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80<br />
demitri<br />
knowleS<br />
flaNker • 6-0 • 174 • r-fr.<br />
lYNchBurG, va. • lIBertY chrIstIaN acaDemY<br />
A new<strong>com</strong>er who has Tech’s coaches excited for a lot of reasons …<br />
Is capable of be<strong>com</strong>ing a big-play threat as both a receiver and a return<br />
man on special teams … Possesses explosive speed to go with outstanding<br />
athletic ability … Picked up a lot of reps during the spring and worked on<br />
his route running and blocking on the perimeter … Will be a top candidate<br />
for the No. 4 receiving spot.<br />
2011: Dressed for several games but didn’t play, preserving a redshirt<br />
year … Turned in a 40-inch vertical jump and a team-best 4.28 clocking<br />
in the 40 during off-season strength and conditioning tests … Caught five<br />
passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns during spring scrimmages … Also<br />
blocked a punt and scored a TD on a reverse.<br />
High School: A speedy player for Coach Frank Rocco … Ranked the No.<br />
27 player in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Ranked as the No. 33 player<br />
in the state on the Virginia 43 by SuperPrep … Grew up in The Bahamas …<br />
Was named second-team all-state in Division I of the Virginia Independent<br />
Schools Athletic Association … Had 25 receptions for 338 yards and six<br />
touchdowns … Also a track star who was a VIS state champion in the 100m<br />
… Rated the No. 1 sprinter in the Mid-Atlantic by MileStat … Listed as the<br />
No. 183 wide receiver in the country by Scout.<br />
Personal: Demitri Amahad Knowles … Born 10/9/92 in The Bahamas …<br />
Son of Keith and Jackie Knowles … Enrolled in university studies.<br />
47<br />
brian<br />
laiti<br />
lINeBacker • 6-3 • 223 • r-so.<br />
faIrfax statIoN, va. • roBINsoN h.s.<br />
Is much improved after picking up a lot of valuable reps during the spring<br />
… Prepared himself for success in the spring with a good showing in the<br />
winter strength and conditioning program … Has a nose for the football …<br />
Moved into the No. 3 spot at the mike position.<br />
2011: Dressed for the Arkansas State game, but didn’t play.<br />
2010: Redshirted while working at the mike linebacker position … Was<br />
slowed during the off-season … Collected two tackles and intercepted a<br />
pass during the Hokies first full scrimmage of the spring … Added another<br />
interception in the last major scrimmage … Posted a sack during the<br />
Maroon-White game.<br />
High School: Named to PrepStar’s All-Atlantic Region Team as a linebacker<br />
for Coach Mark Bendorf at Robinson High … Rated the No. 13 prospect in<br />
Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Listed as the No. 34 outside linebacker in<br />
the country and the No. 15 player in the state by Rivals … Listed as the No.<br />
36 outside linebacker in the country by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … Ranked the No.<br />
82 safety in the country and the No. 18 player in the state by Scout.<strong>com</strong> …<br />
Ranked as the No. 18 player on the Virginia 37 by SuperPrep … A member<br />
of the SuperPrep Mid-Atlantic Team … Named first-team all-state by The<br />
Associated Press and the VHSCA for the Group AAA level as a linebacker …<br />
An all-Met selection by The Washington Post … Was named the Defensive<br />
Player of the Year after registering 123 tackles, including nine for loss and<br />
four sacks … Was his team’s leading tackler the last three seasons.<br />
Personal: Brian Laiti … Born 5/17/92 … Son of Peter and Elizabeth Laiti<br />
… Enrolled in sociology.<br />
6<br />
mark<br />
leal<br />
QuarterBack • 6-0 • 212 • r-so.<br />
GreeNacres, fla. • atlaNtIc h.s.<br />
Earned the No. 2 quarterback position and the coaches’ confidence<br />
last fall and made good progress during the season … Possesses a good<br />
understanding of the passing game … Has shown poise and made good<br />
decisions … Doesn’t need a lot of space to throw the ball … Missed some<br />
valuable time in the spring due to a respiratory illness but should be able<br />
to pick up added reps in August.<br />
2011: Served as the backup quarterback to Logan Thomas ... Played in<br />
three games, totaling 36 offensive snaps ... Tossed two touchdowns in his<br />
collegiate debut against Appalachian State … Threw for 113 yards on 5-of-<br />
9 passing ... Saw action on three offensive snaps in the win at Marshall ...<br />
Was 3-of-4 passing for 40 yards at Virginia.<br />
2010: Worked on the scout team while redshirting during the fall …<br />
Improved on three of his four major lifts during off-season work … Was<br />
6-for-11 passing for 34 yards in the first full scrimmage of the spring … Hit<br />
on 5 of 9 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown in the fourth scrimmage<br />
… Connected on a 70-yard TD pass to Marcus Davis … Completed a 17yard<br />
TD pass to E.L. Smiling in the back corner of the end zone with two<br />
seconds remaining in the final spring scrimmage … Had 73 yards on 6 of<br />
8 passing during that workout … Was 3-for-6 passing for 34 yards in the<br />
Maroon-White game.<br />
Mark Leal<br />
2012 Virginia Tech fooTball<br />
65<br />
HOKieS
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