physical version of San Francisco 49ers promising young corner Ahkello Witherspoon. The difference? While clearly a more physical player coming out of school, he lacks Witherspoon’s top-end recovery speed.

DraftNasty’s Grade: 6.0 (3rd Round)