Tech Notebook: Evans having a class reunion of sorts at Lane Stadium

By Nathan Warters

Published: October 2, 2008

BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech redshirt freshman running back Darren Evans will see a familiar face on the Western Kentucky sideline Saturday at Lane Stadium.

His former Warren Central (Indianapolis) High School football coach, Kevin Wright, is now the Hilltoppers’ offensive coordinator.

“I am (excited to see him) because while he was there, he coached us to three state championships, and I was a part of two of them,” said Evans, Tech’s leading rusher with 336 yards and six touchdowns. “He played me over a senior when I was a sophomore.”

This is Wright’s second season on WKU’s staff. He was Evans’ high school coach for two years.

Evans, who was a Parade All-American after rushing for 2,806 yards and scoring a state-record 61 touchdowns as a senior, played his final two high school seasons for Steve Tutsie, who is still Warren Central’s coach.

“He’s a real good coach,” Evans said of Wright.

“Our relationship isn’t as tight as the head coach that’s still there, but he is a good guy, and I am excited to see him.”

Three of Evans’ former high school teammates — backup offensive lineman Jacob McLaurin and reserve running backs Dexter Taylor and Stephen Willis — play for the Hilltoppers.

Evans said he would try to catch up with Wright and his former high school teammates before or after Saturday’s game.

Porch listens to mom

Hokies rover Dorian Porch, who is expected to make his first career start Saturday in place of injured Davon Morgan, said the Arizona Diamondbacks offered him a two-year $300,000 contract to play baseball coming out of high school.

His mother, Lynette Porch, wanted him to take Tech’s football scholarship offer and get a college education.

“My mom, she really wanted me to get the education. Her and my grandmother, they took into consideration everything, you know, living expenses, traveling, everything I would be doing,” said Porch, a junior.

“The team would take care of most of that stuff, but she just said, ‘Even though it seems like a lot right now, in a couple of years you’ll be trying to get somewhere and you’ll need a college education and then probably end up having to pay for it.’ She felt like this was the best option.”

Hokies junior running back Kenny Lewis, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fourth round of the 2003 baseball draft, followed different advice when he was deciding between baseball and football.

His father, Kenny Lewis Sr., wanted him to sign a contract with the Reds because they promised to pay his college expenses if he ever chose to leave baseball.

Porch, who wasn’t drafted because of his football intentions, didn’t get the same promise from the Diamondbacks.

“He had to listen to mom. I had to listen to dad,” Lewis said.

Porch, who said he was clocked at 6.4 seconds in the 60-yard run coming out of high school, hasn’t given up his dream to some day play baseball professionally. That is, if the NFL isn’t in his future.

“You never know what happens in the years ahead, but it could definitely be one thing that I’m looking at, for sure,” Porch said.

Big man on campus

Hokies kicker Dustin Keys is starting to get noticed a lot more now. That tends to happen to Tech football players when they’re playing well.

Keys, who kicked four field goals in Tech’s 35-30 win at Nebraska Saturday, has made nine straight field goals since missing his first career attempt in the season-opener against East Carolina.

“People are starting to, I guess, know who I am,” Keys said. “I’m definitely getting some fans. I know when I was running to the locker room at halftime (Saturday), people were cheering my name, and I had never really heard that before, people actually knowing who I am.”

The Hokies were wearing throwback jerseys that didn’t have the players’ names on the back.

“They must know me by the number, not the name,” Keys said.

Whitaker suspended

Tech suspended receiver Ike Whitaker indefinitely Thursday, coach Frank Beamer said in a press release.

Beamer said Whitaker violated team policy and will not comment further on the situation.

Whitaker has three catches in three games for Tech, all coming in the opener against East Carolina.