BY TAFT COGHILL JR.
When you're 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, supremely athletic and have an Olympic silver medalist as a big sister, statistics aren't the deciding factor in football recruiting.
That was the case when Virginia Tech offered a full scholarship to Brooke Point High School junior E.L. Smiling.
"They just don't make 6-4 wideouts that can run and jump everyday," Brooke Point head coach Jeff Berry said.
Smiling caught 24 passes for 391 yards and five touchdowns for the Black-Hawks last season and was the No. 2 target behind Shepherd (W.Va.) University signee Larry Lowe.
But Smiling has the size, speed and gene pool to make for an intriguing prospect. His sister, Sheena Tosta, earned the silver medal in the women's 400 hurdles at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing last summer.
"They like hearing that stuff," Berry said of college recruiters.
Virginia Tech coaches took notice after Berry handed them a highlight film of Smiling earlier this month.
"They're not looking so much at production, but his potential," Berry said. "He has a lot of filling out to do [physically]. He's going to be a big kid, and that's what colleges are looking for."
Smiling is being recruited by Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who has had plenty of success at Brooke Point.
Black-Hawks senior defensive end Lanford Collins signed with the Hokies earlier this month.
Former defensive end Isaiah Hamlette will be a redshirt freshman with the Hokies this upcoming season. Former kicker Dustin Keys--an ex-walk-on--just completed his final season with Virginia Tech.
Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland also have film on Smiling and those programs could offer a scholarship soon, Berry said.
"He was obviously ecstatic at the offer, but he's seen the process [through teammates], which is beneficial," Berry said. "He's not going to be hasty in his decision."
JM TO HONOR 'NO. 1 FAN'
The James Monroe football team will present rings to its players who helped it earn the fourth state championship in school history in 2008.
The ceremony, which is for players, parents and supporters, will take place next Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Head coach Rich Serbay will present his ring to Tony Franzello, a handicapped fan who attends every JM home game.
The Virginia High School League ordered a ring for Serbay, but he told them to put Franzello's name on it with the inscription "No. 1 Fan."
"He's a wonderful young man," Serbay said. "He knows everything about JM football, a walking encyclopedia. It's going to make me smile to see him with a ring."
MAENZ GETS MEDAL
Wrestling officials initially ruled that Mountain View's Kevin Maenz (119 pounds) was disqualified from the Group AAA tournament after his head hit the chin of his opponent on Saturday at Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake.
But the flagrant foul ruling was later downgraded to unsportsmanlike and Maenz was awarded an eighth-place medal--much to the delight of Wildcats coach Bud Black, who said he was "baffled" by the original decision.
"He's a senior," Black said. "So [getting a medal] is huge."
Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com