Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:00 p.m. By Rich TandlerStaff Writer
CSNwashington.comTwo yeas ago, Jason Worilds played defensive end for Virginia Tech and he did it well enough to be drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.Last year, Steven Friday accumulated 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss at defensive end. Most think that he will hear his name called at some point during next weeks NFL draft.The next Hokie defensive end to play on Sundays could well be James Gayle.To be sure, its early yet. Gayle is just a redshirt sophomore who was a role player last year. And the Hokies havent even played their spring game yet. But in spring practice and in two scrimmages, the redshirt sophomore is showing signs of becoming a beast on the Virginia Tech defensive line.Last Saturday in the first scrimmage, Gayle was credited with three sacks. He added another sack on Friday night in another open scrimmage at Lane Stadium.With Friday graduating, Gayle was going to get a good shot at a starting job in any event. But when last years starter at end opposite Friday, Chris Drager, moved to the other side of the ball to play tight end the door was wide open. And Gayle has burst through the opening.He plays hard. He's getting a lot of kids' respect, and he's going to be a playmaker if he stays healthy, said defensive coordinator Bud Foster. I think he's got some of those natural characteristics about him. He's got a lot of energy. He plays with a lot of emotion. And you like that in a defensive kid.In fact, Foster said that Gayle needed to learn how to keep that emotion and energy under control. Last year he occasionally was out of control, aggressively working himself out of position against plays like draws and screens."He's made big strides already from the end of the season to right now, just in his basic alignments, his footwork," Foster said. "He's just confident in what he's doing right now, and I really like that."Its not as though Gayle is completely green. He started two games last year and recorded four sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss on the season. But he said that he is gaining confidence."Before your first snap, you really don't know what to expect. Now I know I can go out there and dominate," he said.You can reach Rich Tandler by email at RTandlerCSN@comcast.net and follow him on Twitter @Rich_Tandler.