Hokie, Line and Sinker

Fans of South County’s football team might be surprised that Bud Foster, the Virginia Tech defensive coordinator who recruited for the Hokies, never saw him play a down in person last season.

Foster didn’t see Vandyke block a field goal and cause a fumble against Lee during the regular season.

He didn’t see No. 10 make a touchdown-saving open field tackle when it was still a close game in the Stallions’ over regional power Stone Bridge.

When Vandyke swooped in and blocked a punt against Yorktown in Arlington in the regional final, a play that changed the early complexion of what became a runaway win? Foster didn’t see that in person either.

Sure, he saw those highlights on tape, but unlike the plethora of scouts who recorded the velocity of every pitch uncorked last spring for the state final-bound South County baseball team, most football recruiters depend on game film and summer camp experience to validate a prospect.

That’s because during the season, those recruiters are wearing their coaching hats, and working on game plans for Miami, the University of Virginia or Boston College.

“We don’t get out much on Fridays when I’m with the team,” said Foster during a recent phone call. “I got as much film on him as I could.”

Foster, who only recently was able to comment on his recruits after they committed to the school in early February, said he was first exposed to the Vandyke brothers, including 2011 South County grad Ronny, when they attended Virginia Tech’s summer football camp a couple of years ago.

“This was between his sophomore and junior year,” Foster said. “I watched him grow and develop. As a rising junior, I liked his movement and his change of direction and his athletic ability.”

The coaches in Northern Virginia—South County’s two recent leaders, Pete Bendorf and Gerry Pannoni—have Foster’s respect, he said, so he also trusts their recommendations.

“They understand what a big-time football player is,” he said. “Some coaches don’t understand what it takes to beat the Miamis, the Florida States, the Virginias, the Clemsons. Those guys have had those players before.”

Vandyke isn’t the only player from the area who signed a letter of intent with the Hokies. Centreville defensive end Ken Ekanem is part of the incoming class.

Aside from the physical nature of the position—and Foster said he was impressed with Vandyke’s speed, shown by his ability to chase down smaller players from behind—leadership and character can’t be dismissed as unimportant.

Vandyke had to deal with a coaching change heading into what was supposed to be his signature high school season when Bendorf left for an administrative role at cross-county rival Westfield. The Stallions had a slow start, going 0-3, but recovered to go undefeated before in the state championship game.

“He knows what it takes to persevere and not quit or hang your head,” Foster said of the Stallions’ turnaround. “Good things will happen if you continue to work hard. Devin will be able to bring that to the table. When things look to be at their worst, you keep fighting.”

Ronny Vandyke update

Foster also provided an update on Ronny Vandyke, who missed the first part of the season due to a sprained ankle and then was put on the sidelines permanently due to a redshirt. It means he’ll have four more seasons of football eligibility even though he’ll be a sophomore in the fall.

“He’s got a good future, Ronny,” Foster said. “We would have probably played Ronny this year [but] the high ankle sprain in one of our scrimmages set him back. We got to the point where he started coming back around, but by then we thought it would be best to redshirt him.

“Both those kids, as good as they are as football players, they’re better people. The family did a great job of raising those boys.”