John Graves Season 2008

91 - John GravesPosition: Defensive Tackle
Class: r-Sophomore
Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 282 lbs.

High School: Meadowbrook
Hometown: Richmond, Va.

The frontrunner for one of the defensive tackle jobs ... Is coming off an outstanding spring ... A high-energy player who is self-motivated ... Physical at the point of attack ... Has the quickness and strength to get to the quarterback ... Picked up valuable experience while playing in every game last fall ... Also contributed on special teams ... Has the ability to be an all-conference player and a leader.

2007: Saw his first collegiate action with 12 defensive plays and two more on special teams ... Was in on a pair of tackles ... Was credited with two tackles, including one behind the line at LSU ... Played 17 downs on defense against Ohio and had three tackles ... Worked 32 plays against William & Mary, contributing two quarterback hurries and a tackle for loss ... Had a hurry in the UNC game ... Picked up two more hurries at Clemson on 26 plays ... Contributed a tackle and a QB hurry at Georgia Tech ... Hurried the quarterback twice while playing 22 downs against Miami ... Was in on a tackle and had a pair of hurries during the ACC Championship game against BC ... Finished the season with 11 total tackles and 11 quarterback hurries ... Bench pressed 400 pounds during off-season testing and recorded a 360-pound push jerk ... Posted a sack in each of the team's two major spring scrimmages ... Won the Frank O. Moseley Award for the defensive player who exhibited the most hustle during the off-season and spring workouts.

2006: Was redshirted while working at defensive tackle ... Posted a 390-pound bench press and 360-pound push jerk during spring max testing ... Led the tackles with a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump ... Got some work at end during spring practice ... Won the Paul Torgersen Award as the top defensive newcomer in the spring.

High School: An All-America selection by PrepStar and SuperPrep ... Played defensive end and offensive guard as a four-year starter for Coach Bill Bowles at Meadowbrook ... Ranked the No. 7 player in the state by The Roanoke Times in its postseason list ... Ranked the No. 7 player in Virginia by SuperPrep ... Listed as the No. 11 player in his state by rivals.com in its final state rankings ... Had 65 tackles as a senior, including nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss, in earning district defensive player of the year honors ... Also had two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and five blocked kicks ... Named first-team all-state by The Associated Press as a defensive lineman ... Named first-team all-state by the VHSCA as both an offensive guard and defensive end ... Earned first-team All-Metro honors from the Richmond Times-Dispatch ... Named first-team all-Central District as both an offensive guard and a defensive end ... Set a school record by blocking 12 kicks during his career ... Scored defensive touchdowns this past season on an interception and a fumble return ... As a junior, was the Central District, region and All-Metro defensive player of the year in leading his team to a State AAA, Group 5 state title ... Rated the No. 21 strongside defensive end in the country by rivals.com ... Listed as the No. 32 defensive lineman in the country by SuperPrep ... Rated the No. 34 defensive tackle in the country by scout.com ... Rated the No. 90 player in the country and the No. 22 defensive end in the country by collegefootballnews.com ... Ranked the No. 54 postseason prospect on the scout.com East Region Hot 100 ... Started every game on varsity during his four-year career.

Personal: John Walter Graves ... Born 6/25/87 in Richmond, VA ... Son of John and Joyce Graves ... Enrolled in psychology.

- INTEGRITY - SERVICE - HONOR - EXCELLENCE - STRONG TOGETHER

© 1996 - 2018 Virginia Tech Athletics. All Rights Reserved. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | hokipoki@vt.edu