College Bowl Preview: Chick-fil-A Bowl

Chick-fil-A Bowl

December 31, Atlanta

Virginia Tech (9-3) vs. Tennessee (7-5)

ESPN, 6:30 p.m.

VIRGINIA TECH

#17 FS Kam Chancellor, 6-3, 230 pounds – With the Hokies, he played cornerback as a freshman, moved to strong safety in his sophomore season and then to free safety over the last two years of play. Tech coaches thought it would help their team and also help Chancellor in pro football to let him play at safety. He played in 53 games, with 40 starts, all of those at safety. Overall, he had 204 total tackles, with 4.5 tackles for loss and six interceptions. This season, he had 64 tackles with two interceptions.

Evaluation – Last year, Chancellor put in his paperwork with the NFL’s advisory committee and they pegged him as a third-round choice. His future is at strong safety with his size and willingness to mix it up physically with his opponents. A talented athlete, Chancellor should find a home somewhere late in the second round.

#22 CB Stephan Virgil, 5-11, 190 pounds – No one will get the chance to see Virgil, since he was declared academically ineligible for the bowl game. It’s another tough moment in what has been a tough year for him, as he missed several games because of a knee injury. Virgil played 48 games, racking up 101 total tackles, with 9.5 tackles for loss. He had seven interceptions and picked up three fumbles, scoring once. He also blocked two kicks.

Evaluation – Virgil is in the fifth to sixth-round range, and it will not help his standing that he was not able to play in this game. NFL teams don’t like to see a player fail to handle some of their duties; it brings up questions about commitment and follow through.

#77 OT Ed Wang, 6-5, 309 pounds – Showed up a Va. Tech as a tight end, but he added weight and played at right tackle in 2007, moving to left tackle in 2008 where he played the past two seasons. As a high-school tight end in Fairfax, Virginia, he was ranked among the best players at that position in the country.

Evaluation – Physically gifted with good feet, scouts say Wang still does not play with an offensive lineman’s mentality. He has the body type where he can add some weight, but what he needs to add is strength. Scouts see him as a sixth-round pick.

Others to watch – P Brent Bowden, 6-3, 206 pounds
– Led the ACC and averaged 43.9 yards per punt. Va. Tech is the top special teams school in college football and these guys know what they are doing.

TENNESSEE

#14 S Eric Berry – Berry has not yet said whether he will leave the Vols with one year of eligibility left. If he does come out, he’ll be a top 10 choice in the 2020 NFL Draft. He went to Tennessee after playing at Creekside High in Georgia, where he was a four-year starting quarterback who led his team to the 37-5 record. He was also a sprinter and jumper in track. In 38 games he has 14 interceptions, with three returned for touchdowns and 231 career tackles.

Evaluation – Has a real nose for the ball and isn’t afraid to go after it, whether in the air or in a ball carriers hands. Berry is a gifted athlete who is also intelligent and football savvy. Some scouts think he’s a young version of Ed Reed, Baltimore’s All-Pro safety. Scouts all expect him to come out, but his father was a player for the Vols and he may decide to stay for one more year working with defensive guru Monte Kiffin. If he comes out, he’s going to go early, maybe as high as No. 3, but certainly no lower than seven or eighth pick.

#55 DT Dan Williams, 6-2, 327 pounds –Williams has improved season after season with the Vols and had a nice senior season that really moved him up in the eyes of NFL scouts. He had 61 total tackles, with 8.5 tackles for loss. In 44 games in Knoxville, Williams had 151 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Evaluation – Big physical guy in the middle who had a big senior season. A powerful presence with just enough quickness and speed to make things happen in the offensive backfield, Williams elevated himself from the fifth or sixth round to a spot in the second round and possibly the first round if he shows well at the Senior Bowl.

#2 RB Montario Hardesty, 6-0, 215 pounds – He’s had three knee surgeries, including a problem with his ACL. Hardesty does not have elite speed and that will hurt him in grading by NFL teams. When he runs between the tackles, he runs with power and gets his pad level down. In 48 games, Hardesty has run for 2,352 yards and 25 touchdowns. He caught 34 passes for 326 yards and one TD catch. This season, he ran for 1,306 yards on 264 carries and 12 touchdowns.

Evaluation – There are obvious questions about his durability and he does not have top-end speed. But Hardesty is a tough runner that runs through arm tackles and it usually takes more than one defender to put him on the ground. Runs with his head up and is patient, allowing blockers to set up. Downhill, one-cut type of runner. Hardesty is a third-round prospect.

Others to watch – QB Jonathan Crompton, 6-4, 228 pounds – He was helped tremendously by Lane Kiffin’s arrival in Knoxville. Kiffin simplified the offense and Crompton had a good year. OT Chris Scott, 6-4, 346 pounds – Big, strong, physical offensive lineman who can play guard or right tackle in the league.